–the proofs of the falsity of the charge were piled mountain-high, and among them the following voluntary statements from two Democratic Senators, who were with him before the War, in the House of Representatives:
“‘United States Senate Chamber, WASHINGTON, April 14, 1881.
“‘DEAR SIR: In a discussion in the Senate a few weeks since you referred to the fact that a Southern Senator, who had served with you in Congress before the War, could testify that during your term of service there you gave no encouragement to the Secession of the Southern States, adding, however, that you did not ask such testimony. I was not sure at the time that your reference was to me, as Senator Pugh of Alabama, was also a member of that Congress.
“‘Since then, having learned that your reference was to me, I propose on the floor of the Senate, should suitable occasion offer, to state what I know of your position and views at the time referred to. But, as I may be absent from the Senate for some time, I deem it best to give you this written statement, with full authority to use it in any way that seems proper to you.
“‘When you first came to Congress in —-, you were a very ardent and impetuous Democrat. In the division which took place between Mr. Douglas and his friends, on the one hand, and the Southern Democrats, on the other, you were a warm and uncompromising supporter of Mr. Douglas; and in the course of that convention you became somewhat estranged from your party associates in the South. In our frequent discussions upon the subjects of difference, I never heard a word of sympathy from your lips with Secession in either theory or practice. On the contrary, you were vehement in your opposition to it.’
“‘I remember well a conversation I had with you just before leaving Washington to become a candidate for the Secession convention. You expressed the deep regret you felt at my proposed action, and deplored the contemplated movement in terms as strong as any I heard from any Republican.’
Yours truly,
“‘L. Q. C. LAMAR
“‘Hon. JOHN A. LOGAN.
“United States Senate, Washington, D. C.’
“Senate Chamber, April 14, 1881.
“‘Having read the above statement of Senator Lamar, I fully concur with him in my recollection of your expressions and action in opposition to Secession.
Truly yours, J. L. PUGH.’
“At the conclusion of Senator Logan’s speech of refutation, Senator Brown of Georgia (Democrat) said:
“‘Our newspapers may have misrepresented his position. I am now satisfied they did. I have heard the Senator’s statement with great interest, and I take pleasure in saying–for I had some idea before that there was some shadow of truth in this report–that I think his vindication’ is full, complete, and conclusive.’
“‘I recollect very well during the war, when I was Governor of my State and the Federal army was invading it, to have had a large force of militia aiding the Confederate army, and that Gen. Logan was considered by us as one of the ablest, most gallant, and skillful leaders of the Federal army. We had occasion to feel his power, and we learned to respect him.’
“Senator Beck, of Kentucky (Democrat), referring to the fact that he was kept out of the House at one time, and a great many suggestions had been made to him as to General Logan, continued:
“‘As I said the other day, I never proposed to go into such things, and never have done so; but at that time General Frank Blair was here, and I submitted many of the papers I received to him,–I never thought of using any of them,–and I remember the remark that he made to me: Beck, John Logan was one of the hardest fighters of the war; and when many men who were seeking to whistle him down the wind because of his politics when the war began, were snugly fixed in safe places, he was taking his life in his hand wherever the danger was greatest–and I tore up every paper I got, and burnt it in the fire before his eyes.’
“Senator Dawes of Massachusetts (Republican), also took occasion to say:
“Mr. President, I do not know that anything which can be said on this side would be of any consequence to the Senator from Illinois in this matter. But I came into the House of Representatives at the same session that the Senator did.
“‘He was at that time one of the most intense of Democrats, and I was there with him when the Rebellion first took root and manifested itself in open and flagrant war; and I wish to say as a Republican of that day, when the Senator from Illinois was a Democrat, that at the earliest possible moment when the Republican Party was in anxiety as to the position of the Northern Democracy on the question of forcible assault on the Union, nothing did they hail with more delight than the early stand which the Senator from Illinois, from the Democratic side of the House, took upon the question of resistance to the Government of the United States.
“I feel that it is right that I should state that he was among the first, if not the very first, of the Northern Democrats who came out openly and declared, whatever may have been their opinion about the doctrines of the Republican Party, that when it came to a question of forcible resistance, they should be counted on the side of the Government, and in co-operation with the Republican Party in the attempt to maintain its authority.’
“‘I am very glad, whether it be of any service or not, to bear this testimony to the early stand the Senator from Illinois took while he was still a Democrat, and the large influence he exerted upon the Northern Democracy, which kept it from being involved in the condition and in the work of the Southern Democracy at that time.'”]
So far from this being the case, the fact is–and it is here mentioned in part to bring out the interesting point that, had he lived, Douglas would have been no idle spectator of the great War that was about to be waged–that when Douglas visited Springfield, Illinois, to make that great speech in the latter part of April, 1861, the writer went there also, to see and talk over with him the grave situation of affairs, not only in the Nation generally, but particularly in Illinois. And on that occasion Mr. Douglas said to him, substantially: “The time has now arrived when a man must be either for or against his Country. Indeed so strongly do I feel this, and that further dalliance with this question is useless, that I shall myself take steps to join the Array, and fight for the maintenance of the Union.”
To this the writer replied that he was “equally well convinced that each and every man must take his stand,” and that he also “purposed at an early day to raise a Regiment and draw the sword in that Union’s defense.”
This was after Sumter, and only seventy days before Congress was to meet in Called Session. When that session met, Douglas had, weeks before, gone down to the grave amid the tears of a distracted Nation, with the solemn injunction upon his dying lips: “Obey the Laws and Defend the Constitution”–and the writer had returned to Washington, to take his seat in Congress, with that determination still alive in his heart.
In fact there had been all along, substantial accord between Mr. Douglas and the writer. There really was no “difference between Douglas and Logan” as to “preparations for War,” or in “exhausting all Peaceable means before a resort to Arms,” and both were in full accord with President Lincoln on these points.
Let us see if this is not of record: Take the writer’s speech in the House of Representatives, February 5, 1861, and it will be seen that he said: “I will go as far as any man in the performance of a Constitutional duty to put down Rebellion, to suppress Insurrection, and to enforce the Laws.” Again, he said, “If all the evils and calamities that have ever happened since the World began, could be gathered in one Great Catastrophe, its horrors could not eclipse, in their frightful proportions, the Drama that impends over us.”
From these extracts it is plain enough that even at this very early day the writer fully understood the “frightful proportions” of the impending struggle, and would “go as far as”–not only Mr. Douglas, but–“any man, to put down Rebellion”–which necessarily involved War, and “preparations for War.” But none the less, but rather the more, because of the horrors which he foresaw must be inseparable from so terrible a War, was he anxious by timely mutual Concessions–“by any sacrifice,” as he termed it–if possible, to avert it.
He was ready to sink Party, self, and to accept any of the Propositions to that end–Mr. Douglas’s among them.
[See his speech of February 5, 1861, Congressional Globe]
In this attitude also he was in accord with Mr. Douglas, who, as well as the writer, was ready to make any sacrifice, of Party or self; to “exhaust every effort at peaceful adjustment,” before resorting to War. The fact is they were much of the time in consultation, and always in substantial accord.
In a speech made in the Senate, March 15, 1861, Mr. Douglas had reduced the situation to the following three alternative points:
“1. THE RESTORATION AND PRESERVATION OF THE UNION by such Amendments to the Constitution as will insure the domestic tranquillity, safety, and equality of all the States, and thus restore peace, unity, and fraternity, to the whole Country.
