Weekly Ohio State journal (Columbus, Ohio : 1858), 1861-08-13 page 1 |
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o OOLT7MBUS: Ooolie. XTvurtt c Go. Office, New Journal Bnlldinji, Mo. 19 Rut BUM Strut, near the l'ost Office. TERnS inVAHIABLY IM ADVANCE Dart.'. .6 00 jinr year. By thaCrridr,ir wek l'Jctn. Tki-WikklIw 8 DO pr year, WsbrLT I tlO Tour iubtcrlboriftiid ontt to the net Ur uj of UnjOliib, not tuoiivwitlreii fl 00 Tn M " " ' " " 12 00 Twenty " ' 20 00 CONGRESSIONAL. SENATE. Wabbihoto. Autr. 5th. Mr Saulsbury moved to tales up the resolutions offered by him some time since, proposing certain amendments lo the fJonstltution for n adjustment of the present difficulties. The motion was disagreed to, vets 11, nays 24, Mr. Breckinridge moved to take up tbe confiscation, bill as returned from the House, tod moved to ooncour in the amendment! of the House. The motion was arreed to. Mr. Breckinridge asked for the yess and nays on the amendment of the House. The amendment was agreed to, eas Z4, nays u, NayBbreokinridge, Brirnt, Carlisle, Cowan, Johnson of Mo., Latham, Pearce, Folk, Powell, nice, and oauisDiiry, Mr. Hale reported a bill providing for further enlistment in tbe tkitv. 1'assed. Mr. Wilson moved to take up tbe House bill to provide for the fffceiency of the Engineer Corps, Agreed to. Several amendments were made ana Dill passed. Mr. Foster moved 4o take np the report of the committee on the Judioiary in the esse of tbe Kansas oontesicd seat. Mr. Lane said he had never accepted the appointment of Brigadier General, or aoted in any way as a Brigadier General. If the Kansas brigade, after it was formed, should signify a desire lo have him as their leader, then lie should feel it his duly to lead them, and when he did accept of any suoh appointment, then he would inform the Senate and resign his seat. After further discnbdinn the Senate refused to proceed to the oonsidtitation of the report. The amendment to lite bill to increase the pay of volunteers, &c, four dollars per month, instead of two dollars, was curried by yeas, IB; mays 17. Mr. Wilson moved to amend by adding the bill approving and legalising the military proclamations of the President. Mr. Breckinridge said that the amendment looked a little like tbe joint resolution approving tho acts of the President, etc. He thought, however, that in this amendment there were tome omissions whi.h looked like leaving the otbor resolution alone. Mr. Wilpon said there was an omission but that he intended to call up the joint reaolutiou. The nmendment was agreed to and tbe bill paused. After executive session, Senate adjourned. Wasuinotik, Aug. 6. The following is the conclusion of yesterday's Senate proceedings: After Executive tension, which was nearly 8J hours leng, the Senate opened again at lO.iiO. Tho House bill to increase the number of Representatives to 239 Was taken up and after a short discussion was laid over. On motion of Mr. Carlisle the Senate proceeded again to Executive session at 11:30. The Senate adjourned till 9:30 to-day. Washington, Aug. 6. Mr. Dixoa moved to suspend tbe litHh rule of the Senate, lo allow the committee on Contingent Expenses to report ft resolution and have it passed Ute tame day. , Agreed tt. . Mr. Dixon reported a resolution to pay Hon. I Anbury Dickens his salary as clerk of the Sen-1 ate for one year from the present time. The , reBolntion passed, amounting to $3,000. The bill to punish certain crimes against the i ttnited States was taken up and passed. Tbe Senate refused to consider the resolution j of Mr. May, regarding the Baltimore police i com mission ere, by 21 yeas and 83 nays. j AU pap?rn relative to the Kansas con tatted teat wem ordered to be printed. Mr, Wilson moved to take up the joint resolution approving of all the acts of the Prtii-1 dent, whoa Mr. Doolittle moved that the Senate go into ; executive' session. The motion was disagreed to by the following vote: Ymaj Messrs. Baker, Bayard, Bingham, Carlisle, Chandler, Collamer, Dixon, Doolittle, Fessenden, Foote, Harlan, King, Lane of Kansas, Morrill, Powell, Bice, Raulsbury, Thompson, Ten Eyck and Wilmot 20. Nays Messrs. Breckinridge, Bright, Browning, Clark, Cowan, Foster, Grimes, Howe, Johnson of Tennessee, Johnson of Missouri, Kennedy, Lane of Indiana, Latham, McDougal, Polk, Pemeroy, Sherman, Sumner, Wade, Wilkinson nd wilsoo 21. Mr. Breckinridge said that in the early part of this session Senators were very anxious to vote for this resolution approving of all tbe acts of tbe President. Now there seemed to be a recoil. He thought it was a good sign. Mr. Fessenden said that he bad always been ready to vote. Tho argument seemed to bo made that the Senate was afraid to vote. The gentleman could hae all the privilege of the argument. Mr. Trumbull sail be was not ready to vote for the resolution until after further consideration.By consent a resolution was passed to pay F. P. Stanton, who contested the seat of Senator Lane, bin mileage. Mr. King then moved that the Senate go Into executive seeion, which was agreed to. Senate, at 12:16, adjaurnodiin dir. HOUSE. tTasihjotoi, Aug. 6. Mr. Phelps, of Mo, appeared in bis seat for the first time this session.The Speaker laid before the House a letter from Mr. Curtis, nUtliig that he bad seat to the Governor of Iowa h resignation as a Representative from that 3'ate, the duties of a military character prompting him to this oonrse, he having been appointed ft Brigadier General. Mr. May introduced ft preamble concluding with ft resolution, that the Republican party, : having achieved success on a sectional and , social issue, la responsible for our present national misfortunes; that the uncompromising spirit of that party has prevented compromise when the same was practicable; that it is im-1 possible by tbe force of arms to subjugate the , seceded Slates which are united to ft man in defense of their sacred rights against the most j cruel and merciless usages, &c; that It becomes tbVduty of Congress lo procure an armistice to procure peace, and direct so to compromise as to' preserve the Union if nousible. and that ftV this cannot be done to prov ide for the neaoeab separation of the Stales which have seceded, and oiotners wnicn may hereafter secede. uttjeouons were made to the reception of the solution. Mr. May moved the suspension of the lules that the resolution might be received. Motion was disagreed to. Mr. Kellogg, of 111., asked and obtained leave to report from tbe Judiciary Commitieea bill ixing the number of tbe members of the House of RepresentAtives, after 18(13 at 23U. to be ap-1 portioned among tbe several states In accord- jtvoj mum vi v oovt mti was WnnState VOLUME LI. Tbe House concurred in the Senate's amend" menttothe bill authorising adlitional enlistment in the navy, which strikes out tho word marine. The bill was passed. The Senate joint resolution authorising experiments with James' rifled oannon projectiles was passed. The Seuate bill to increase tho engineer corps, with ito amendment providing for two additional Inspector Generals for the army, was passed. Mr. Porter, from the Judiciary Committee, re-ported the Senate bill providing for holding District and Circuit Courts of the United States during tbe temporary absence or inability of the Judges. Passed. I The House took up tbe Senate bill adding four dollars per month to the pay of non-com missioned offioers, musicians, volunteers, marines, ssamea, and ordinary seamen, and approving and legating all the debts under the proclamation of the President after March 4th, 1801, respecting the army and navy, regarding them of the aame effeot as if they bad been warranted by the previously expressed bill of Congress. Mr. Stevens remarked that the expenses of tne uovernmont were at the rate of l,2bO,UO0 dollars per day. He could not see where the money was to come from. After some discussion the bill pissed. Mr. Lovejoy introduced ft bill to repeal so much of the law as exempts a witness who testifies before an inveitigating committee from prosecution in a court or justice. Mr. Wickliffe said that he would vote for it. as under that clause the contractors, and the u'-npany, and the State who stole the ludian bonds gut clear. Without disposing of the bill the House ad journed. Wabhimotom, Aug. C The House passed the Senate bill relative to tho Supreme Court of the u mted stateB in case of appeals. The Senate bill was paused with an amendment, appropriating $20,000 for repairs to the Long Bridge over the Potomac. Various measures were proposed to be taken up, by different members, but objections were interposed. Tbe House passed the Senate bill to inorcase the pay ot the regular army and volunteers. On motion of Sir. Cox a resolution was adopt-ed calling on the President, if compatible with public service, to communicate to the Honso, at the next session, all correspondence with foreign nations since 1H03, relative to maritime rights. Mr. Wiekliffe took occasion lo say the intelligence from Old Kentucky is, that Kentucky is for the Union, and being the firut coming into the Union, she will be the last to go out of it. This announcement was received with wild delight. Tie friends of the Union, both on the floor and in the galleries, clapped their hands and otherwise gave vent to their faetinn. Ex- clam Hons were heard, "Good for Old Kei tuck." The applause was long continued, and a more animated scene was seldem ever wit nessed. House then adjourned rim dit. Official Account of the Repulse. General McDowell's Official Report sf the The following is General McDowell's official report of tbe recent battle near Manassas: HftADQCAHTIM DftPAfcTM KMT NoftTHKASTKftX Vr to iii ia, J. Arlihuton, Vs., August 4, 1801. J Lieutenant- Colonel D, TApnten4, Atsvtant AjuUxnt-Qtntral Headquarter! o tht Armyt Wathingtottf D. C. Colonol: I have the honor to submit the fol lowing report of the battle of tbe lst of July, near Aianaasas, Virginia, una Been delayed until this time from the inability of the subor dinate commanders to get earlier ft true account of tne state or ineir commands. In my communication to you of the 20th ult., I stated