The National tribune., 1893-05-04
SECOND BULL RUN.
What Work Renos Brigade Performed at
the Henry House Hill.

the Henry House Hill.
The article headed "Sykess Regulars" by
Thos. Il. Cooney, Ell Paso. Tex. in = recent
issue, gives Tue clearest and most accurate
account of the closing scenes of the disastrous
battle of Bull Run of 1862 that have seen.
/ believe all the histories of the wars that
have been published say that the rear of Popcs
army was covered by Sykes's Regulars. and.
by inference at least that the last shets nj that
battle were fred by them; which. III the light
of the experience of the Reno Brigade and
Graham's battery. cannot he true.
During the battle. Oh the 29th aud 30th of
August. 1862. this little brigade Of three reg-
ments-5lst n. Y, 51st Pa, and 2lst Mass
was engaged in supporting batteries on the
right of our line, and, while witnessing the
terrible disasters to our troops on the right
and left had not fired shot. About sunset
OH the Both, Gen. Reno, com n,anding the two
small divisions of the Ninth Corps. assumed
command in person OF his old brigade, aud
ordered it to move to the left at deuble-quick.
Knapsacks were left on the ground, and they
never came back.
As We moved to the left the rebels got sight
of u.s. and for few minutes their batteries
saluted US with miscellaneous collection OF
missiles-shot. shell. and pieces of railroad
irou-hut their maciice WAS poor and they did
US very little injury.
In ;lie passage of about n mile, most of the
time under his fire. the 2lst Mass. bad hut
four men hurt--;,ll wounded by the same pece
of railroad iron. As We came To the Henry
House Hill the last Union troops withdrew
fron our frnnt. Gen. Reno placed his brigade
with the 5Ist Pa the right. the 2ist Mass.
in the center. and 5lst N. Y. on the Left
Grahams battery X, LIST Z. s. Artl. belong
ing tn Kearnys Division, was brought up and
placed ia the intervals between the regiments
1t had now Income quito dark. The res'els al
vancea out of The woods III our front, and Glen.
Reno gave the order: "Give them about 10
rounds, boys-fre," On the part of the in
fan;ry. certainly. the order was cheerfnHy
alleged, and tho boys put in their 10 rounds ia
qnick time. On the part of he batt>ry. which
was fighting on the same line with rs, there
was the SINE enthusiasm. Those six brass
NapaIeons were served rapidly. 1t WIS to
strange haticry: We had never met il before. AMI
to NV recollection. never served.ilreciiy with AZ
agan: bat its pei soraauce ar The line af liltila
ri Rail RaH will never he forgnfiln lay the assss
of Reao's Brigade who fought with il. j will
not say "suppnrtpd it, The regiments and
the battery fought one. and each supported
tho other. The firing ceased, the rebels had
fallen back. and for half an hour all wa quiet,
except the cries of the wounded. when sud.
denly Of lie rebels struck the left flank
the 5Ist n. Y. iou bling them up with great
loss. That gallant regiment. however. was
not dismayed. They stood their GROUND. and
the 2ist Mass changed front aud poured in
their fire. Two pieces OF The battery were sent
10 the left amt tiiis new attack OF the enemy
was rrpulscd anil our line re-esi al,liscd.
THREE was no further fighting, About .
o'ciock Gen. Reno passed along the line. and
told :s we were Ia abandon the position aud
cautioned the men against making any no-e
The guns of The artillery were ran Ell by haild
pierre bv piece. The regiments followed quietly.
aud the road to Eeatersiiie.
6rnh 10 = eLnfS af Ia "a
disastrous hattie.
Reno's little brigade OF three small regi-
ments, with Giaham's battery. had held in
check an, stopped the enemy in his victorious
career for that day. II any OF Sykes's Regulars
the Henry House II Ill between and
8 p m. of aug. 30 they were unseen and uaheard
of hy u.s.
GEN C. F. Waicott. in his history of the 2Izt
Mass. SAYS: DIR. James Oliver Surgeon Of
the 2lst. len I he field in charge of lie
wt.unded. with tws hospital nurses, {. e. Sim
mons, Of 10. j. aud E. r Reed of Co. A. When
they returned To Us they gave au interesting
account of their long. seepless night among the
wounded, no: a rebel showing hilHseif gntit
next morning. Eight hundred Of their deud
aud wounded who fell by our fire lay upon the
slope OF the hii. aud their cobi ,.sions were not
inclined to increase the number: so. waiting
till daylight. they panndrd IL with artillery.
and then. after raking il thoroughly with mus
kerry. Es"vcd n skirnish-l line over it aud took
possession"
Two lays later. at ChaniilIy, the enemy tonk
bloody revenge the 2lst Mass. for its share
ia that nights work at Bull Run. IL vas
another tight In the dark, with thunderstorm
accom- paiiiiuent. aud III officers and ineu OF
about 400 present for duty. were killed and
wounded Gen. Phil kearay, vino had in per-
son ordered and led the regiment into the
position IN which il met this loss there met his
avn fare, ana this intrepid soldier, who had so
often led his devoted troops in battle with sHeh
distinguished ga!iautry, laid deWn his life.
Oar gallant Gen. Isaac j. Stevens, commanding
the First Division, Ninth Corps. was also killed
while cheering on his men, with he dag OF his
Old regiment. the 18Th y. Y. ilighlanders, ia
his hand. Fourteen days later. at South Mount-
ain, eur own beloved Gen. Reno was killed. aud
The Mint. Corps aud the army were called TO
mourn the loss IF ono of the most brilliant Off
in the service; one who. il he had been
spared a little longer. would undoubtedly la We
been placed in higher command. His memory
is enshrned in the hearts of his as brave,
cool HEADED man. clear in Judgment, always
ready to fight. bnt never willing TO sacrifice biz
mcu IN biud or hopeless movements; always
mindful of the wants of his men and attentive
| to their needs-such Reno.
| In my opinion if other corps commanders
| had so Loyalty and hsartily supported Gen.
| Pope in this campaign as did Gen. REM, Lees
| victorious movements into Maryland world
| have never been, and the second battle of Bull
| Run instead OF humilia,iug defeat would
! have been for Gen. Pope splendid victory
| Ira b. GOODRICH. 21st Mass. Boston, Mass.