“2. A PEACEFUL DISSOLUTION OF THE UNION by recognizing the Independence of such States as refuse to remain in the Union without such Constitutional Amendments, and the establishment of a liberal system of commercial and social intercourse with them by treaties of commerce and amity.
“3. WAR, with a view to the subjugation and military occupation of those States which have Seceded or may Secede from the Union.”
As a thorough Union man, he could never have agreed to a “Peaceful Dissolution of the Union.” On the other hand he was equally averse to War, because he held that “War is Disunion. War is final, eternal Separation.” Hence, all his energies and talents were given to carrying out his first-stated line of policy, and to persuading the Seceders to accept what in that line was offered to them by the dominant party.
His speech in the Senate, March 25, 1861, was a remarkable effort in that respect. Mr. Breckinridge had previously spoken, and had declared that: “Whatever settlement may be made of other questions, this must be settled upon terms that will give them [the Southern States] either a right, in common with others, to emigrate into all the territory, or will secure to them their rights on a principle of equitable division.”
Mr. Douglas replied: “Now, under the laws as they stand, in every Territory of the United States, without any exception, a Southern man can go with his Slave-property on equal terms with all other property. * * * Every man, either from the North or South, may go into the Territories with his property on terms of exact equality, subject to the local law; and Slave-property stands on an equal footing with all other kinds of property in the Territories of the United States. It now stands on an equal footing in all the Territories for the first time.
“I have shown you that, up to 1859, little more than a year ago, it was prohibited in part of the Territories. It is not prohibited anywhere now. For the first time, under Republican rule, the Southern States have secured that equality of rights in the Territories for their Slave-property which they have been demanding so long.”
He held that the doctrine of Congressional prohibition in all the Territories, as incorporated in the Wilmot proviso, had now been repudiated by the Republicans of both Houses of Congress, who had “all come over to Non-intervention and Popular Sovereignty;” that the “Wilmot proviso is given up; that Congressional prohibition is given up; that the aggressive policy is repudiated; and hereafter the Southern man and the Northern man may move into the Territories with their Property on terms of entire equality, without excepting Slaves or any other kind of property.”
Continuing, he said: “What more do the Southern States want? What more can any man demand? Non-intervention is all you asked. Will it be said the South required in addition to this, laws of Congress to protect Slavery in the Territories? That cannot be said; for only last May, the Senate, by a nearly unanimous vote–a unanimous vote of the Southern men, with one or two exceptions–declared that affirmative legislation was not needed at this time. * * * What cause is there for further alarm in the Southern States, so far as the Territories are concerned? * * *
“I repeat, the South has got all they ever claimed in all the Territories. * * * Then, sir, according to law, the Slaveholding States have got equality in the Territories. How is it in fact. * * * Now, I propose to show that they have got the actual equitable partition, giving them more than they were disposed to demand.
“The Senator from Kentucky, * * * Mr. Crittenden, introduced a proposition for an equitable partition. That proposition was, that north of 36 30′ Slavery should be prohibited, and South of it should be protected, by Territorial law. * * * What is now the case? It is true the Crittenden proposition has not yet become part of the Constitution; but it is also true that an equitable partition has been made by the vote of the people themselves, establishing, maintaining, and protecting Slavery in every inch of territory South of the thirty-seventh parallel, giving the South half a degree more than the Crittenden Proposition.
“There stands your Slave-code in New Mexico protecting Slavery up to the thirty-seventh degree as effectually as laws can be made to protect it. There it stands the Law of the Land. Therefore the South has all below the thirty-seventh parallel, while Congress has not prohibited Slavery even North of it.
* * * * * *
“What more, then, is demanded? Simply that a Constitutional Amendment shall be adopted, affirming–what? Precisely what every Republican in both Houses of Congress has voted for within a month. Just do, by Constitutional Amendment, what you have voted in the Senate and House of Representatives, that is all. You are not even required to do that, but merely to vote for a proposition submitting the question to the People of the States whether they will make a Constitutional Amendment affirming the equitable partition of the Territories which the People have already made. * * *
“You may ask, why does the South want us to do it by Constitutional Amendment, when we have just done it voluntarily by Law? The President of the United States, in his Inaugural, has told you the reason. He has informed you that all of these troubles grow out of the absence of a Constitutional provision defining the power of Congress over the subject of Slavery. * * * He thinks that the trouble has arisen from the absence of such a Constitutional Provision, and suggests a National Convention to enable the People to supply the defect, leaving the People to say what it is, instead of dictating to them what it shall be.”
It may here be remarked that while Mr. Douglas held that “So far as the doctrine of Popular Sovereignty and Nonintervention is concerned, the Colorado Bill, the Nevada Bill, and the Dakota Bill, are identically the same with the Kansas-Nebraska Bill, and in its precise language”–these former Bills having been passed at the last Session of the 36th Congress–the Republicans, on the contrary, held that neither in these nor other measures had they abandoned any distinctive Republican principle; while Breckinridge declared that they had passed those Territorial Bills, without the Wilmot proviso, because they felt perfectly secure in those Territories, with all the Federal patronage in Republican hands.
However that may be, we have here, brought out in strong contrast, the conciliatory feeling which inspired such Union men as Douglas, and the strong and persistent efforts they made in behalf of Concession and Peace up to a period only a few weeks before the bombardment of Sumter; and the almost total revulsion in their sentiments after that event, as to the only proper means to preserve the Union. For it was only then that the truth, as it fell from Douglas’s lips at Springfield, was fully recognized, to wit: that there was no half-way ground betwixt Patriotism and Treason; that War was an existing fact; and that Patriots must arm to defend and preserve the Union against the armed Traitors assailing it.
At last, July 4, 1861, the Congress met, and proceeded at once with commendable alacrity and patriotism, to the consideration and enactment of measures sufficient to meet the extraordinary exigency, whether as regards the raising and equipment of the vast bodies of Union volunteers needed to put down Rebellion, or in the raising of those enormous amounts of money which the Government was now, or might thereafter be, called upon to spend like water in preserving the Union.
It was at this memorable Session, of little over one month, that the chief of the great “War Measures” as they were termed, were enacted.
CHAPTER XIII.
THE STORM OF BATTLE
We have seen how Fort Sumter fell; how the patriotic North responded to President Lincoln’s Call, for 75,000 three-months volunteers, with such enthusiasm that, had there been a sufficiency of arms and accoutrements, he might have had, within three months of that Call, an Army of 500,000 men in the field; how he had called for 42,000 three-years volunteers early in May, besides swelling what little there was of a regular Army by ten full regiments; and how a strict blockade of the entire Southern Coast-line had not only been declared, but was now enforced and respected.
General Butler, promoted Major-General for his Military successes at Annapolis and Baltimore, was now in command of Fortress Monroe and vicinity, with some 12,000 volunteers under him, confronted, on the Peninsula, by a nearly equal number of Rebel troops, under Generals Huger and Magruder–General Banks, with less than 10,000 Union troops, occupying Baltimore, and its vicinage.
General Patterson, with some 20,000 Union troops–mostly Pennsylvania militia–was at Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, with about an equal number of the Enemy, under General Joseph E. Johnston, at Harper’s Ferry, on the Potomac, watching him.