It as my Intention to more that afternoon and drive the enemy from the east side of Bull Run, so as to enable the engineers lo make a sufficiently accurate reoonnoisanoe to justify our future movements, littler iu the day they had obtained enough information of tbe passage across the stream to dispense with this reconnoieanoe, and it was decided to , move without delay. It had been my intention to move the several columns out on the road a few miles on the evening of the 20th, so that thuy would have a shorter march in the morn ing; but I deferred to those who had the greatest distance to go, and who preferred starting early in the morning, and making but one move. On the evening of the 20ih ultimo, my cum-mand was mostly at or near Centreville. The enemy waa at or near Manassas, distant from Centreville about seven miles to the southwest. Centreville is a village of a few houses, mostly on the west side of a ridge running nearly nortn and souto. i tie road irom centreville to Manassas Junction was along this ridge, and orosses Bull Run about three miles from the former place. The Warrenton torn pike, which runs nearly east and west, goes over this ridge, through the village, and orosses Bull Runabout four miles from it, Bull Run having a course Dciween tne crossing irom nortnwest to sou in-east. The first division (Tyler's) was station ed on the north side of the Warrenton turnpike, and on the eastera slope of the Centreville ridge, two brigades on the same road, and a mile and a half in advance, to the west of the ridge, and one brigade on lbs road from Centre, ville to Manassas, where it crosses Bull Run at Blackburn's Ford, where General Tyler had the engagement of the 18th ultimo. The second division (Hunter's) was on th Warrenton turnpike, oi mile east of Centreville. The third xii vision (Hemtielman s) was en ft road known m the Old Braddoek read, which comes into Centreville from the southeast, about ft mile and a half from the village. The fifth division.! (Mile bj was on tne same road wnn the Tntrd-division, and between It and Centreville. A map which is herewith, markd A, will show these positions better than I oan describe them. On Friday night a train of subsistence arrived, and on Saturday its contents were ordered to be issued to the command, and tbe men reauired to have three days' rations in their nf ersacKs. un Saturday orders were issued for tbe available force to march. As reported to you in my letter of the 19th ultimo, my personal reoonnoisanoe of the roads to the South had shown that it was not practicable to oarry out the original plan of turning the enemy's position on their right: The affair of the 18th as Blackburn's Fori showed he was too strong at that point for us to fores ft passage there without a very great loss, and if we did that it would bring us in front of his strong position at Manams, wiioh wu not dsn red. COLUMBUS. 0., TUESDAY, AUG. 13, 186l Our information was that the stone bridge, over whioh the Warrenton road orossed Bull Hun, tft that vaat rr It). 1 r to the west of Centreville. was defended hv . battery in position, and tbe road on this side of the stream impeded by a heary abattis. The alternative was therefore to turn the extreme left of his position. Reliable information was obtained of an undefended ford about three miles above the bridge, there being another ford between it and the bridirs. which wan defemtpH It was therefore determined to take the road to the upper ford, and after crossing, to get be- uinaine iorces, guarding the lower ford and the bridge, and after oocupying tbe Warrenton road eatit of the bridge, to send out a force to destroy the railroad at or near Gainesville, and thus break up the communication between tho enemy s forces at Manassas and those in tbe valley of Virrinia. hefor W Innhefllnr. which had been held in check by Major General Patterson.Brigadier General Tyler was directed to move wiininreeoi ma brigades on tbe Warrenton road, and commence cannonading the enemy's batteries, while Hunter's division, moving after him, should, after passing a little stream called Cub Run. turn to the rinht and north, and around lo the upper ford, and there turn south ou get oenind tne enemy. Uol. lleinttelman s division was to follow Hunter s as far as the turning off place to tho lower ford, where he was to crosB after the enemy should have been driven out by Hunter's division; the fifth division (Miles ) to be in reserve. on the Centreville ridge. 1 bad felt anxiens about the road from Manassas by Blackburn s l ord to Centreville, along the ridge, fearing that whilst we should be in force to the front, and endeavoring to turn the enemy's position, we ourselves should be turned by him by this road; for if be should once obtain possession of this ridge, which overlooks ill the country to tho west to the foot of the Blue Ridge, we should have been irretrievably cut off and destroyed. I had, therefore, directed this point to be held in force, and sentun engineer to extemporise some field works to strenghten the position. Tbe Fourth Division (Ronyon's) bad not been brought to the front further than to guard our communications by way cf Vienna and the Or-angs and Alexandria Railroad. His advanced regiment was abrut Beveu miles in the fear of Centreville. The division was ordered to march at half-past two o'clock a. m., so as to arrive on the ground early in the day, and thus avoid the heat which is to be expected at this season. There was delay in the first division getting on; of its camp on the road, and the other divisions were in consequence between two and three hourp behind the time appointed a great misfortune as events turned out. The wood road leading from tbe Warrenton turnpike to the upper ford was much'longer than we counted unon the ven tral direction of the stream being oblic.ee to tbe u we naring me obtuse angle on our tide. General Tyler commenced with his artillery at balf-past six a. m., but the enemy did not reply, and after some time it became a question whether he was in any force In our front, and If he did not intend himself to make an attack, and make it by Blackburn's Ford. After firing several times, and obtaining no response, I held one of Heintxieman s brigade in reserve, in ease we should have to send any troops back to reinforce Mile's division. The other brigades moved forward as directed in the general orders. On reaching the ford, at Sudley's Spring, I found part of the leading brigade of Hunter's division (Burnside's) bad crossed, but the men were slow in getting oyer, stopping to drink. As at this time tbe clouds of dust from the direction of Manassas indicated the immediate approach of a large force, and fearing it might come down on the bead of the column before tbe division could all get over and sustain It, orders were sent back to tbe neads of regiments to break from the col-mn and oome forward separately as fan as possible. Orders were sent by an officer to tbe reserve brigade of Heinttelman's division to come by a nearer road across the fields, and anaide-decamp was sent to Brig. General Tyler to direct him to press forward his attack, as large bodies of the enemy were passing in front of him to attack the division which had crossed over. Tbe ground between the stream and the road leading from Sudley s Spring south, and over which Burnside's brigade marched, was for about ft mile from the ford thickly wooded,, whilst on the right of tbe road for the same distance the country was divided between fields and woods. About a milo from tho road the country on both sides of the road is open, and for nearly a mile further large rolling fields I eitenddown to tbe Warrenton turnpike, which 1 orosses what became the field of buttle throush the valley of a small water course, ft tributary to Bull Run. Shortly alter the leadine reriment of the first brigade reached the open space, and whilst oiners and toe second brigade were crossing to the front and right, the enemy opened his fire, beginning with artillery and 'following up wnn miantry, ine leading brigade (Uurn side's) bad to sustain this shock for a short time without support, and did it well. The battalion of regulaii n fan try was sent to sustain it, and shortly afterwards the other oorps of Porter's brigade, and a regiment de- taoued irom Heinlsetmun a division to the left, forced the enemy back far enough to allow Sherman's and Reyes's brigades of Tyler's di vision to cross from tbelr position on the Warren ion road. These drove tht right of the enemy, understood to have been commanded by Beauregard, from tho front of tho field, and out of the detached woods, and down to the road, and across it up the slopes on the other side. Whilst this was going on Heinttelman's division was moving down the field to the stream, and np tht road beyond. Beyond the Warrenton road, and to the left of the road. down which onr troops had marched from Bud-ley's Spring, is a bill with ft farm house on it. Behind this hill the enemy jswd, early in the day, some of his most annoying batteries planted. Aorois the road from this hill was snother hill, or rather elevated ridge, or table of land. Tho hottest part of the oontcst was for the possession of this hill with a house on ; it. The foroe en eared here was Heintielmaii's i division. Wilcox's and Howard's brigades on I the right, supported by part of Porter's brigade and the oavalry under Palmer, and Franklin's brigade of Heinlsetman's division, Sherman's brigade of Tyler's division in the centre and up the road, whilst Reyes's brigade of Tyler's division was on the left, attacking tho batteries near tne stone bridge. j The Rhode Island battery of Burnside's brigade also partlcipatsd in this attack by its fire' from the north of tht turnpike. Tbt enemy was understood to have been commanded by J. x.. JoiuLBton. UickettB battery, which did mob effective Bervice and played so brilliant a part lin this contest, was, together with Grimm's . . . ' . L . ... battery, on tbe side of the bill, and became the otjeot or tbe special attention of the enemy, who succeeded our officers mistaking one of his regiments for one of our