Ayres and Lieutenant Benjamin, who commanded the two 20-pounders to open their fire both on the battery which enfiladed the road leading to the ford and on the battery which we had discovered in the bottom of Bull Run, which we knew to be surrounded by a large body of men. This fire was continued from 3 until 4 o'clock, firing 415 shots. The fire was answered from the enemy's batteries, gun for gun, but was discontinued the moment we ceased firing. The concentrated position of the enemy, and the fact that the elevation of our battery and the range were both favorable, induce the belief that the enemy suffered severely from our fire, and this belief is confirmed by the fact that, on the ensuing day, until 12 M., ambulances were seen coming and going from and to Manassas, two miles distant."*

port this movement. The moment Captain Ayres opened his fire, the enemy replied with volleys which showed that the whole bottom was filled with troops, and that he had batteries established in different positions to sweep all the approaches by the road leading to Blackburn's Ford. Captain Ayres maintained himself most gallantly, and after firing away all his canister shot and some spherical case with terrible effect, as we afterwards learned, withdrew his pieces safely and rejoined his battery. This attack on Captain Ayres accomplished the object I desired, as it showed that the enemy was in force, and disclosed the position of his batteries, and had I been at hand the movement would have ended here; but Colonel Richardson, having previously given an order for the 12th New York to deploy into line and advance into the woods, in an attempt to In the accompanying official report of execute this order the regiment broke, Colonel Richardson, the loss in this affair (with the exception of two companies, A is stated at nineteen killed, thirty-eight and I, who stood their ground gallantly,) wounded, and twenty-six missing. Among and was only rallied in the woods some other incidents of the day, he mentions mile and a half in the rear. The fire that "his skirmishers advanced so close which the regiment encountered was se- to the enemies works and batteries that vere, but no excuse for the disorganiza- two mounted officers were killed under tion which it produced. Having satisfied the breastworks, and one of our men was myself that the enemy was in force, and shot through the shoulder with a revolvalso as to the position of his batteries, I er by one of the enemy's officers, and one ordered Colonel Richardson to withdraw of their cannoneers was bayoneted by his brigade, which was skillfully though one of our men while the former was enunwillingly accomplished, as he request-gaged in loading his gun. Our skirmished permission, with the 1st Massachusetts ers, also, in falling back, had several of and 2d and 3d Michigan regiments, to their wounded bayoneted by order of charge the enemy and drive him out. It the enemy's officers."+ is but justice to these regiments to say that they stood firm, maneuvred well, and I have no doubt would have backed up manfully the proposition of their gallant commander. After the infantry had been withdrawn, I directed Captain

We have also a report of this action from General Beauregard. It is an elab

* General Tyler's Report to General McDowell, July 27, 1861.

+ Colonel Richardson's Report to Irigadier-General

Tyler, July 19, 1801.

orate document of considerable length, Virginia cavalry, under Colonel Radford. in which the dispositions of his forces and Cocke's brigade held the Ford below and the particulars of the encounter in the in vicinity of the Stone Bridge, and vicinity of Mitchell's and Blackburn's consisted of Wither's 18th, LieutenantFords and of Bull Run, are set forth with Colonel Strange's 19th, and R. T. Presminuteness. The effective troops, of ton's 28th regiments, with Latham's batwhich he enumerates some twenty regi- tery and one company of cavalry, Virgiments-Louisiana, South Carolina, Miss-nia Volunteers. Evans held my left issippi, Alabama and Virginia Volun- flank and protected the Stone Bridge teers, with various light batteries and crossing, with Sloane's 4th regiment companies of Virginia cavalry-rested South Carolina Volunteers, Wheat's Speon Bull Run from Union Mills Ford to cial Battalion Louisiana Volunteers, four the Stone Bridge on the main road from 6-pounder guns and two companies of Centreville, a distance of about eight Virginia cavalry. Early's brigade, conmiles. This force, as stated by General sisting of Kemper's 7th, Early's 24th Beauregard, with which the Union army regiment of Virginia Volunteers, Hays' had to deal was thus disposed: "Ewell's 7th regiment Louisiana Volunteers, and brigade occupied a position in the vicin- three rifle pieces of Walton's battery. ity of Union Mills Ford. It consisted Lieutenant Squires' at first were held in of Rhode's 5th and Siebel's 7th regiments position in the rear of, and as a support of Alabama, and Seymour's 5th regiment to, Ewell's brigade, until after the develof Louisiana Volunteers, with four 12-opment of the enemy in heavy offensive pounder howitzers, of Walton's battery, force, in front of Mitchell's and Blackand Harrison's, Green's and Campbell's | burn's Fords, when it was placed in rear companies of Virginia cavalry. D. R. Jones' brigade was in position in the rear of McLean's Ford, and consisted of Jenkins' 5th South Carolina, and Bunt's 15th and Fetherstone's 18th regiments of Mississippi Volunteers, with two brass 6-pounder guns of Walton's battery, and one company of cavalry. Longstreet's brigade covered Blackburn's Ford, and consisted of Moore's 1st, Garland's 11th and Crose's 17th regiments Virginia Volunteers, with two 6-pounder brass guns of Walton's battery. Bonham's brigade held the approaches to Mitchell's Ford; it was composed of Kershaw's 2d, Williams' 3d, Bacon's 7th and Cash's 8th regiments South Carolina Volunteers; of Shields' and Del Kemper's batteries, and of Flood's, Radford's, Payne's, Ball's, Wickman's and Powell's companies of