Some 50,000 Union troops were in camp, in and about Washington, on the Virginia side, under the immediate command of Generals McDowell and Mansfield–Lieutenant General Scott, at Washington, being in Chief-command of the Union Armies–and, confronting these Union forces, in Virginia, near the National Capital, were some 30,000 Rebel troops under the command of General Beauregard, whose success in securing the evacuation of Fort Sumter by its little garrison of half-starved Union soldiers, had magnified him, in the eyes of the rebellious South, into the proportions of a Military genius of the first order.
There had been no fighting, nor movements, worthy of special note, until June 7th, when General Patterson advanced from Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, to Hagerstown, Maryland. General Johnston at once evacuated Harper’s Ferry, and retreated upon Winchester, Virginia.
General McClellan, in command of the Department of the Ohio, had, however, crossed the Ohio river, and by the 4th of July, being at Grafton, West Virginia, with his small Army of Union troops, to which a greatly inferior Rebel force was opposed, commenced that successful advance against it, which led, after Bull Run, to his being placed at the head of all the Armies of the United States.
Subsequently Patterson crossed the Potomac, and after trifling away over one month’s time, at last, on the 15th of July, got within nine miles of Winchester and Johnston’s Army. Barring a spiritless reconnaissance, Patterson–who was a fervent Breckinridge-Democrat in politics, and whose Military judgment, as we shall see, was greatly influenced, if not entirely controlled, by his Chief of staff, Fitz John Porter–never got any nearer to the Enemy!
Instead of attacking the Rebel force, under Johnston, or at least keeping it “employed,” as he was ordered to do by General Scott; instead of getting nearer, and attempting to get between Winchester and the Shenandoah River, as was suggested to him by his second in command, General Sanford; and instead of permitting Sanford to go ahead, as that General desired to, with his own 8,000 men, and do it himself; General Patterson ordered him off to Charlestown–twelve miles to the Union left and rear,–and then took the balance of his Army, with himself, to the same place!
In other words, while he had the most positive and definite orders, from General Scott, if not to attack and whip Johnston, to at least keep him busy and prevent that Rebel General from forming a junction, via the Manassas Gap railroad or otherwise, with Beauregard, Patterson deliberately moved his Army further away from Winchester and gave to the Enemy the very chance of escaping and forming that junction which was essential to Rebel success in the vicinity of Manassas.
But for this disobedience of orders, Bull Run would doubtless have been a great victory to the Union Arms, instead of a reverse, and the War, which afterward lasted four years, might have been over in as many months.
It is foreign to the design of this work, to present in it detailed descriptions of the battles waged during the great War of the Rebellion –it being the present intention of the writer, at some later day, to prepare and publish another work devoted to such stirring Military scenes. Yet, as it might seem strange and unaccountable for him to pass by, at this time, without any description or comment, the first pitched battle of the Rebellion, he is constrained to pause and view that memorable contest. And first, it may be well to say a word of the general topography of the country about the battle-field.
The Alleghany Mountains, or that part of them with which we have now to do, stretch in three almost equidistant parallel ridges, from North-East to South-West, through the heart of Old Virginia. An occasional pass, or “Gap,” through these ridges, affords communication, by good roads, between the enclosed parallel valleys and the Eastern part of that State.
The Western of these Alleghany ridges bears the name of “Alleghany Mountains” proper; the Eastern is called the “Blue Ridge;” while the Middle Ridge, at its Northern end–which rests upon the Potomac, where that river sweeps through three parallel ridges almost at right angles to their own line of direction–is called the “Great North Mountain.”
The valley, between the Middle Ridge and the Blue Ridge, is known as the Shenandoah Valley, taking its name from the Shenandoah River, which, for more than one hundred miles, flows along the Western foot of the Blue Ridge, toward the North-East, until it empties into the Potomac, at Harper’s Ferry.
The Orange and Alexandria railroad runs from Alexandria,–on the opposite bank of the Potomac from Washington, and a few miles below the Capital,–in a general Southeasterly direction, to Culpepper Court-House; thence Southerly to Gordonsville, where it joins the Virginia Central–the Western branch of which runs thence through Charlotteville, Staunton, and Covington, across the ridges and valleys of the Alleghanies, while its Eastern branch, taking a general South-easterly direction, crosses the Richmond and Fredricksburg railroad at Hanover Junction, some twenty miles North of Richmond, and thence sweeps Southerly to the Rebel capital.
It is along this Easterly branch of the Virginia Central that Rebel re-enforcements will be hurried to Beauregard, from Richmond to Gordonsville, and thence, by the Orange and Alexandria railroad, to Manassas Junction.
Some twenty-five miles from Alexandria, a short railroad-feeder–which runs from Strasburg, in the Shenandoah Valley, through the Blue Ridge, at Manassas Gap, in an East-South-easterly direction–strikes the Alexandria and Orange railroad. The point of contact is Manassas Junction; and it is along this Manassas-Gap feeder that Johnston, with his Army at Winchester–some twenty miles North-North-East of Strasburg –expects, in case of attack by Patterson, to be re-enforced by Beauregard; or, in case the latter is assailed, to go to his assistance, after shaking off Patterson.
This little link of railroad, known as the Manassas Gap railroad, is therefore an important factor in the game of War, now commencing in earnest; and it had, as we shall see, very much to do, not only with the advance of McDowell’s Union Army upon Bull Run, but also with the result of the first pitched battle thereabout fought.
From Alexandria, some twelve miles to the Westward, runs a fine turnpike road to Fairfax Court-House; thence, continuing Westward, but gradually and slightly dipping award the South, it passes through Germantown, Centreville, and Groveton, to Warrenton.
This “Warrenton Pike”–as it is termed–also plays a somewhat conspicuous part, before, during, and after the Battle of Bull Run. For most of its length, from Fairfax Court-House to Warrenton, the Warrenton Pike pursues a course almost parallel with the Orange and Alexandria railroad aforesaid, while the stream of Bull Run, pursuing a South-easterly course, has a general direction almost parallel with that of the Manassas Gap railroad.
We shall find that it is the diamond-shaped parallelogram, formed by the obtuse angle junction of the two railroads on the South, and the similarly obtuse-angled crossing of the stream of Bull Run by the Warrenton Pike on the North, that is destined to become the historic battle-field of the first “Bull Run,” or “Manassas;” and it is in the Northern obtuse-angle of this parallelogram that the main fighting is done, upon a spot not much more than one mile square, three sides of the same being bounded respectively by the Bull Run stream, the Warrenton Pike, which crosses it on a stone bridge, and the Sudley Springs road, which crosses the Pike, at right-angles to it, near a stone house.
On the 3rd of June, 1861, General McDowell, in command of the Department of North-Eastern Virginia, with head-quarters at Arlington, near Washington, receives from Colonel Townsend, Assistant Adjutant-General with Lieutenant-General Scott–who is in Chief command of all the Union Forces, with Headquarters at Washington–a brief but pregnant communication, the body of which runs thus: “General Scott desires you to submit an estimate of the number and composition of a column to be pushed toward Manassas Junction, and perhaps the Gap, say in four or five days, to favor Patterson’s attack on Harper’s Ferry. The rumor is that Arlington Heights will be attacked to-night.”