own, and allowing h iu a,pproacu wniiout nnng upon it in dis-ablinqphe battery, and then attempting to take it. Twee times was he repulsed by different corpse in succession, and driven back, and the guns taken by hand, the horses being killed and pulled away. The third time it was supposed by us alt that the repulse was final, for he was driven entirely from the hill, and so far beyond it as not to be in sight, and all were certain tbe day was ours. He had before (his neen driven nearly a mile and a half, and was beyoud tbe Warrenton road, which was entirely in our possession from the stone bridge westward, and our engineers were just completing the removal of the abatis across the road, to allow our reinforcement (Rchcnck'a brigade and Ayer's battery) to join us. The enemy waa evidently disheartened and broken. But we had been fighting since half-past ten o'clock in tho morning, and it was after threw o'clock in the afternoon. The men who had been up since two o'clock in the morning, and bad made what, to ihuse unused to such thlnpB seemed a long march before coming into action, though the longest distance gone over was not more than nine and a half miles ; and though they had three days provisions served out to them the day be lore, many no doubt did not eat them, or threw tbetn away on the march or during the battle, and were therefore without food. Borne of the regiments which had been driven from the bill in the first two attempts of the enemy lo keep possession of it had become shaken, were unsteady, and bad many men out of the ranks. It was at this time that the enemy's re-in- foroements oame to his aid from tbe railroad train, understood to have just arrived from the valley with the residue of Johnston's armv . They threw themselves in the woods on our right and towards tbe rear of our right, and opened ft firs of musketry ou our men, which caused them to break and retire down the hill side. This soon degenerated into disorder, for which there was no remedy. Every effort was made to rally them, even beyond the reach of me enemy e nre, tut tn vain, ine battalion of regular Infantry alone moved up the hill oppo- maintained itself until our men could get down to anu across me n arrenton turnpiae, on the way back to the volition we hadocoSmed in tha morning. Tbe plain was covered with the re. treating troops, and. they seemed to infect those with whom they came in contact. The retreat soon became ft rout, and this degenerated still further into a panic Finding this state of affairs waa beyond tbe efforts of all ose who had assisted so faithful- ly during mev ng end hard day s work in gaining almost to obiest of our wishes, and that nothing remained on the field but to recognize what we could no longer prevent, I gave the necessary orders to protect their withdrawal, begging the men to form in line, and offer the appearance at least, or organisation. They (returned by tbe fords to tbt Warrenton rod. protected, by my order, by Colonel Porter's force of regulars. Once on tbe road, and the different corps coming together in small parties, many without officers, they became intermiogL ed, and all organization was lost. Orders nad been sent back to Mile s division for a brigade to move forward and protect this retreat, and Colonel Blenker's brirade was aetacnea lor uus purpose, and was ordered to go as rar rorward as tne point where the retd to the right loft tbe main road. By referring to the eeLeral order it will be seen that, while the operations were to go on in front, an attack was to be made at Blackburn's Ford by tho brigade (Richardson st stationed there. A reference to bis report, and to that of Major 11 unt, commanding tho artillery, show that this part of the plan was well and effectively carried out. It succeeded In deceiving the enemy for ft considerable time, and in keen ing in check a part of his force. The fire of the artillery at this point is represented as particularly destructive. At the time of our retreat, teems great ac tivity in this direction, much firing, and col-umos of dust, I became anxious for this plsoe, fearing if it were turned or forced the whole stream of onr retreating mass would be captured or destroyed. After providing for the prokciion of the retreat by Porter's and Blenker's brigades, I repaired to Richardson's, and found tbe whole force ordered to be stationed for the holding of the road from Manassas by Blackburn's ford to Centreville, on the march, under tbe orders from the Division Commander 1 tor centreville. 1 immediate v halted it. and ordered it lo take up the best line of defence across tne ridge that their position admitted of, and subsequently taking in person the command of this part of lbs army, 1 caused such disposition of tbe forces which had been added lo by the First and Second New Jersey and the Ue Kalb regiments, ordered up from Runyon's reserve, before going forward, as would best serve to chock the enemy. Tho ridge being uem id mm way, tne retreating current passed slowly through Centreville to Ihe rear. The enemy followed us from the ford as far as Cub ttuo, and owing to the road becoming blooked up at the crossing, caused us muoh damage there, for the artillery could not nasa. and m- ral pieces and caissons bad to be abandoned. in tne panic the horses hauling the caissons and ammunition were out from their placet by persons to escape with, and in this way much confusion was oaused, the panic aggravated, and the road encumbered. Not only were pieces of artillery lost, bat also Bin. of th. tmhu. lagou urrjing U. ounM. At luadown moit of our men had gotton be Mad CtntrfTillt ridgt, tnd il bcotmo qutntion wbtthor we should or ehoutd not ende.for lo mtkeiatiad there. The condition of our artillrr and its ammunitioD, and the want of food for the men, who hud ffentraltj alieodnned or thrown awav all that had been issued th dt befor., and the utter demoralization of the mass of the arnij, seemed lo all who were near enough to be oonsntled division and brigade oommandors and Stat to admit of no altcrna-tlve but lo fall baek; tho more so as the position at lllaokburn s ford was then in possession of tho enemy, aud be was already turning our left. On sending the oltic.ri of the staff to the different camps, they fouod, as they reported to me, that our decision bad been anticipated by the troops, mst ot those who bad oome from the front being already on the road lo the rear, tbe panio with whioh ihey oauie in still continuing U3 nurrying mem along. At o'clock the rear guard (Blenker's brigade) mored, ooierlng the retreat, which w.m effected during the night and next morning. Th. troop. ..Fairfax station ..avin, ajVwa'a NUMBER 17. oars took with them the bulk of the supplies wnicn aaa oeen sent mere. My aide-de-camp, Major Wadsworth, stayed at Fairfax Court House till late in the morning, to see that, tbe stragglers and weary and worn-out soldiers were not left behind. I transmit herewith the reports of the several division and brigade commanders, to which I refer for the conduct of particular regiments and corps, and a consolidated return of the amen, wounded and misBing. From tbe latter it will be seen that our killed amounted to nine teen offioers and four hundred and sixty-two non-oom missioned offioers and privates, and our wounded to sixty-four officers and nine hundred and forty-seven non-commissioned officers and privates. Many of the wounded will aoon be able to join the ranks, and will leave our total of killed and disabled from further service under one thousand. Tbe return of the missing is very inaccurate, the men supposed to be miss ing having fallen into other regiments and gone to Washington many of the Zouaves to New i ark. in one brigade the number origianally reported at six hundred and sixteen was vah- terday reduoed to one hundred and seventy-four. These reductions are being made daily. In a few days a more correct return oan be made. Of course, nothing accurate is known of the toss oi tne enemy. Anomcerof their furoes. coming frem them with a flag of truce, limited eighteen hundred killed and wounded, and other information shows this to be much under tne true number. The officer commanding tbe Eleventh New York Zouaves, and Colonel Heintileman, say that the returns of that regiment cannot be relied on, as many of those reported among the oamalties have absented themselves since their return and have gone to New York. Among the missing reported are many of our surgeons, who remained in attendance on our wounded, and were, against the rules of modern warier. made prisoners. ine Issue of this hard fought battle, in whioh certainly our troops Inn ao credit in'their con'- flict on the field with un toemy ably comaiatd- ) uporior iu nuniners, wtio nad but a short distance lo march, and always undir ooor, whilst our men were of necessity out on ihM open fields, and should not prevent full credit 1 being given to those officers aad oorr-s whose 1 services merited success if they did not attain 'To oid Twlul0 1 will on,T mnltm ' thn num. ftf thn. nn, 1 . , I SIJS'1.0?? nb ' division and brigade commnnders. 