of, and nearly equidistant between, McLean's, Blackburn's, and Mitchell's Fords. Pending the development of the enemy's purpose, about ten (10) o'clock A. M., I established my headquarters at a central point-McLean's farm-house-near to McLean's and Blackburn's Fords, where two 6-pounders of Walton's battery were in reserve; but, subsequently during the engagement, I took post to the left of my reserve."

Having thus duly chronicled the various positions of his army, General Beauregard proceeds to narrate the incidents of the 18th July-to which it will be observed he gives the name of the battle of Bull Run-the second engagement to which that title is generally given being called by the Confederates the battle of Manassas. "Of the topo

graphical features of the country thus pounder rifle guns from a hill, over one occupied, it must suffice to say that Bull and a half miles from Bull Run. At the Run is a small stream running in this same time Kemper, supported by two locality, nearly from West to East, to companies of light infantry, occupied a its confluence with the Occoquan River, ridge on the left of the Centreville road, about twelve miles from the Potomac, about six hundred yards in advance of and draining a considerable scope of the ford, with two 6-pounder (smooth) country, from its source in Bull Run guns. At first the firing of the enemy Mountain to a short distance of the Po- was at random, but by half-past 12 P. M., tomac at Occoquan. At this season, he had obtained the range of our posihabitually low and sluggish, it is, how- tion, and poured into the brigade a ever, rapidly and frequently swollen by shower of shot, but without injury to us the summer rains until unfordable. The in men, horses and guns. From the disbanks for the most part are rocky and tance, however, our guns could not reply steep, but abound in long-used fords. with effect, and we did not attempt it, The country, on either side much broken patiently awaiting a more opportune moand thickly wooded, becomes gently roll- ment. Meanwhile a light battery was ing and open as it recedes from the pushed forward by the enemy, wherestream. On the Northern side the upon Kemper threw only six solid shot, ground is much the highest, and com- with the effect of driving back both the mands the other bank completely. Roads battery and its supporting force. This traverse and intersect the surrounding is understood to have been Ayres' batcountry in almost every direction. Fin- tery, and the damage must have been ally, at Mitchell's Ford, the stream is considerable to have obliged such a retabout equidistant between Centreville rograde movement on the part of that and Manassas, some six miles apart. On officer. The purposes of Kemper's posithe morning of the 18th, finding that the enemy was assuming a threatening attitude, in addition to the regiments whose positions have been already stated, I ordered up from Camp Pickens, as a reserve, in rear of Bonham's brigade, the effective men of six companies of Kelley's 8th regiment Louisiana Volunteers, and Kirkland's 11th regiment North Carolina Volunteers, which, having arrived the night before en route for Winchester, I had halted in view of the existing necessities of the service. Subsequently the latter was placed in posisition to the left of Bonham's brigade.

Appearing in heavy force in front of Bonham's position, the enemy, about meri lian, opened fire, with several 20

tion having now been fully served, his pieces and support were withdrawn across Mitchell's Ford, to a point previously designated, and which commanded the direct approaches to the ford.

"About half-past 11 o'clock A. M., the enemy was also discovered by the pickets of Longstreet's brigade advancing in strong columns of infantry, with artillery and cavalry, on Blackburn's Ford. At meridian the pickets fell back silently before the advancing fire across the ford, which, as well as the entire southern bank of the stream for the whole front of Longstreet's brigade, was covered at the water's edge by an extended line of skirmishers, while two 6-pounders of Walton's battery, under Lieutenant Garnett, were

GENERAL BEAUREGARD'S REPORT.