In response to this request, General McDowell submits, on the day following, an estimate that “the actual entire force at the head of the column should, for the purpose of carrying the position at Manassas and of occupying both the road to Culpepper, and the one to the Gap, be as much as 12,000 Infantry, two batteries of regular Artillery, and from six to eight companies of Cavalry, with an available reserve, ready to move forward from Alexandria by rail, of 5,000 Infantry and one heavy field battery, rifled if possible; these numbers to be increased or diminished as events may indicate.” This force of raw troops he proposes to organize into field brigades under the command of “active and experienced colonels” of the regular Army. And while giving this estimate as to the number of troops necessary, he suggestively adds that “in proportion to the numbers used will be the lives saved; and as we have such numbers pressing to be allowed to serve, might it not be well to overwhelm and conquer as much by the show of force as by the use of it?”
Subsequently McDowell presents to General Scott, and Mr. Lincoln’s Cabinet, a project of advance and attack, which is duly approved and ordered to be put in execution. In that project or plan of operations, submitted by verbal request of General Scott, near the end of June,–the success of which is made contingent upon Patterson’s holding Johnston engaged at Winchester in the Shenandoah Valley, and also upon Butler’s holding the Rebel force near Fortress Monroe from coming to Beauregard’s aid at Manassas Junction,–McDowell estimates Beauregard’s strength at 25,000, with a possible increase, bringing it up to 35,000 men. The objective point in McDowell’s plan, is Manassas Junction, and he proposes “to move against Manassas with a force of 30,000 of all arms, organized into three columns, with a reserve of 10,000.”
McDowell is fully aware that the Enemy has “batteries in position at several places in his front, and defensive works on Bull Run, and Manassas Junction.” These batteries he proposes to turn. He believes Bull Run to be “fordable at almost anyplace,”–an error which ultimately renders his plan abortive,–and his proposition is, after uniting his columns on the Eastern side of Bull Run, “to attack the main position by turning it, if possible, so as to cut off communications by rail with the South, or threaten to do so sufficiently to force the Enemy to leave his intrenchments to guard them.”
In other words, assuming the Enemy driven back, by minor flanking movements, or otherwise, upon his intrenched position at Bull Run, or Manassas, the plan is to turn his right, destroy the Orange and Alexandria railroad leading South, and the bridge at Bristol, so as to cut off his supplies. This done, the Enemy–if nothing worse ensues for him–will be in a “bad box.”
McDowell, however, has no idea that the Enemy will stand still to let this thing be done. On the contrary, he is well satisfied that Beauregard will accept battle on some chosen ground between Manassas Junction and Washington.
On the afternoon of Tuesday, the 16th of July, the advance of McDowell’s Army commences. That Army is organized into five divisions–four of which accompany McDowell, while a fifth is left to protect the defensive works of Washington, on the South bank of the Potomac. This latter, the Fourth Division, commanded by Brigadier-General Theodore Runyon, comprises eight unbrigaded New Jersey regiments of (three months, and three years) volunteers–none of which take part in the ensuing conflicts-at-arms.
The moving column consists of the First Division, commanded by Brigadier-General Daniel Tyler, comprising four brigades, respectively under Brigadier-General R. C. Schenck, and Colonels E. D. Keyes, W. T. Sherman, and I. B. Richardson; the Second Division, commanded by Colonel David Hunter, comprising two brigades, under Colonels Andrew Porter and A. E. Burnside respectively; the Third Division, commanded by Colonel S. P. Heintzelman, comprising three brigades, under Colonels W. B. Franklin, O. B. Wilcox, and O. O. Howard, respectively; and the Fifth Division, commanded by Colonel Dixon S. Miles, comprising two brigades, under Colonels Lewis Blenker, and Thomas A. Davies, respectively.
Tyler’s Division leads the advance, moving along the Leesburg road to Vienna, on our right, with orders to cross sharply to its left, upon Fairfax Court House, the following (Wednesday) morning. Miles’s Division follows the turnpike road to Annandale, and then moves, by the Braddock road,–along which Braddock, a century before, had marched his doomed army to disaster,–upon Fairfax Court House, then known to be held by Bonham’s Rebel Brigade of South Carolinians. Hunter follows Miles, to Annandale, and thence advances direct upon Fairfax, by the turnpike road–McDowell’s idea being to bag Bonham’s Brigade, if possible, by a simultaneous attack on the front and both flanks. But the advance is too slow, and the Enemy’s outposts, both there and elsewhere, have ample opportunity of falling safely back upon their main position, behind the stream of Bull Run.
[McDowell in his testimony before the “Committee on the Conduct of the War,” said: “At Fairfax Court House was the South Carolina Brigade. And I do not suppose anything would have had a greater cheering effect upon the troops, and perhaps upon the Country, than the capture of that brigade. And if General Tyler could have got down there any time in the forenoon instead of in the afternoon, the capture of that brigade was beyond question. It was about 5,000 or 6,000 men, and Tyler had 12,000, at the same time that we were pressing on in front. He did not get down there until in the afternoon; none of us got forward in time.”]
This slowness is due to various causes. There is a pretty general dread, for example, among our troops, of threatened ambuscades, and hence the advance is more cautious than it otherwise would be. It is thought the part of wisdom, as it were, to “feel the way.” The marching, moreover, is new to our troops. General Scott had checked McDowell when the latter undertook to handle eight regiments together, near Washington, by intimating that he was “trying to make a show.” Thus the very essential knowledge of how to manoeuvre troops in large bodies, has been withheld from our Union generals, while the volunteer regiments have either rusted in camp from inaction, or have been denied the opportunity of acquiring that endurance and hardiness and discipline which frequent movement of troops confers. Hence, all unused to the discipline of the march, every moment some one falls out of line to “pick blackberries, or to get water.” Says McDowell, in afterward reporting this march: “They would not keep in the ranks, order as much as you pleased. When they came where water was fresh, they would pour the old water out of their canteens and fill them with fresh water; they were not used to denying themselves much.”
Meantime, Heintzelman’s Division is also advancing, by cross-roads, more to the left and South of the railroad line,–in accordance with McDowell’s plan, which comprehends not only the bagging of Bonham, but an immediate subsequent demonstration, by Tyler, upon Centreville and beyond, while Heintzelman, supported by Hunter and Miles, shall swoop across Bull Run, at Wolf Run Shoals, some distance below Union Mills, turn the Enemy’s right, and cut off his Southern line of railroad communications. Thus, by the evening of Wednesday, the 17th, Heintzelman is at Sangster’s Station, while Tyler, Miles, and Hunter, are at Fairfax.
It is a rather rough experience that now befalls the Grand Army of the Union. All unused, as we have seen, to the fatigues and other hardships of the march, the raw levies, of which it almost wholly consists, which started bright and fresh, strong and hopeful, full of the buoyant ardor of enthusiastic patriotism, on that hot July afternoon, only some thirty hours back, are now dust-begrimed, footsore, broken down, exhausted by the scorching sun, hungry, and without food,–for they have wasted the rations with which they started, and the supply-trains have not yet arrived. Thus, hungry and physically prostrated, “utterly played out,” as many of them confess, and demoralized also by straggling and loss of organization, they bivouac that night in the woods, and dream uneasy dreams beneath the comfortless stars.
A mile beyond Fairfax Court House, on the Warrenton Turnpike, is Germantown. It is here that Tyler’s Division has rested, on the night of the 17th. At 7 o’clock on the morning of Thursday, the 18th, in obedience to written orders from McDowell, it presses forward, on that “Pike,” to Centreville, five miles nearer to the Enemy’s position behind Bull Run–Richardson’s Brigade in advance–and, at 9 o’clock, occupies it. Here McDowell has intended Tyler to remain, in accordance with the plan, which he has imparted to him in conversation, and in obedience to the written instructions to: “Observe well the roads to Bull Run and to Warrenton. Do not bring on an engagement, but keep up the impression that we are moving on Manassas,”–this advance, by way of Centreville, being intended solely as a “demonstration” to mask the real movement, which, as we have seen, is to be made by the other divisions across Wolf Run Shoals, a point on Bull Run, some five or six miles below Union Mills, and some seven miles below Blackburn’s Ford.