1 bej? to roier iu inmr roporis ror toe names or those serving under their immediate orders, desiring that on this subject they be considered as part of my own. I olaim oredil for the officers of mystflff, and for thoie acting as such during the day. They did everything in their power, eapoaing themselves fmly waen required, and doing all that men. could do ; oommunioating otders, guidiog the columns, exhorting the troops, tallying them when broken, and providing for them the best the circumstances admitted. They are as follows : Firjt Lieulenaiit U. W. Kingsbury, Fifth ar- Miicrjr, Miu-uo-oftmp. Msjor Clarence 8. Brown, Now Tork militia volunteers, aid-de-oamp. Major James 8. Wadsworth. N V..V -III. tia volunteers, aid-de-oamp. The latter, who ui lus iiuour io oe on my personal statl, had a horse shot under him in Ihe hottest of the tight. Captain James B. Pry, Assistant Adjutant-General.Captain 0. B. TiUingast, Assistant Querter-ler, who discharged alone the important and burdensome duties of fa is department with the army, and who was mortally woundrd while acting with the artillery, to which he formerly belonged, and in which he waa doenlr ini.r. sled. Captain H. P. Clark. Chief of Bl,.l.i... Department. major Meyer, Btgnal OfBoer.and M.J. Maltulu McDonnell, who aoted as aides. ourgeon w. o. King, and Assistant Burgin ...BKiuuvr, j.icuic.l 1UJi.rimiUl. Major J. 0, Barnard. Eoiineer. and senln. i hia department with the army, gave moat im. portent aia. first Lieutenant Fred. 8. Trime, Engineer Captain A. W. Whitmle. First Lientemnt 11. L. Abbott asd Second uemeneat u. B. rutnem, Topographical Engi neers. Major W. F. Barry, Fifth artillery, Chief of Lieutenant George 0. Stronr. Ordn fleer. Major W. H. Wood. First infantrv. Antin in spector-General. Second Lieutenant Guy Henry, who joined me uu me upiu, waa oi service as an aid-de-camp Thefollowinr officers com man fl Art r1li;n. and brigades, and in tbe several places their uiiijr omitm mvm uiu mosi eiiective service and behaved in the most irallant manner- Brigadier General Tyler, Connecticut Volun teers. Colonel David Hunter, Third oavalry, severe ly WVUUHIV IUD uiRiigi CIS UlVlSlOft, Colonel 6. P. lleinttelman. 8 Tflnloanlh tn fsntry, wounded in the arm while leading hia .....s.vu im. buuvu uu ma mil. Brigadier Ueneral Scbenek, Ohio volunteer-commanding Second brigade, First division. ' Colonel E. D. Keyes, Eleventh infantry, commanding First brigade, First division. Colonel W. 1. Franklin, Twelfth Infantry First brigade. Third division. " Colonel W. T. Sherman, Thirteenth Infantry commanding Third brigade, First division. : Colonel Andrew Porter, Sixteenth infantrv -a "B"., ovcuua uivision. Colonel A. B. Barnside. Rhode Island nl,, tears, commanding Second brigade, Se.uod di- Colonel 0. B. Wilcox, Miihigan volunteers commanding Second brigade, Third division! who was wouuded and taken prisoner wblle on the hill, in the hottest of the fight. Colonel 0. 0. Howard. Main. vnl,,nl.B commanding Third brigade, Third division. Colonel J. B. Riohardson, Michigan volun-leers, commanding Fourth brigade, First diri-sion.Colonel Blonker. New York M,,ni manding First brigade, Fifth division. Colonel Daviee, New York eolnnteere, commanding Second brigade, Fifth division As my position may warrant, even if It does not call for soma explanation of the oauses, aa far as they can be aeen, which led to the re-suits herein staled, I trust It may not 1 out of F.-v u . roier in a lew words to the immediate antecedents of Ihe battle. When 1 submit-ted to the General-in-Chief and, In oomplianoe with his verbal instructions, the plan of operation! and estimate of foroe required, the time I VVKK K.L ADYKHTlblNa. Par Square, on Insertion i P SiM-t, each vwk la addition so DitnlkiMl jl,lTrtiuniili h.U it At. t iu. HjtucMl fiuUtaii, liauiiU thi ordwar rate. All notlcea required to be pabllibed ty law, lt-gtl ratea NntiflMof rawtingi, charitable octotii,nrecompuile1 a-.) oitlf price. . AtlTranrimt AdrrtitmenU mutt bt paid i dtod. This rule will nut b vnrietl Irom. HoAriTBrtlmmflnt Uk txrrpt Tor a deflnite trii for the 8ih of July, Monday. Kvery facility possible was given me by the General-in-Chief and beads of tbe administrative departments in making tbe necessary preparations. Bnt the regiments, owing, I was told, to a want of transportation, came over slowly. Mauy of them did not come across till eight or nine days after tbe time fixed upon, and went forward without my even seeing them, and without having been together before in a brigade. Tht sending reinforcements to General Patterson, by drawing off the wagons, was a farther and unavoidable cause of dtlay. Notwithstanding tbe herculean efforts of the Quartermaster General and his favoring mt in evtry Way, the wagons for ammunition, nib-sistenoe, &o., and the horses for the trains nd the artillery did sot arrive for more thi u ft week after the time appointed to move. I was not even prepared as late as the U.tb oltirao, and the desire I should move becime ffr,.l1 aud it was wished I should not, it' pw: :-, delay longer than Tuesday, the lGtli ul'ior,, When I did set out, on the 10th, I wu strl flcient in wagons for tubyistence. Bur 1 forward, trusting to their being proem m! -i time lo foliuw me. The trains thus hur.': gathered together, with horses, wagons, u:. . 4 and wagon managers, all new and unuiei to each other, moved with difficulty and disorder, and was the nuse of a d- y s delay In gutting tbe provibhus forward, nuking it neoesiary to make on Sundty the attack we should have made on Saturday. I couM not, wiih every cierttun, get forward with the troupe earlier than we did. I wished to go to Centreville the second dev, whioh would hitve taken us there on tuy il'h, and enabled us, so far as they were concerned, to go iu:o action on tbe 19th, instead of the 21si; but when I went forward from Fairfax Court-House, bey end Geimantown, to urge them forward, I was told it was impossible for the men to march further. They bad only come from Vienna, about trix miles, and it was not more tli an signed u half miles farther to Centreville i 7in a11 march of twelve and a half miles but the men were foot weiry, not so musb, i was told, by tbe distance marched, as by the time they hud been on loot, caused bv the ob. slrtictious in the roid and the slow puce we bad to more to avoid ambuscades. The teen were, moreover, uiKiocustomed to niuronuig, their bodies not in condition for that kind of work, and not used to carry iug even the load of light marching order. We crossed Bull Run with ubout 18,000 men of all arras, tho fifth division (Miles and Richardson's brigade) on the left, and Schenok'a brigade, of Tyler s division, on the left of the road, near the stone bridge, not participating in the main action. Tbe numbera opposed lo-us have been variously estimated. Imnvsufele say, and avoid even the appearance of exagge- r.iu, Mi, tuv UKB17 DTOUgat Up all 00 OOUtd whioh were not kept engaged elsewhere. Ue hud notice of our coming on the 17th, and had from that time until the Hist to bring up whatever he had. It is known that in estimating the force to go against Manassas, I enfraged net to hare lo do with the enemy's forees under Joliiuou, then kept in check in the valley by Mnjor-Ueneral Patterson, or those kept engaged by Mujor-General Butler, and I knew every effort wu made by the General-in-Chief that this ehuuld be done, and that even If Johnston should join Beauregard, it would not be because he could be followed by General Patterson, but for causee not necessary for me to refer to von know them all. Thie was not done, and the enemy waa free to assemble front every direction in numbera only limited by the amount of his railroad rolling stock and hiisopply of provisions. To the foroee, therefore, we druve in from Fairfax Court-house, Fairfax 8i,ti0n Germanlown and Centreville, and those under Beauregard at Manasaaa, most be added those under Johnston at Winchester, and those brought np by Davis, from Richmond to ether placet at lie -inb, to which Is to be s ided the I. rye. '" "rdered by the Richmond authoritiee, vtiiun waa ordered to aesemb.e at Manassas. iVoal all this amounted to I c.nnnt "inly much more than we attacked them with. I could not, aa I have said, more early push en falter, nor eould I de!y. A lr,e and Ihe best part of my forces were three months' volon. teers, whose term of oervice was about to expire, but who were sent forward as having long enough to serve for the purpose of the t xpodi-tion. On tbe eve of the battle Ihe Fourth Pennsylvania regiment of volunteer and the battery of volunteer artillery of the New York Eight militia, whose term of service expired, insisted on their disoharge, I wrote lo Ihe regiment, expressing a request for them lo remain a short lime, and the Hon. Kcrretary of War, who was at the time on the ground, tried to induce the battery to remain at least five days. But in vain. They insisted on their dlreharpo that night. It waa grunted, and the next morning when the army moved forward into battle, those troops moved to the rear lo the sound of tbe enemy's cannon. In the next few dirt, day by day, I should havs lost ten thousand of tlie best armed, drilled, officered and disciplined troops In tht army. In other words, evsry day which addod to th strength of the enemy made us weiker. In conclusion I desire to say, In rcfcrenie lo tho events of the 21st ultimo, that ihe geuenl order for lit battle to which I referred, w i -, with slight modifloatione, literally continue. I lo; that the corps wsre brought over Bull Un i in ihemanner proposed, and put Into action as before arranged, and that up to late In the of- ternoon every movement ordered wat curry ing us socceesftlly to tht object we had proposed before starting that of getting to tht railroad leading from Manassas to the valley of Virginia, and going on It far enough lo break up and, destroy tht communication and interviewi between the forces under Beauregard and those nndsr Johnston. And eould we have fought s. day or a f.w hours sooner, there is everything to show how we could have continued successful even against the odds with which we contended.I have the honor to be, very respeotfullr your most obedient servant, irvin McDowell, Brigadier General Commdlnf LiAviworn, Aug. 9. We have Intelli. gence from the Southern Kansas border ih.e great excitement prevailed there owingto the action of band of half-breed Cherokees, with some white outlaws from Arkansas and Missouri, headed by John Mathews, a leader from the Oflase country. It is reported that 10 men have tw,i killed and i.O ramlliet drive from Cherokn neutral una, wno nave taken refuge in Humboldt, Kansas. Thsoutlawa threaten n .n.b that place. A messenger has arrived here asking assistant, from the Government,
Object Description
Title | Weekly Ohio State journal (Columbus, Ohio : 1858), 1861-08-13 |
Place |
Columbus (Ohio) Franklin County (Ohio) |
Date of Original | 1861-08-13 |
Searchable Date | 1861-08-13 |
Submitting Institution | Ohio History Connection |
Rights | Online access is provided for research purposes only. For rights and reproduction requests or more information, go to http://www.ohiohistory.org/images/information |
