Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-06-21
The Regulars at Bull Run.
To the Editor of The Star:

!
In the article entitled Speaking of
Defense" by Gen. Nelson A. Miles, pub
lished in the Sunday Magazine of The
Star, June II. l quote the following ex-
tract: He referring to the author of
the 'Valor Of IgnoranceD "cites single
incident in the last hundred years by
saying that the militia under Mcdowell
all ran at the battle Of Bull Run. So
did the regulars"
I have been greatly surprised that so
eminent soldier and student of history
should make SO erroneous a statement
and one so easily disproved by reference
to reliable authorities. 1t will suffice, 1
think, to refer to the reports of division
and brigade commanders Gems. Hunter
and Porter of the organizations of which
the regular infantry formed a part, to
that of Maj. (afterward GEM Sykes,
who commanded that body: to the his
tories of the Comte de Paris and of
Swinton, but more especially, perhaps, to
ments Of officers comma nding Confederate
forces. and finally. in a minor degree. to
a paper prepared by myself and delivered
before the stated meeting of the Loyal
Legion in this city November Z. 1900. The
address was carefully prepared from re-
liable authorities and described the serv-
ices of the battalion of which I had the
honor to be a member, and in which l
served during the battle.
1 take the liberty. therefore. of quoting
a few brief extracts from this paper re-
lating to the services of the regular in
fantry at the critical moment-i. e., when
the battle was lost and when las far as
the eye could reach the field was COW
cred by panic-stricken and flying men:
Sykes now received an order to adj
vance and cover the retreat of the troops
in this part of the field" (the extreme
right. Shortly after getting in motion we
were Joined by small detachment from
a Minnesota regiment. These men
uniformed singularly enough in gray fell
in on our left and remained with us until
we formed square. 1 then lost sight of
them. This square. by the way, was, so
far as 1 am informed, the only one
formed during the war.
''Our battalion advanced to the hill OPP
posite the one upon which a house stood
(perhaps Chinn's. southwest of the Henry
HOuse), where, upon being threatened by
cavalry, it, as has been previously stated,
formed square. 1t remained in.that posi-
ton until all of our men having fallen
back it was withdrawn in line of battle,
suffering meanwhile severely from the
fire of section of artillery. which was
particularly attentive as long as it had
a knowledge of our position. Being on
it's march still threatened by cavalry, the
battalion, upon reaching the crest Of an
other hill. faced about, opened fire and
held it in check"
Gen. Porter, our brigade commander,
says: 1.-The battalion of regulars mean
while moved steadily across the field
and took up a position where it
held the entire forces of the rebels in
check until our forces were somewhat
rallied" Mcdowell says: 1.-THE rear guard
thus organized followed our panic-stricken
people to Centreville. resisting the at
tacks of rebel cavalry and artillery. and
saving them from the inevitable destruc-
ton which awaited them had not this
body been interposed."
Gen. Beauregard says: Maj. Sykes
regulars made a steady and hand
some withdrawal. protecting the rear of
the routed forces" etc. En- PEASANT, this
does not look much like running away!"
But enough! If the regulars did run"
that day can certify that that particu-
lar body would never win a marathon!
A few days after the battalion of regu-
lar infantry was established in camp
after the battle President Lincoln came
over to, Arlington specially to review it.
and in order to take a look at the men
who had ..alone moved up the hill' to
face the enemy with undaunted front
while all the other infantry columns were
retreating, with the exception OF the
small detachment already referred to,
and who .'took up a position where they
held the entire forces" dn this part Of