Upon the arrival of Richardson’s Brigade, Thursday morning, at Centreville, it is found that, under cover of the darkness of the previous night, the Enemy has retreated, in two bodies, upon Bull Run, the one along the Warrenton Pike, the other (the largest) down the ridge-road from Centreville to Blackburn’s Ford. Richardson’s Brigade at once turns down the latter road and halts about a mile beyond Centreville, at a point convenient to some springs of water. Tyler soon afterward rides up, and, taking from that brigade two companies of light Infantry and a squadron of Cavalry, proceeds, with Colonel Richardson, to reconnoitre the Enemy, finding him in a strong position on the opposite bank of Bull Run, at Blackburn’s Ford.
While this is going on, McDowell has ridden in a Southerly direction down to Heintzelman’s Division, at Sangster’s Station, “to make arrangements to turn the Enemy’s right, and intercept his communications with the South,” but has found, owing to the narrowness and crookedness of the roads, and the great distance that must be traversed in making the necessary detour, that his contemplated movement is too risky to be ventured. Hence he at once abandons his original plan of turning the Enemy’s right, and determines on “going around his left, where the country is more open, and the roads broad and good.”
McDowell now orders a concentration, for that night, of the four divisions, with two days cooked rations in their haversacks, upon and about Centreville,–the movement to commence as soon as they shall receive expected commissariat supplies. But, later on the 18th, –learning that his advance, under Tyler, has, against orders, become engaged with the Enemy–he directs the concentration to be made at once.
Let us examine, for a moment, how this premature engagement comes about. We left Tyler, accompanied by Richardson, with a squadron of Cavalry and a battalion of light Infantry making a reconnaissance, on Thursday morning the 18th, toward Blackburn’s Ford. They approach within a mile of the ford, when they discover a Rebel battery on the farther bank of Bull Run–so placed as to enfilade the road descending from their own position of observation down to the ford,–strong Rebel infantry pickets and skirmishing parties being in front.
Tyler at once orders up his two rifled guns, Ayres’ Battery, and Richardson’s entire Brigade–and later, Sherman’s Brigade as a reserve. As soon as they come up,–about noon-he orders the rifled guns into battery on the crest of the hill, about one mile from, and looking down upon, the Rebel battery aforesaid, and opens upon the Enemy; giving him a dozen shells,–one of them making it lively for a body of Rebel Cavalry which appears between the ford and Manassas.
The Rebel battery responds with half a dozen shots, and then ceases. Tyler now orders Richardson to advance his brigade and throw out skirmishers to scour the thick woods which cover the Bull Run bottom-land. Richardson at once rapidly deploys the battalion of light Infantry as skirmishers in advance of his brigade, pushes them forward to the edge of the woods, drives in the skirmishers of the Enemy in fine style, and supports their further advance into the woods, with the 1st Massachusetts Regiment.
Meanwhile Tyler, discovering a favorable opening in the woods, “low down on the bottom of the stream,” for a couple of howitzers in battery, sends Captain Ayres of the 5th U. S. Artillery, and a detached section (two 12-pound howitzers) of his battery, with orders to post it himself on that spot, and sends Brackett’s squadron of the 2d Cavalry to his support.
No sooner does Ayres open fire on the Enemy, than he awakens a Rebel hornet’s-nest. Volley after volley of musketry shows that the Bull Run bottom fairly swarms with Rebel troops, while another Rebel battery, more to the Rebel right, opens, with that already mentioned, a concentrated cross-fire upon him.
And now Richardson orders up the 12th New York, Colonel Walrath, to the left of our battery. Forming it into line-of-battle, Richardson orders it to charge through the woods upon the Enemy. Gallantly the regiment moves forward, after the skirmishers, into the woods, but, being met by a very heavy fire of musketry and artillery along the whole line of the Enemy’s position, is, for the most part, thrown back in confusion–a mere fragment* remaining in line, and retreating,–while the howitzers, and Cavalry also, are withdrawn.
Meantime, however, Richardson has ordered up, and placed in line-of-battle, on the right of our battery, the 1st Massachusetts, the 2d Michigan (his own), and the 3d Michigan. The skirmishers in the woods still bravely hold their ground, undercover, and these three regiments are plucky, and anxious to assault the Enemy. Richardson proposes to lead them in a charge upon the Enemy’s position, and drive him out of it; but Tyler declines to give permission, on the ground that this being “merely a reconnaissance,” the object of which–ascertaining the strength and position of the Enemy–having been attained, a further attack is unnecessary. He therefore orders Richardson to “fall back in good order to our batteries on the hill,”–which he does.
Upon reaching these batteries, Richardson forms his 2d Michigan, in “close column by division,” on their right, and the 1st Massachusetts and 3d Michigan, in “line of battle,” on their left–the 12th New York re-forming, under cover of the woods at the rear, later on. Then, with our skirmishers thrown into the woods in front, their scattering fire, and the musketry responses of the Rebels, are drowned in the volume of sound produced by the deafening contest which ensues between our Artillery, and that of the Enemy from his batteries behind Bull Run.
This artillery-duel continues about one hour; and then seems to cease by mutual consent, about dusk–after 415 shots have been fired on the Union side, and have been responded to by an equal number from the Rebel batteries, “gun for gun”–the total loss in the engagement, on the Union side, being 83, to a total loss among the Enemy, of Thursday night, Richardson retires his brigade upon Centreville, in order to secure rations and water for his hungry and thirsty troops,–as no water has yet been found in the vicinity of the Union batteries aforesaid. On the morrow, however, when his brigade re-occupies that position, water is found in abundance, by digging for it.
This premature attack, at Blackburn’s Ford, by Tyler, against orders, having failed, throws a wet blanket upon the martial spirit of McDowell’s Army. In like degree is the morale of the Rebel Army increased.
It is true that Longstreet, in command of the Rebel troops at Blackburn’s Ford, has not had things all his own way; that some of his artillery had to be “withdrawn;” that, as he acknowledges in his report, his brigade of three Virginia regiments (the 1st, 11th, and 17th) had “with some difficulty repelled” the Union assault upon his position; that he had to call upon General Early for re-enforcements; that Early re-enforced him with two Infantry regiments (the 7th Louisiana and 7th Virginia) at first; that one of these (the 7th Virginia) was “thrown into confusion;” that Early then brought up his own regiment (the 24th Virginia) under Lieutenant Colonel Hairston, and the entire seven guns of the “Washington Artillery;” and that but for the active “personal exertions” of Longstreet, in “encouraging the men under his command,” and the great numerical superiority of the Rebels, there might have been no Union “repulse” at all. Yet still the attack has failed, and that failure, while it dispirits the Patriot Army, inspires the Rebel Army with renewed courage.
Under these circumstances, Friday, the 19th of July, is devoted to reconnaissances by the Engineer officers of the Union Army; to the cooking of the supplies, which have at last arrived; and to resting the weary and road-worn soldiers of the Union.
Let us take advantage of this halt in the advance of McDowell’s “Grand Army of the United States”–as it was termed–to view the Rebel position at, and about Manassas, and to note certain other matters having an important and even determining bearing upon the issue of the impending shock-at-arms.