Type | Text |
Format | newspapers |
LCCN | sn85025899 |
Reel Number | 00000000025 |
Description
Title | Weekly Ohio State journal (Columbus, Ohio : 1858), 1861-08-13 page 1 |
Place |
Columbus (Ohio) Franklin County (Ohio) |
Searchable Date | 1861-08-13 |
Submitting Institution | Ohio History Connection |
Type | Text |
File Size | 2350.4KB |
Full Text | o OOLT7MBUS: Ooolie. XTvurtt c Go. Office, New Journal Bnlldinji, Mo. 19 Rut BUM Strut, near the l'ost Office. TERnS inVAHIABLY IM ADVANCE Dart.'. .6 00 jinr year. By thaCrridr,ir wek l'Jctn. Tki-WikklIw 8 DO pr year, WsbrLT I tlO Tour iubtcrlboriftiid ontt to the net Ur uj of UnjOliib, not tuoiivwitlreii fl 00 Tn M " " ' " " 12 00 Twenty " ' 20 00 CONGRESSIONAL. SENATE. Wabbihoto. Autr. 5th. Mr Saulsbury moved to tales up the resolutions offered by him some time since, proposing certain amendments lo the fJonstltution for n adjustment of the present difficulties. The motion was disagreed to, vets 11, nays 24, Mr. Breckinridge moved to take up tbe confiscation, bill as returned from the House, tod moved to ooncour in the amendment! of the House. The motion was arreed to. Mr. Breckinridge asked for the yess and nays on the amendment of the House. The amendment was agreed to, eas Z4, nays u, NayBbreokinridge, Brirnt, Carlisle, Cowan, Johnson of Mo., Latham, Pearce, Folk, Powell, nice, and oauisDiiry, Mr. Hale reported a bill providing for further enlistment in tbe tkitv. 1'assed. Mr. Wilson moved to take up tbe House bill to provide for the fffceiency of the Engineer Corps, Agreed to. Several amendments were made ana Dill passed. Mr. Foster moved 4o take np the report of the committee on the Judioiary in the esse of tbe Kansas oontesicd seat. Mr. Lane said he had never accepted the appointment of Brigadier General, or aoted in any way as a Brigadier General. If the Kansas brigade, after it was formed, should signify a desire lo have him as their leader, then lie should feel it his duly to lead them, and when he did accept of any suoh appointment, then he would inform the Senate and resign his seat. After further discnbdinn the Senate refused to proceed to the oonsidtitation of the report. The amendment to lite bill to increase the pay of volunteers, &c, four dollars per month, instead of two dollars, was curried by yeas, IB; mays 17. Mr. Wilson moved to amend by adding the bill approving and legalising the military proclamations of the President. Mr. Breckinridge said that the amendment looked a little like tbe joint resolution approving tho acts of the President, etc. He thought, however, that in this amendment there were tome omissions whi.h looked like leaving the otbor resolution alone. Mr. Wilpon said there was an omission but that he intended to call up the joint reaolutiou. The nmendment was agreed to and tbe bill paused. After executive session, Senate adjourned. Wasuinotik, Aug. 6. The following is the conclusion of yesterday's Senate proceedings: After Executive tension, which was nearly 8J hours leng, the Senate opened again at lO.iiO. Tho House bill to increase the number of Representatives to 239 Was taken up and after a short discussion was laid over. On motion of Mr. Carlisle the Senate proceeded again to Executive session at 11:30. The Senate adjourned till 9:30 to-day. Washington, Aug. 6. Mr. Dixoa moved to suspend tbe litHh rule of the Senate, lo allow the committee on Contingent Expenses to report ft resolution and have it passed Ute tame day. , Agreed tt. . Mr. Dixon reported a resolution to pay Hon. I Anbury Dickens his salary as clerk of the Sen-1 ate for one year from the present time. The , reBolntion passed, amounting to $3,000. The bill to punish certain crimes against the i ttnited States was taken up and passed. Tbe Senate refused to consider the resolution j of Mr. May, regarding the Baltimore police i com mission ere, by 21 yeas and 83 nays. j AU pap?rn relative to the Kansas con tatted teat wem ordered to be printed. Mr, Wilson moved to take up the joint resolution approving of all the acts of the Prtii-1 dent, whoa Mr. Doolittle moved that the Senate go into ; executive' session. The motion was disagreed to by the following vote: Ymaj Messrs. Baker, Bayard, Bingham, Carlisle, Chandler, Collamer, Dixon, Doolittle, Fessenden, Foote, Harlan, King, Lane of Kansas, Morrill, Powell, Bice, Raulsbury, Thompson, Ten Eyck and Wilmot 20. Nays Messrs. Breckinridge, Bright, Browning, Clark, Cowan, Foster, Grimes, Howe, Johnson of Tennessee, Johnson of Missouri, Kennedy, Lane of Indiana, Latham, McDougal, Polk, Pemeroy, Sherman, Sumner, Wade, Wilkinson nd wilsoo 21. Mr. Breckinridge said that in the early part of this session Senators were very anxious to vote for this resolution approving of all tbe acts of tbe President. Now there seemed to be a recoil. He thought it was a good sign. Mr. Fessenden said that he bad always been ready to vote. Tho argument seemed to bo made that the Senate was afraid to vote. The gentleman could hae all the privilege of the argument. Mr. Trumbull sail be was not ready to vote for the resolution until after further consideration.By consent a resolution was passed to pay F. P. Stanton, who contested the seat of Senator Lane, bin mileage. Mr. King then moved that the Senate go Into executive seeion, which was agreed to. Senate, at 12:16, adjaurnodiin dir. HOUSE. tTasihjotoi, Aug. 6. Mr. Phelps, of Mo, appeared in bis seat for the first time this session.The Speaker laid before the House a letter from Mr. Curtis, nUtliig that he bad seat to the Governor of Iowa h resignation as a Representative from that 3'ate, the duties of a military character prompting him to this oonrse, he having been appointed ft Brigadier General. Mr. May introduced ft preamble concluding with ft resolution, that the Republican party, : having achieved success on a sectional and , social issue, la responsible for our present national misfortunes; that the uncompromising spirit of that party has prevented compromise when the same was practicable; that it is im-1 possible by tbe force of arms to subjugate the , seceded Slates which are united to ft man in defense of their sacred rights against the most j cruel and merciless usages, &c; that It becomes tbVduty of Congress lo procure an armistice to procure peace, and direct so to compromise as to' preserve the Union if nousible. and that ftV this cannot be done to prov ide for the neaoeab separation of the Stales which have seceded, and oiotners wnicn may hereafter secede. uttjeouons were made to the reception of the solution. Mr. May moved the suspension of the lules that the resolution might be received. Motion was disagreed to. Mr. Kellogg, of 111., asked and obtained leave to report from tbe Judiciary Commitieea bill ixing the number of tbe members of the House of RepresentAtives, after 18(13 at 23U. to be ap-1 portioned among tbe several states In accord- jtvoj mum vi v oovt mti was WnnState VOLUME LI. Tbe House concurred in the Senate's amend" menttothe bill authorising adlitional enlistment in the navy, which strikes out tho word marine. The bill was passed. The Senate joint resolution authorising experiments with James' rifled oannon projectiles was passed. The Seuate bill to increase tho engineer corps, with ito amendment providing for two additional Inspector Generals for the army, was passed. Mr. Porter, from the Judiciary Committee, re-ported the Senate bill providing for holding District and Circuit Courts of the United States during tbe temporary absence or inability of the Judges. Passed. I The House took up tbe Senate bill adding four dollars per month to the pay of non-com missioned offioers, musicians, volunteers, marines, ssamea, and ordinary seamen, and approving and legating all the debts under the proclamation of the President after March 4th, 1801, respecting the army and navy, regarding them of the aame effeot as if they bad been warranted by the previously expressed bill of Congress. Mr. Stevens remarked that the expenses of tne uovernmont were at the rate of l,2bO,UO0 dollars per day. He could not see where the money was to come from. After some discussion the bill pissed. Mr. Lovejoy introduced ft bill to repeal so much of the law as exempts a witness who testifies before an inveitigating committee from prosecution in a court or justice. Mr. Wickliffe said that he would vote for it. as under that clause the contractors, and the u'-npany, and the State who stole the ludian bonds gut clear. Without disposing of the bill the House ad journed. Wabhimotom, Aug. C The House passed the Senate bill relative to tho Supreme Court of the u mted stateB in case of appeals. The Senate bill was paused with an amendment, appropriating $20,000 for repairs to the Long Bridge over the Potomac. Various measures were proposed to be taken up, by different members, but objections were interposed. Tbe House passed the Senate bill to inorcase the pay ot the regular army and volunteers. On motion of Sir. Cox a resolution was adopt-ed calling on the President, if compatible with public service, to communicate to the Honso, at the next session, all correspondence with foreign nations since 1H03, relative to maritime rights. Mr. Wiekliffe took occasion lo say the intelligence from Old Kentucky is, that Kentucky is for the Union, and being the firut coming into the Union, she will be the last to go out of it. This announcement was received with wild delight. Tie friends of the Union, both on the floor and in the galleries, clapped their hands and otherwise gave vent to their faetinn. Ex- clam Hons were heard, "Good for Old Kei tuck." The applause was long continued, and a more animated scene was seldem ever wit nessed. House then adjourned rim dit. Official Account of the Repulse. General McDowell's Official Report sf the The following is General McDowell's official report of tbe recent battle near Manassas: HftADQCAHTIM DftPAfcTM KMT NoftTHKASTKftX Vr to iii ia, J. Arlihuton, Vs., August 4, 1801. J Lieutenant- Colonel D, TApnten4, Atsvtant AjuUxnt-Qtntral Headquarter! o tht Armyt Wathingtottf D. C. Colonol: I have the honor to submit the fol lowing