381

advantageously placed to command the as to be repelled with difficulty by the direct approach to the ford, but with comparatively small force at not more orders to retire to the rear as soon as than twelve hundred bayonets, with commanded by the enemy. The north- which Brigadier-General Longstree: met ern bank of the stream, in front of Long-him with characteristic vigor and intrestreet's position, rises with a steep slope pidity. Our troops engaged at this time at least fifty feet above the level of the were the 1st and 17th, and four compawater, leaving a narrow berme in front nies of the 11th regiment Virginia Volof the ford of some twenty yards. This unteers; their resistance was resolute, ridge formed for them an admirable na- and maintained with a steadiness worthy tural parapet, behind which they could, of all praise; it was successful, and the and did approach, under shelter, in enemy was repulsed. In a short time, heavy force, within less than 100 yards however, he returned to the contest with of our skirmishers; the southern shore increased force and determination, but was almost a plain, raised but a few feet was again foiled and driven back by our above the water for several hundred skirmishers and Longstreet's reserve comyards, then rising with a very gradual, panies, which were brought up and emgentle slope and undulations back to ployed at the most vigorously assailed Manassas. On the immediate bank there points at the critical moment. was a fringe of trees, but with little, if any, undergrowth or shelter, while on the other shore there were timber and much thick brush and covering. The ground in the rear of our skirmishers, and occupied by our artillery, was an old field extending along the stream about one mile, and immediately back or about half a mile to a border or skirting of dense, second-growth pines. The whole of the ground was commanded at all points by the ridge occupied by the enemy's musketry, as was also the country to the rear, for a distance much beyond the range of 20-pounder rifle guns, by the range of hills on which their batteries were planted, and which, it may be further noted, commanded also all our approaches from this direction to the three threatened fords. Before advancing his infantry, the enemy maintained a fire of rifled artillery from the batteries just mentioned for half an hour, then he pushed forward a column of over 3,000 infantry to the assault, with such a weight of numbers

'It was now that Brigadier-General Longstreet sent for reinforcements from Early's brigade, which I had anticipated by directing the advance of General Early, with two regiments of infantry and two pieces of artillery. As these came upon the field the enemy had advanced a third time with heavy numbers to force Longstreet's position. Hay's regiment, 7th Louisiana Volunteers, which was in advance, was placed on the bank of the stream, under some cover, to the immediate right and left of the ford, relieving Corse's regiment, 17th Virginia Volunteers; this was done under a heavy fire of musketry, with promising steadiness. The 7th Virginia, under Lieutenant-Colonel Williams, was then formed to the right, also under heavy fire, and pushed forward to the stream, relieving the 1st regiment Virginia Volunteers. At the same time two rifle guns, brought up with Early's brigade, were moved down in the field to the right of the road, so as to be concealed from the enemy's artille

ry by the girth of timber on the immedi- was directed against the enemy's infanate bank of the stream, and there opened try, whose bayonets, glean ing above the fire, directed only by the sound of the tree-tops, alone indicated their presence enemy's musketry. Unable to effect a and force. This drew the attention of a passage, the enemy kept up a scattering battery placed on a high commanding fire for some time. Some of our troops ridge, and a duel began in earnest. For had pushed across the stream, and several a time the aim of the adversary was insmall parties of Corse's regiment, under accurate, but this was quickly corrected, command of Captain Mayre, met and and shot fell and shells burst thick and drove the enemy with the bayonet; but fast in the midst of our battery, woundas the roadway from the ford was too ing in the course of the combat Captain narrow for a combined movement in Eschelman, five privates, and the horse force, General Longstreet recalled them of Lieutenant Richardson. From the to the south bank. Meanwhile, the re- position of our pieces and the nature of mainder of Early's infantry and artillery the ground, their aim could only be dihad been called up-that is, six compa- rected at the smoke of the enemy's artilnies of the 24th regiment Virginia Vol-lery; how skillfully and with what exeunteers, under Lieutenant-Colonel Hair-cution this was done can only be realized ston, and five pieces of artillery, one rifle by an eye-witness. For a few moments. gun and four 6-pounder brass guns, in- their guns were silenced, but were soon cluding two 6-pounder guns under Lieu- reopened. By direction of General tenant Garnett, which had been pre- Longstreet his battery was then advanced viously sent to the rear by General by hand out of the range now ascertained Longstreet. This infantry was at once by the enemy, and a shower of spherical placed in position to the left of the ford, case, shell and round shot flew over the in a space unoccupied by Hays, and the heads of our gunners; but one of our artillery was unlimbered in battery to pieces had become hors de combat from the right of the road in a line with the an enlarged vent. From the new positwo guns already in action. A scatter- tion our guns fired as before, with no ing fire of musketry was still kept up by other aim than the smoke and flash of the enemy for a short time, but that was their adversaries' pieces-renewed and soon silenced. urged the conflict with such signal vigor "It was at this stage of the affair that and effect, that gradually the fire of the a remarkable artillery duel was com- enemy slackened, the intervals between menced and maintained on our side with their discharges grew longer and longer, a long-trained professional opponent, su- finally to cease, and we fired a last gun perior in character as well as in the at a baffled, flying foe, whose heavy number of his weapons, provided with masses in the distance were plainly seen. improved munitions and every artillery to break and scatter, in wild confusion appliance, and at the same time occupy- and utter rout, strewing the ground with ing the commanding position. The reThe re-cast-away guns, hats, blankets and knapsults were marvellous, and fitting precur- sacks, as our parting shells were thrown sors to the artillery achievements of the 21st of July. In the outset, our fire

among them. In their retreat one of their pieces was abandoned, but from