Beauregard has received early information of McDowell’s advance from Arlington, and of his plans.
[This he admits, in his report, when he says; “Opportunely informed of the determination of the Enemy to advance on Manassas, my advanced brigades, on the night of the 16th of July, were made aware, from these headquarters, of the impending movement,”]
On Tuesday the 16th, he notifies his advanced brigades. On Wednesday, he sends a dispatch from Manassas, to Jefferson Davis, at Richmond, announcing that the Union troops have assailed his outposts in heavy force; that he has fallen back before them, on the line of Bull Run; and that he intends to make a stand at Mitchell’s Ford (close to Blackburn’s Ford) on that stream,–adding: if his (McDowell’s) force is overwhelming, “I shall retire to the Rappahannock railroad bridge, saving my command for defense there, and future operations. Please inform Johnston of this, via Staunton, and also Holmes. Send forward any re-enforcements at the earliest possible instant, and by every possible means.”
In the meantime, however, Beauregard loses no time in advantageously posting his troops. On the morning of the 18th of July, when the Union advance enters Centreville, he has withdrawn all his advanced brigades within the Rebel lines of Bull Run, resting them on the South side of that stream, from Union Mills Ford, near the Orange and Alexandria railroad bridge, up to the stone bridge over which the Warrenton Pike crosses the Run,–a distance of some six to eight miles.
Between the Rebel left, at Stone Bridge, and the Rebel right, at Union Mills Ford, are several fords across Bull Run–the general course of the stream being from the North-West to South-East, to its confluence with the Occoquan River, some twelve miles from the Potomac River.
Mitchell’s Ford, the Rebel center, is about three miles to the South-West of, and about the same distance North-East from, Manassas Junction. But it may be well, right here, to locate all these fordable crossings of the rocky, precipitous, and well-wooded Bull Run stream, between the Stone Bridge and Union Mills Ford. Thus, half a mile below the Stone Bridge is Lewis’s Ford; half a mile below that, Ball’s Ford; half a mile below that, Island Ford; one and one-half miles below that, Mitchell’s Ford–one mile below that.
Blackburn’s Ford; three-quarters of a mile farther down, McLean’s Ford; and nearly two miles lower down the stream, Union Mills Ford.
By Thursday morning, the 18th of July, Beauregard has advantageously posted the seven brigades into which he has organized his forces, at these various positions along his extended front, as follows:
At the Stone Bridge, Brigadier-General N. G. Evans’s Seventh Brigade, of one regiment and one battalion of Infantry, two companies of Cavalry, and a battery of four six-pounders.
At Lewis’s, Balls, and Island Fords–Colonel P. St. George Cocke’s Fifth Brigade, of three regiments of Infantry, one battery of Artillery, and one company of Cavalry.
At Mitchell’s Ford, Brigadier-General M. L. Bonham’s First Brigade, of four Infantry regiments, two batteries, and six companies of Cavalry.
At Blackburn’s Ford, Brigadier-General J. Longstreet’s Fourth Brigade, of four Infantry regiments, with two 6-pounders.
At McLean’s Ford, Brigadier-General D. R. Jones’s Third Brigade of three Infantry regiments, one Cavalry company, and two 6-pounders.
At Union Mills Ford, Brigadier-General R. S. Ewell’s Second Brigade, of three Infantry regiments, three Cavalry companies, and four 12-powder howitzers–Colonel Jubal A. Early’s Sixth Brigade, of three Infantry regiments and three rifled pieces of Walton’s Battery, being posted in the rear of, and as a support to, Ewell’s Brigade.
[Johnston also found, on the 20th, the Reserve Brigade of Brig. Gen. T. H. Holmes–comprising two regiments of Infantry, Walker’s Battery of Artillery, and Scott’s Cavalry-with Early’s Brigade, “in reserve, in rear of the right.”]
The disposition and strength of Beauregard’s forces at these various points along his line of defense on Bull Run stream, plainly shows his expectation of an attack on his right; but he is evidently suspicious that it may come upon his centre; for, as far back as July 8th, he had issued special orders to the effect that:
“Should the Enemy march to the attack of Mitchell’s Ford, via Centreville, the following movements will be made with celerity:
“I. The Fourth Brigade will march from Blackburn’s Ford to attack him on the flank and centre.
“II. The Third Brigade will be thrown to the attack of his centre and rear toward Centreville.
“III. The Second and Sixth Brigades united will also push forward and attack him in the rear by way of Centreville, protecting their own right flanks and rear from the direction of Fairfax Station and Court House.
“IV. In the event of the defeat of the Enemy, the troops at Mitchell’s Ford and Stone Bridge, especially the Cavalry and Artillery, will join in the pursuit, which will be conducted with vigor but unceasing prudence, and continued until he shall have been driven beyond the Potomac.”
And it is not without interest to note Beauregard’s subsequent indorsement on the back of these Special Orders, that: “The plan of attack prescribed within would have been executed, with modifications affecting First and Fifth Brigades, to meet the attack upon Blackburn’s Ford, but for the expected coming of General Johnston’s command, which was known to be en route to join me on [Thursday] the 18th of July.”
The knowledge thus possessed on Thursday, the 18th, by Beauregard, that Johnston’s Army is on its way to join him, is of infinite advantage to the former. On the other hand, the complete ignorance, at this time, of McDowell on this point,–and the further fact that he has been lulled into a feeling of security on the subject, by General Scott’s emphatic assurance to him that “if Johnston joins Beauregard, he shall have Patterson on his heels”–is a great disadvantage to the Union general.
Were McDowell now aware of the real Military situation, he would unquestionably make an immediate attack, with the object of crushing Beauregard before Johnston can effect a junction with him. It would then be a mere matter of detail for the armies of McDowell, McClellan, and Patterson, to bag Johnston, and bring the armed Rebellion to an inglorious and speedy end. But Providence–through the plottings of individuals within our own lines–wills it otherwise.
Long before this, Patterson has been informed by General Winfield Scott of the proposed movement by McDowell upon Manassas,–and of its date.
On Saturday, July 13th, General Scott telegraphed to Patterson: “I telegraphed to you yesterday, if not strong enough to beat the Enemy early next week, make demonstrations so as to detain him in the Valley of Winchester; but if he retreats in force toward Manassas, and it be too hazardous to follow him, then consider the route via Keys Ferry, Leesburg, etc.”
On Wednesday, the 17th, Scott telegraphs to Patterson: “I have nothing official from you since Sunday (14th), but am glad to learn, through Philadelphia papers, that you have advanced. Do not let the Enemy amuse and delay you with a small force in front whilst he re-enforces the Junction with his main body. McDowell’s first day’s work has driven the Enemy beyond Fairfax Court House. The Junction will probably be carried by to-morrow.”
On Thursday, the 18th, Patterson replies that to attack “the greatly superior force at Winchester “when the three months volunteers’ time was about up, and they were threatening to leave him–would be “most hazardous” and then he asks: “Shall I attack?”
Scott answers the same day: “I have certainly been expecting you to beat the Enemy. If not, to hear that you had felt him strongly, or, at least, had occupied him by threats and demonstrations. You have been at least his equal, and, I suppose, superior in numbers. Has he not stolen a march and sent re-enforcements toward Manassas Junction? A week is enough to win victories,” etc.