report of the battle of tbe lst of July, near Aianaasas, Virginia, una Been delayed until this time from the inability of the subor dinate commanders to get earlier ft true account of tne state or ineir commands. In my communication to you of the 20th ult., I stated It as my Intention to more that afternoon and drive the enemy from the east side of Bull Run, so as to enable the engineers lo make a sufficiently accurate reoonnoisanoe to justify our future movements, littler iu the day they had obtained enough information of tbe passage across the stream to dispense with this reconnoieanoe, and it was decided to , move without delay. It had been my intention to move the several columns out on the road a few miles on the evening of the 20th, so that thuy would have a shorter march in the morn ing; but I deferred to those who had the greatest distance to go, and who preferred starting early in the morning, and making but one move. On the evening of the 20ih ultimo, my cum-mand was mostly at or near Centreville. The enemy waa at or near Manassas, distant from Centreville about seven miles to the southwest. Centreville is a village of a few houses, mostly on the west side of a ridge running nearly nortn and souto. i tie road irom centreville to Manassas Junction was along this ridge, and orosses Bull Run about three miles from the former place. The Warrenton torn pike, which runs nearly east and west, goes over this ridge, through the village, and orosses Bull Runabout four miles from it, Bull Run having a course Dciween tne crossing irom nortnwest to sou in-east. The first division (Tyler's) was station ed on the north side of the Warrenton turnpike, and on the eastera slope of the Centreville ridge, two brigades on the same road, and a mile and a half in advance, to the west of the ridge, and one brigade on lbs road from Centre, ville to Manassas, where it crosses Bull Run at Blackburn's Ford, where General Tyler had the engagement of the 18th ultimo. The second division (Hunter's) was on th Warrenton turnpike, oi mile east of Centreville. The third xii vision (Hemtielman s) was en ft road known m the Old Braddoek read, which comes into Centreville from the southeast, about ft mile and a half from the village. The fifth division.! (Mile bj was on tne same road wnn the Tntrd-division, and between It and Centreville. A map which is herewith, markd A, will show these positions better than I oan describe them. On Friday night a train of subsistence arrived, and on Saturday its contents were ordered to be issued to the command, and tbe men reauired to have three days' rations in their nf ersacKs. un Saturday orders were issued for tbe available force to march. As reported to you in my letter of the 19th ultimo, my personal reoonnoisanoe of the roads to the South had shown that it was not practicable to oarry out the original plan of turning the enemy's position on their right: The affair of the 18th as Blackburn's Fori showed he was too strong at that point for us to fores ft passage there without a very great loss, and if we did that it would bring us in front of his strong position at Manams, wiioh wu not dsn red. COLUMBUS. 0., TUESDAY, AUG. 13, 186l Our information was that the stone bridge, over whioh the Warrenton road orossed Bull Hun, tft that vaat rr It). 1 r to the west of Centreville. was defended hv . battery in position, and tbe road on this side of the stream impeded by a heary abattis. The alternative was therefore to turn the extreme left of his position. Reliable information was obtained of an undefended ford about three miles above the bridge, there being another ford between it and the bridirs. which wan defemtpH It was therefore determined to take the road to the upper ford, and after crossing, to get be- uinaine iorces, guarding the lower ford and the bridge, and after oocupying tbe Warrenton road eatit of the bridge, to send out a force to destroy the railroad at or near Gainesville, and thus break up the communication between tho enemy s forces at Manassas and those in tbe valley of Virrinia. hefor W Innhefllnr. which had been held in check by Major General Patterson.Brigadier General Tyler was directed to move wiininreeoi ma brigades on tbe Warrenton road, and commence cannonading the enemy's batteries, while Hunter's division, moving after him, should, after passing a little stream called Cub Run. turn to the rinht and north, and around lo the upper ford, and there turn south ou get oenind tne enemy. Uol. lleinttelman s division was to follow Hunter s as far as the turning off place to tho lower ford, where he was to crosB after the enemy should have been driven out by Hunter's division; the fifth division (Miles ) to be in reserve. on the Centreville ridge. 1 bad felt anxiens about the road from Manassas by Blackburn s l ord to Centreville, along the ridge, fearing that whilst we should be in force to the front, and endeavoring to turn the enemy's position, we ourselves should be turned by him by this road; for if be should once obtain possession of this ridge, which overlooks ill the country to tho west to the foot of the Blue Ridge, we should have been irretrievably cut off and destroyed. I had, therefore, directed this point to be held in force, and sentun engineer to extemporise some field works to strenghten the position. Tbe Fourth Division (Ronyon's) bad not been brought to the front further than to guard our communications by way cf Vienna and the Or-angs and Alexandria Railroad. His advanced regiment was abrut Beveu miles in the fear of Centreville. The division was ordered to march at half-past two o'clock a. m., so as to arrive on the ground early in the day, and thus avoid the heat which is to be expected at this season. There was delay in the first division getting on; of its camp on the road, and the other divisions were in consequence between two and three hourp behind the time appointed a great misfortune as events turned out. The wood road leading from tbe Warrenton turnpike to the upper ford was much'longer than we counted unon the ven tral direction of the stream being oblic.ee to tbe u we naring me obtuse angle on our tide. General Tyler commenced with his artillery at balf-past six a. m., but the enemy did not reply, and after some time it became a question whether he was in any force In our front, and If he did not intend himself to make an attack, and make it by Blackburn's Ford. After firing several times, and obtaining no response, I held one of Heintxieman s brigade in reserve, in ease we should have to send any troops back to reinforce Mile's division. The other brigades moved forward as directed in the general orders. On reaching the ford, at Sudley's Spring, I found part of the leading brigade of Hunter's division (Burnside's) bad crossed, but the men were slow in getting oyer, stopping to drink. As at this time tbe clouds of dust from the direction of Manassas indicated the immediate approach of a large force, and fearing it might come down on the bead of the column before tbe division could all get over and sustain It, orders were sent back to tbe neads of regiments to break from the col-mn and oome forward separately as fan as possible. Orders were sent by an officer to tbe reserve brigade of Heinttelman's division to come by a nearer road across the fields, and anaide-decamp was sent to Brig. General Tyler to direct him to press forward his attack, as large bodies of the enemy were passing in front of him to attack the division which had crossed over. Tbe ground between the stream and the road leading from Sudley s Spring south, and over which Burnside's brigade marched, was for about ft mile from the ford thickly wooded,, whilst on the right of tbe road for the same distance the country was divided between fields and woods. About a milo from tho road the country on both sides of the road is open, and for nearly a mile further large rolling fields I eitenddown to tbe Warrenton turnpike, which 1 orosses what became the field of buttle throush the valley of a small water course, ft tributary to Bull Run. Shortly alter the leadine reriment of the first brigade reached the open space, and whilst oiners and toe second brigade were crossing to the front and right, the enemy opened his fire, beginning with artillery and 'following up wnn miantry, ine leading brigade (Uurn side's) bad to sustain this shock for a short time without support, and did it well. The battalion of regulaii n fan try was sent to sustain it, and shortly afterwards the other oorps of Porter's brigade, and a regiment de- taoued irom Heinlsetmun a division to the left, forced the enemy back far enough to allow Sherman's and Reyes's brigades of Tyler's di vision to cross from tbelr position on the Warren ion road. These drove tht right of the enemy, understood to have been commanded by Beauregard, from tho front of tho field, and out of the detached woods, and down to the road, and across it up the slopes on the other side. Whilst this was going on Heinttelman's division was moving down the field to the stream, and np tht road beyond. Beyond the Warrenton road, and to the left of the road. down which onr troops had marched from Bud-ley's Spring, is a bill with ft farm house on it. Behind this hill the enemy jswd, early in the day, some of his most annoying batteries planted. Aorois the road from this hill was snother hill, or rather elevated ridge, or table of land. Tho hottest part of the oontcst was for the possession of this hill with a house on ; it. The foroe en eared here was Heintielmaii's i division. Wilcox's and Howard's brigades on I the right, supported by part of Porter's brigade and the oavalry under Palmer, and Franklin's brigade of Heinlsetman's division, Sherman's brigade of Tyler's division in the centre and up the road, whilst Reyes's brigade of Tyler's division was on the left, attacking tho batteries near tne stone bridge. j The Rhode Island battery of Burnside's brigade also partlcipatsd in this attack by its fire' from the north of tht turnpike. Tbt enemy was understood to have been commanded by J. x.. JoiuLBton. UickettB battery, which did mob effective Bervice