Patterson retorts, on the same day: “The Enemy has stolen no march upon me. I have kept him actively employed, and by threats, and reconnaissances in force, caused him to be re-enforced. I have accomplished in this respect more than the General-in-Chief asked, or could well be expected, in face of an Enemy far superior in numbers, with no line of communication to protect.”
In another dispatch, to Assistant Adjutant-General Townsend (with General Scott), he says, that same afternoon of Thursday, the 18th: “I have succeeded, in accordance with the wishes of the General-in-Chief, in keeping General Johnston’s Force at Winchester. A reconnaissance in force, on Tuesday, caused him to be largely re-enforced from Strasburg.”
Again, on Friday, the 19th, he informs Colonel Townsend that: “The Enemy, from last information, are still at Winchester, and being re-enforced every night.”
It is not until Saturday, the 20th of July, that he telegraphs to Townsend: “With a portion of his force, Johnston left Winchester, by the road to Millwood, on the afternoon of the 18th.” And he adds the ridiculous statement: “His whole force was about 35,200.”
Thus, despite all the anxious care of General Scott, to have Johnston’s Army detained in the Shenandoah Valley, it has escaped Patterson so successfully, and entirely, that the latter does not even suspect its disappearance until the day before the pitched Battle of Bull Run is fought! Its main body has actually reached Manassas twenty-four hours before Patterson is aware that it has left Winchester!
And how is it, that Johnston gets away from Patterson so neatly? And when does he do it?
[The extraordinary conduct of General Patterson at this critical period, when everything seemed to depend upon his exertions, was afterward the subject of inquiry by the Joint-Committee on the Conduct of the War. The testimony taken by that Committee makes it clear, to any unprejudiced mind, that while Patterson himself may have been loyal to the Union, he was weak enough to be swayed from the path of duty by some of the faithless and unpatriotic officers with whom he had partly surrounded himself–and especially by Fitz John Porter, his Chief-of-staff. Let us examine the sworn testimony of two or three witnesses on this point.
General CHARLES W. SANFORD, who was second in command under Patterson, and in command of Patterson’s Left Wing, testified [see pages 54-66, Report on Conduct of the War, Vol. 3, Part 2,] that he was at a Council of War held at the White House, June 29th, when the propriety of an attack on the Rebel lines at Manassas was discussed; that he objected to any such movement until Patterson was in such a position as to prevent the junction between General Johnston’s Army and the troops at Manassas; that on the 6th of July, he was sent by General Scott, with four picked New York regiments, to Patterson, and (waiving his own seniority rank) reported to that General, at Williamsport; that Patterson gave him command of a division of 8,000 men (and two batteries) out of a total in his Army of 22,000; that he “delivered orders from General Scott to General Patterson, and urged a forward movement as soon as possible;” that there was “Some delay at Martinsburg, notwithstanding the urgency of our matter,” but they “left there on [Monday] the 15th of July, and went in the direction of Winchester,”–down to Bunker Hill,–Patterson with two divisions going down the turnpike, and Sanford taking his division a little in advance and more easterly on the side roads so as to be in a position to flank Johnston’s right; that on that afternoon (Monday, July 15) General Patterson rode up to where Sanford was locating his camp.
Continuing his testimony, General Sanford said: “I was then within about nine miles of Johnston’s fortified camp at Winchester. Patterson was complimenting me upon the manner in which my regiments were located, and inquiring about my pickets, which I had informed him I had sent down about three miles to a stream below. I had driven out the Enemy’s skirmishers ahead of us. They had some cavalry there. In answer to his compliments about the comfortable location I had made, I said: ‘Very comfortable, General, when shall we move on?’ * * * He hesitated a moment or two, and then said: ‘I don’t know yet when we shall move. And if I did I would not tell my own father.’ I thought that was rather a queer speech to make to me under the circumstances. But I smiled and said: ‘General, I am only anxious that we shall get forward, that the Enemy shall not escape us.’ He replied: ‘There is no danger of that. I will have a reconnaissance to-morrow, and we will arrange about moving at a very early period.’ He then took his leave.
“The next day [Tuesday, July 16th], there was a reconnaissance on the Winchester turnpike, about four or five miles below the General’s camp. He sent forward a section of artillery and some cavalry, and they found a post-and-log fence across the Winchester turnpike, and some of the Enemy’s cavalry on the other side of it. They gave them a round of grape. The cavalry scattered off, and the reconnaissance returned. That was the only reconnaissance I heard of while we were there. My own pickets went further than that. But it was understood, the next afternoon, that we were to march forward at daylight. I sent down Col. Morell, with 40 men, to open a road down to Opequan Creek, within five miles of the camp at Winchester, on the side-roads I was upon, which would enable me, in the course of three hours, to get between Johnston and the Shenandoah River, and effectually bar his way to Manassas. I had my ammunition all distributed, and ordered my men to have 24 hours’ rations in their haversacks, independent of their breakfast. We were to march at 4 o’clock the next morning. I had this road to the Opequan completed that night. I had then with me, in addition to my eight regiments amounting to about 8,000 men and a few cavalry, Doubleday’s heavy United States battery of 20 and 30 pounders, and a very good Rhode Island battery. And I was willing to take the risk, whether Gen. Patterson followed me up or not, of placing myself between Johnston and the Shenandoah River, rather than let Johnston escape. And, at 4 o’clock [July 17th] I should have moved over that road for that purpose, if I had had no further orders. But, a little after 12 o’clock at night [July 16th-17th,] I received a long order of three pages from Gen. Patterson, instructing me to move on to Charlestown, which is nearly at right angles to the road I was going to move on, and twenty-two miles from Winchester. This was after I had given my orders for the other movement.”
* * * * * * * * * *
‘Question [by the Chairman].–And that left Johnston free? “Answer–Yes, Sir; left him free to make his escape, which he did. * * *”
‘Question.–In what direction would Johnston have had to move to get by you?
“Answer–Right out to the Shenandoah River, which he forded. He found out from his cavalry, who were watching us, that we were actually leaving, and he started at 1 o’clock that same day, with 8,000 men, forded the Shenandoah where it was so deep that he ordered his men to put their cartridge-boxes on their bayonets, got out on the Leesburg road, and went down to Manassas.”
“Question [by the Chairman].–Did he [Patterson] assign any reason for that movement?
“Answer.–I was, of course, very indignant about it, and so were all my officers and men; so much so that when, subsequently, at Harper’s Ferry, Patterson came by my camp, there was a universal groan–against all discipline, of course, and we suppressed it as soon as possible. The excuse given by Gen. Patterson was this: that he had received intelligence that he could rely upon, that Gen. Johnston had been re-enforced by 20,000 men from Manassas, and was going to make an attack upon him; and in the order which I received that night–a long order of three pages–I was ordered to occupy all the communicating roads, turning off a regiment here, and two or three regiments there, and a battery at another place, to occupy all the roads from Winchester to the neighborhood of Charlestown, and all the cross-roads, and hold them all that day, until Gen. Patterson’s whole army went by me to Charlestown; and I sat seven hours in the saddle near a place called Smithfield, while Patterson, with his whole army, went by me on their way to Charlestown, he being apprehensive, as he said, of an attack from Johnston’s forces.”