and played so brilliant a part lin this contest, was, together with Grimm's . . . ' . L . ... battery, on tbe side of the bill, and became the otjeot or tbe special attention of the enemy, who succeeded our officers mistaking one of his regiments for one of our own, and allowing h iu a,pproacu wniiout nnng upon it in dis-ablinqphe battery, and then attempting to take it. Twee times was he repulsed by different corpse in succession, and driven back, and the guns taken by hand, the horses being killed and pulled away. The third time it was supposed by us alt that the repulse was final, for he was driven entirely from the hill, and so far beyond it as not to be in sight, and all were certain tbe day was ours. He had before (his neen driven nearly a mile and a half, and was beyoud tbe Warrenton road, which was entirely in our possession from the stone bridge westward, and our engineers were just completing the removal of the abatis across the road, to allow our reinforcement (Rchcnck'a brigade and Ayer's battery) to join us. The enemy waa evidently disheartened and broken. But we had been fighting since half-past ten o'clock in tho morning, and it was after threw o'clock in the afternoon. The men who had been up since two o'clock in the morning, and bad made what, to ihuse unused to such thlnpB seemed a long march before coming into action, though the longest distance gone over was not more than nine and a half miles ; and though they had three days provisions served out to them the day be lore, many no doubt did not eat them, or threw tbetn away on the march or during the battle, and were therefore without food. Borne of the regiments which had been driven from the bill in the first two attempts of the enemy lo keep possession of it had become shaken, were unsteady, and bad many men out of the ranks. It was at this time that the enemy's re-in- foroements oame to his aid from tbe railroad train, understood to have just arrived from the valley with the residue of Johnston's armv . They threw themselves in the woods on our right and towards tbe rear of our right, and opened ft firs of musketry ou our men, which caused them to break and retire down the hill side. This soon degenerated into disorder, for which there was no remedy. Every effort was made to rally them, even beyond the reach of me enemy e nre, tut tn vain, ine battalion of regular Infantry alone moved up the hill oppo- maintained itself until our men could get down to anu across me n arrenton turnpiae, on the way back to the volition we hadocoSmed in tha morning. Tbe plain was covered with the re. treating troops, and. they seemed to infect those with whom they came in contact. The retreat soon became ft rout, and this degenerated still further into a panic Finding this state of affairs waa beyond tbe efforts of all ose who had assisted so faithful- ly during mev ng end hard day s work in gaining almost to obiest of our wishes, and that nothing remained on the field but to recognize what we could no longer prevent, I gave the necessary orders to protect their withdrawal, begging the men to form in line, and offer the appearance at least, or organisation. They (returned by tbe fords to tbt Warrenton rod. protected, by my order, by Colonel Porter's force of regulars. Once on tbe road, and the different corps coming together in small parties, many without officers, they became intermiogL ed, and all organization was lost. Orders nad been sent back to Mile s division for a brigade to move forward and protect this retreat, and Colonel Blenker's brirade was aetacnea lor uus purpose, and was ordered to go as rar rorward as tne point where the retd to the right loft tbe main road. By referring to the eeLeral order it will be seen that, while the operations were to go on in front, an attack was to be made at Blackburn's Ford by tho brigade (Richardson st stationed there. A reference to bis report, and to that of Major 11 unt, commanding tho artillery, show that this part of the plan was well and effectively carried out. It succeeded In deceiving the enemy for ft considerable time, and in keen ing in check a part of his force. The fire of the artillery at this point is represented as particularly destructive. At the time of our retreat, teems great ac tivity in this direction, much firing, and col-umos of dust, I became anxious for this plsoe, fearing if it were turned or forced the whole stream of onr retreating mass would be captured or destroyed. After providing for the prokciion of the retreat by Porter's and Blenker's brigades, I repaired to Richardson's, and found tbe whole force ordered to be stationed for the holding of the road from Manassas by Blackburn's ford to Centreville, on the march, under tbe orders from the Division Commander 1 tor centreville. 1 immediate v halted it. and ordered it lo take up the best line of defence across tne ridge that their position admitted of, and subsequently taking in person the command of this part of lbs army, 1 caused such disposition of tbe forces which had been added lo by the First and Second New Jersey and the Ue Kalb regiments, ordered up from Runyon's reserve, before going forward, as would best serve to chock the enemy. Tho ridge being uem id mm way, tne retreating current passed slowly through Centreville to Ihe rear. The enemy followed us from the ford as far as Cub ttuo, and owing to the road becoming blooked up at the crossing, caused us muoh damage there, for the artillery could not nasa. and m- ral pieces and caissons bad to be abandoned. in tne panic the horses hauling the caissons and ammunition were out from their placet by persons to escape with, and in this way much confusion was oaused, the panic aggravated, and the road encumbered. Not only were pieces of artillery lost, bat also Bin. of th. tmhu. lagou urrjing U. ounM. At luadown moit of our men had gotton be Mad CtntrfTillt ridgt, tnd il bcotmo qutntion wbtthor we should or ehoutd not ende.for lo mtkeiatiad there. The condition of our artillrr and its ammunitioD, and the want of food for the men, who hud ffentraltj alieodnned or thrown awav all that had been issued th dt befor., and the utter demoralization of the mass of the arnij, seemed lo all who were near enough to be oonsntled division and brigade oommandors and Stat to admit of no altcrna-tlve but lo fall baek; tho more so as the position at lllaokburn s ford was then in possession of tho enemy, aud be was already turning our left. On sending the oltic.ri of the staff to the different camps, they fouod, as they reported to me, that our decision bad been anticipated by the troops, mst ot those who bad oome from the front being already on the road lo the rear, tbe panio with whioh ihey oauie in still continuing U3 nurrying mem along. At o'clock the rear guard (Blenker's brigade) mored, ooierlng the retreat, which w.m effected during the night and next morning. Th. troop. ..Fairfax station ..avin, ajVwa'a NUMBER 17. oars took with them the bulk of the supplies wnicn aaa oeen sent mere. My aide-de-camp, Major Wadsworth, stayed at Fairfax Court House till late in the morning, to see that, tbe stragglers and weary and worn-out soldiers were not left behind. I transmit herewith the reports of the several division and brigade commanders, to which I refer for the conduct of particular regiments and corps, and a consolidated return of the amen, wounded and misBing. From tbe latter it will be seen that our killed amounted to nine teen offioers and four hundred and sixty-two non-oom missioned offioers and privates, and our wounded to sixty-four officers and nine hundred and forty-seven non-commissioned officers and privates. Many of the wounded will aoon be able to join the ranks, and will leave our total of killed and disabled from further service under one thousand. Tbe return of the missing is very inaccurate, the men supposed to be miss ing having fallen into other regiments and gone to Washington many of the Zouaves to New i ark. in one brigade the number origianally reported at six hundred and sixteen was vah- terday reduoed to one hundred and seventy-four. These reductions are being made daily. In a few days a more correct return oan be made. Of course, nothing accurate is known of the toss oi tne enemy. Anomcerof their furoes. coming frem them with a flag of truce, limited eighteen hundred killed and wounded, and other information shows this to be much under tne true number. The officer commanding tbe Eleventh New York Zouaves, and Colonel Heintileman, say that the returns of that regiment cannot be relied on, as many of those reported among the oamalties have absented themselves since their return and have gone to New York. Among the missing reported are many of our surgeons, who remained in attendance on our wounded, and were, against the rules of modern warier. made prisoners. ine Issue of this hard fought battle, in whioh certainly our troops Inn ao credit in'their con'- flict on the field with un toemy ably comaiatd- ) uporior iu nuniners, wtio nad but a short distance lo march, and always undir ooor, whilst our men were of necessity out on ihM open fields, and should not prevent full credit 1 being given to those officers aad oorr-s whose 1 services merited success if they did not attain 'To oid Twlul0 1 will on,T mnltm ' thn num. ftf thn. nn, 1 . , I SIJS'1.0?? nb ' division and brigade commnnders. 1 bej? to roier iu inmr roporis ror toe names or those serving under their immediate orders, desiring that on this subject they be considered as part of my own. I olaim oredil for the officers of mystflff, and for thoie acting as such during the day. They did everything in their power, eapoaing themselves fmly waen required, and doing all that men. could do ; oommunioating otders, guidiog the columns, exhorting the troops, tallying them when broken, and providing for them the best the circumstances admitted. They are as follows : Firjt Lieulenaiit U. W. Kingsbury, Fifth ar- Miicrjr, Miu-uo-oftmp. Msjor Clarence 8. Brown, Now Tork militia volunteers, aid-de-oamp. Major James 8. Wadsworth. N V..V -III. tia volunteers, aid-de-oamp. The latter, who ui lus iiuour io oe on my personal statl, had a horse shot under him in Ihe hottest of the tight. Captain James B. Pry, Assistant Adjutant-General.Captain 0. B. TiUingast, Assistant Querter-ler, who discharged alone the important and burdensome duties of fa is department with the army, and who was mortally woundrd while acting with the artillery, to which he formerly belonged, and in which he waa doenlr ini.r. sled. Captain H. P. Clark. Chief of Bl,.l.i... Department. major Meyer, Btgnal OfBoer.and M.J. Maltulu McDonnell, who aoted as aides. ourgeon w. o. King, and Assistant Burgin ...BKiuuvr, j.icuic.l 1UJi.rimiUl. Major J. 0, Barnard. Eoiineer. and senln. i hia department with the army, gave moat im. portent aia. first Lieutenant Fred. 8. Trime, Engineer Captain A. W. Whitmle. First Lientemnt 11. L. Abbott asd Second uemeneat u. B. rutnem, Topographical Engi neers. Major W. F. Barry, Fifth artillery, Chief of Lieutenant George 0. Stronr. Ordn fleer. Major W. H. Wood. First infantrv. Antin in spector-General. Second Lieutenant Guy Henry, who joined me uu me upiu, waa oi service as an aid-de-camp Thefollowinr officers com man fl Art r1li;n. and brigades, and in tbe several places their uiiijr omitm mvm uiu mosi eiiective service and behaved in the most irallant manner- Brigadier General Tyler, Connecticut Volun teers. Colonel David Hunter, Third oavalry, severe ly WVUUHIV IUD uiRiigi CIS UlVlSlOft, Colonel 6. P. lleinttelman. 8 Tflnloanlh tn fsntry, wounded in the arm while leading hia .....s.vu im. buuvu uu ma mil. Brigadier Ueneral Scbenek, Ohio volunteer-commanding Second brigade, First division. ' Colonel E. D. Keyes, Eleventh infantry, commanding First brigade, First division. Colonel W. 1. Franklin, Twelfth Infantry First brigade. Third division. " Colonel W. T. Sherman, Thirteenth Infantry commanding Third brigade, First division. : Colonel Andrew Porter, Sixteenth infantrv -a "B"., ovcuua uivision. Colonel A. B. Barnside. Rhode Island nl,, tears, commanding Second brigade, Se.uod di- Colonel 0. B. Wilcox, Miihigan volunteers commanding Second brigade, Third division! who was wouuded and taken prisoner wblle on the hill, in the hottest of the fight. Colonel 0. 0. Howard. Main. vnl,,nl.B commanding Third brigade, Third division. Colonel J. B. Riohardson, Michigan volun-leers, commanding Fourth brigade, First diri-sion.Colonel Blonker. New York M,,ni manding First brigade, Fifth division. Colonel Daviee, New York eolnnteere, commanding Second brigade, Fifth division As my position may warrant, even if It does not call for soma explanation of the oauses, aa far as they can be aeen, which led to the re-suits herein staled, I trust It may not 1 out of F.-v u . roier in a lew words to the immediate antecedents of Ihe battle. When 1 submit-ted to the General-in-Chief and, In oomplianoe with his verbal instructions, the plan of operation! and estimate of foroe required, the time I VVKK K.L ADYKHTlblNa. Par Square, on Insertion i P SiM-t, each vwk la addition so DitnlkiMl jl,lTrtiuniili h.U it At. t iu. HjtucMl fiuUtaii, liauiiU thi ordwar rate. All notlcea required to be pabllibed ty law, lt-gtl ratea NntiflMof rawtingi, charitable octotii,nrecompuile1 a-.) oitlf price. . AtlTranrimt AdrrtitmenU mutt bt paid i dtod. This rule will nut b vnrietl Irom. HoAriTBrtlmmflnt Uk txrrpt Tor a deflnite trii for the 8ih of July, Monday. Kvery facility possible was given me by the General-in-Chief and beads of tbe administrative departments in making tbe necessary preparations. Bnt the regiments, owing, I was told, to a want of transportation, came over slowly. Mauy of them did not come across till eight or nine days after tbe time fixed upon, and went forward without my even seeing them, and without having been together before in a brigade. Tht sending reinforcements to General Patterson, by drawing off the wagons, was a farther and unavoidable cause of dtlay. Notwithstanding tbe herculean efforts of the Quartermaster General and his favoring mt in evtry Way, the wagons for ammunition, nib-sistenoe, &o., and the horses for the trains nd the artillery did sot arrive for more thi u ft week after the time appointed to move. I was not even prepared as late as the U.tb oltirao, and the desire I should move becime ffr,.l1 aud it was wished I should not, it' pw: :-, delay longer than Tuesday, the lGtli ul'ior,, When I did set out, on the 10th, I wu strl flcient in wagons for tubyistence. Bur 1 forward, trusting to their being proem m! -i time lo foliuw me. The trains thus hur.': gathered together, with horses, wagons, u:. . 4 and wagon managers, all new and unuiei to each other, moved with difficulty and disorder, and was the nuse of a d- y s delay In gutting tbe provibhus forward, nuking it neoesiary to make on Sundty the attack we should have made on Saturday. I couM not, wiih every cierttun, get forward with the troupe earlier than we did. I wished to go to Centreville the second dev, whioh would hitve taken us there on tuy il'h, and enabled us, so far as they were concerned, to go iu:o action on tbe 19th, instead of the 21si; but when I went forward from Fairfax Court-House, bey end Geimantown, to urge them forward, I was told it was impossible for the men to march further. They bad only come from Vienna, about trix miles, and it was not more tli an signed u half miles farther to Centreville i 7in a11 march of twelve and a half miles but the men were foot weiry, not so musb, i was told, by tbe distance marched, as by the time they hud been on loot, caused bv the ob. slrtictious in the roid and the slow puce we bad to more to avoid ambuscades. The teen were, moreover, uiKiocustomed to niuronuig, their bodies not in condition for that kind of work, and not used to carry iug even the load of light marching order. We crossed Bull Run with ubout 18,000 men of all arras, tho fifth division (Miles and Richardson's brigade) on the left, and Schenok'a brigade, of Tyler s division, on the left of the road, near the stone bridge, not participating in the main action. Tbe numbera opposed lo-us have been variously estimated. Imnvsufele say, and avoid even the appearance of exagge- r.iu, Mi, tuv UKB17 DTOUgat Up all 00 OOUtd whioh were not kept engaged elsewhere. Ue hud notice of our coming on the 17th, and had from that time until the Hist to bring up whatever he had. It is known that in estimating the force to go against Manassas, I enfraged net to hare lo do with the enemy's forees under Joliiuou, then kept in check in the valley by Mnjor-Ueneral Patterson, or those kept engaged by Mujor-General Butler, and I knew every effort wu made by the General-in-Chief that this ehuuld be done, and that even If Johnston should join Beauregard, it would not be because he could be followed by General Patterson, but for causee not necessary for me to refer to von know them all. Thie was not done, and the enemy waa free to assemble front every direction in numbera only limited by the amount of his railroad rolling stock and hiisopply of provisions. To the foroee, therefore, we druve in from Fairfax Court-house, Fairfax 8i,ti0n Germanlown and Centreville, and those under Beauregard at Manasaaa, most be added those under Johnston at Winchester, and those brought np by Davis, from Richmond to ether placet at lie -inb, to which Is to be s ided the I. rye. '" "rdered by the Richmond authoritiee, vtiiun waa ordered to aesemb.e at Manassas. iVoal all this amounted to I c.nnnt "inly much more than we attacked them with. I could not, aa I have said, more early push en falter, nor eould I de!y. A lr,e and Ihe best part of my forces were three months' volon. teers, whose term of oervice was about to expire, but who were sent forward as having long enough to serve for the purpose of the t xpodi-tion. On tbe eve of the battle Ihe Fourth Pennsylvania regiment of volunteer and the battery of volunteer artillery of the New York Eight militia, whose term of service expired, insisted on their disoharge, I wrote lo Ihe regiment, expressing a request for them lo remain a short lime, and the Hon. Kcrretary of War, who was at the time on the ground, tried to induce the battery to remain at least five days. But in vain. They insisted on their dlreharpo that night. It waa grunted, and the next morning when the army moved forward into battle, those troops moved to the rear lo the sound of tbe enemy's cannon. In the next few dirt, day by day, I should havs lost ten thousand of tlie best armed, drilled, officered and disciplined troops In tht army. In other words, evsry day which addod to th strength of the enemy made us weiker. In conclusion I desire to say, In rcfcrenie lo tho events of the 21st ultimo, that ihe geuenl order for lit battle to which I referred, w i -, with slight modifloatione, literally continue. I lo; that the corps wsre brought over Bull Un i in ihemanner proposed, and put Into action as before arranged, and that up to late In the of- ternoon every movement ordered wat curry ing us socceesftlly to tht object we had proposed before starting that of getting to tht railroad leading from Manassas to the valley of Virginia, and going on It far enough lo break up and, destroy tht communication and interviewi between the forces under Beauregard and those nndsr Johnston. And eould we have fought s. day or a f.w hours sooner, there is everything to show how we could have continued successful even against the odds with which we contended.I have the honor to be, very respeotfullr your most obedient servant, irvin McDowell, Brigadier General Commdlnf LiAviworn, Aug. 9. We have Intelli. gence from the Southern Kansas border ih.e great excitement prevailed there owingto the action of band of half-breed Cherokees, with some white outlaws from Arkansas and Missouri, headed by John Mathews, a leader from the Oflase country. It is reported that 10 men have tw,i killed and i.O ramlliet drive from Cherokn neutral una, wno nave taken refuge in Humboldt, Kansas. Thsoutlawa threaten n .n.b that place. A messenger has arrived here asking assistant, from the Government, |
Format | newspapers |
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Reel Number | 00000000025 |
File Name | 0507 |