“Question [by Mr. Odell].–You covered his movement? “Answer–Yes, Sir. Now the statement that he made, which came to me through Colonel Abercrombie, who was Patterson’s brother-in-law, and commanded one division in that army, was, that Johnston had been re-enforced; and Gen. Fitz-John Porter reported the same thing to my officers. Gen. Porter was then the chief of Patterson’s staff, and was a very excellent officer, and an accomplished soldier. They all had got this story, which was without the slightest shadow of foundation; for there had not a single man arrived at the camp since we had got full information that their force consisted of 20,000 men, of whom 1,800 were sick with the measles. The story was, however, that they had ascertained, by reliable information, of this re-enforcement. Where they got their information, I do not know. None such reached me; and I picked up deserters and other persons to get all the information I could; and we since have learned, as a matter of certainty, that Johnston’s forces never did exceed 20,000 men there. But the excuse Patterson gave was, that Johnson had been re-enforced by 20,000 men from Manassas, and was going to attack him. That was the reason he gave then for this movement. But in this paper he has lately published, he hints at another reason–another excuse–which was that it was by order of Gen. Scott. Now, I know that the peremptory order of Gen. Scott to Gen. Patterson, repeated over and over again, was this–I was present on several occasions when telegraphic communications went from Gen. Scott to Gen. Patterson: Gen. Scott’s orders to Gen. Patterson were that, if he were strong enough, he was to attack and beat Johnston. But if not, then he was to place himself in such a position as to keep Johnston employed, and prevent him from making a junction with Beauregard at Manassas. That was the repeated direction of Gen. Scott to Gen. Patterson; and it was because of Patterson’s hesitancy, and his hanging back, and keeping so far beyond the reach of Johnston’s camp, that I was ordered to go up there and re-enforce him, and assist him in any operations necessary to effect that object. The excuse of Gen. Patterson now is, that he had orders from Gen. Scott to move to Charlestown. Now, that is not so. But this state of things existed: Before the movement was made from Martinsburg, General Patterson suggested to General Scott that Charlestown would be a better base of operations than Martinsburg and suggested that he had better move on Charlestown, and thence make his approaches to Winchester; that it would be better to do that than to move directly to Winchester from Martinsburg; and General Scott wrote back to say that, if he found that movement a better one, he was at liberty to make it. But Gen. Patterson had already commenced his movement on Winchester direct from Martinsburg, and had got as far as Bunker Hill; so that the movement which he had formerly suggested, to Charlestown, was suppressed by his own act. But that is the pretence now given in his published speech for making the movement from Bunker Hill to Charlestown, which was a retreat, instead of the advance which the movement to Charlestown he first proposed to Gen. Scott was intended to be.”
* * * * * * * * * * * *
“Question [by the Chairman].–Was not that change of direction and movement to Charlestown a total abandonment of the object which you were pursuing?
“Answer.–Entirely an abandonment of the main principles of the orders he was acting under.”
“Question.–And of course an abandonment of the purpose for which you were there?
“Answer.–Yes, Sir.
“Question [by Mr. Odell].-Was it not your understanding in leaving here, and was it not the understanding also of Gen. Scott, that your purpose in going there was to check Johnston with direct reference to the movement here?
“Answer–Undoubtedly. It was in consequence of the suggestion made by me at the Council at the President’s house. * * * And upon the suggestion of General Scott they wanted me to go up there and assist Patterson in this movement against Johnston, so as to carry out the point I had suggested of first checkmating Johnston before the movement against Manassas was made here.”
* * * * * * * * *
Question [by the Chairman].–Would there have been any difficulty in preventing Johnston from going to Manassas? “Answer.–None whatever.”
* * * * * * * * *
“Question [by the Chairman.]–I have heard it suggested that he (Patterson) undertook to excuse this movement on the ground that the time of many of his troops had expired, and they refused to accompany him.
“Answer.–That to my knowledge, is untrue. The time of none of them had expired when this movement was made. All the troops that were there were in the highest condition for the service. These three-months’ men, it may be well to state to you who are not Military men, were superior to any other volunteer troops that we had, in point of discipline. They were the disciplined troops of the Country. The three-months’ men were generally the organized troops of the different States–New York, Pennsylvania, etc. We had, for instance, from Patterson’s own city, Philadelphia, one of the finest regiments in the service, which was turned over to me, at their own request; and the most of my regiments were disciplined and organized troops. They were all in fine condition, anxious, zealous, and earnest for a fight. They thought they were going to attack Johnston’s camp at Winchester. Although I had suggested to Gen. Patterson that there was no necessity for that, the camp being admirably fortified with many of their heavy guns from Norfolk, I proposed to him to place ourselves between Johnston and the Shenandoah, which would have compelled him to fight us there, or to remain in his camp, either of which would have effected General Scott’s object. If I had got into a fight, it was very easy, over this road I had just been opening, for Patterson to have re-enforced me and to have come up to the fight in time. The proposition was to place ourselves between Johnston’s fortified camp and the Shenandoah, where his fortified camp would have been of no use to him.”
“Question.–Even if you had received a check there, it would have prevented his junction with the forces at Manassas? “Answer.–Yes, Sir; I would have risked a battle with my own division rather than Johnston should have escaped. If he had attacked me, I could have taken a position where I could have held it, while Patterson could have fallen upon him and repulsed him.”
“Question [by Mr. Odell].–Had you any such understanding with Patterson?
“Answer.–I told him I would move down on this side-road in advance, leaving Gen. Patterson to sustain me if I got into a fight. So, on the other hand, if he should attack Patterson, I was near enough to fall upon Johnston’s flank and to support Patterson. By using this communication of mine to pass Opequan Creek–where, I had informed Patterson, I had already pushed forward my pickets, [200 men in the day and 400 more at night,] to prevent the Enemy from burning the bridge–it would have enabled me to get between Johnston and the Shenandoah River. On the morning [Wednesday, July 17th] of our march to Charlestown, Stuart’s cavalry, which figured so vigorously at Bull Run, was upon my flank all day. They were apparently about 800 strong. I saw them constantly on my flank for a number of miles. I could distinguish them, with my glass, with great ease. Finally, they came within about a mile of the line of march I was pursuing and I sent a battery around to head them off, and the 12th Regiment across the fields in double-quick time to take them in the rear. I thought I had got them hemmed in. But they broke down the fences, and went across the country to Winchester, and I saw nothing more of them. They were then about eight miles from Winchester, and must have got there in the course of a couple of hours. That day [Wednesday, the 17th] at 10 o’clock–as was ascertained from those who saw him crossing the Shenandoah–Johnston started from Winchester with 8,000 men, forded the Shenandoah, and got to Manassas on Friday night; and his second in command started the next day with all the rest of the available troops–something like 9,000 men; leaving only the sick, and a few to guard them, in the camp at Winchester–and they arrived at the battle-field in the midst of the fight, got out of the cars, rushed on the battle-field, and turned the scale. I have no doubt that, if we had intercepted Johnston, as we ought to have done, the battle of Bull Run would have been a victory for us instead of a defeat. Johnston was undoubtedly the ablest general they had in their army.”
Colonel CRAIG BIDDLE, testified that he was General Patterson’s aide-de-camp at the time. In answer to a question by the Chairman, he continued:
“Answer.–I was present, of course, at all the discussions. The discussion at Martinsburg was as to whether or not General Patterson should go on to Winchester. General Patterson was very full of that himself. He was determined to go to Winchester; but the opinions of all the regular officers who were with him, were against it. The opinions of all the men in whose judgment I had any confidence, were against it. They seemed to have the notion that General Patterson had got his Irish blood up by the fight we had had at Falling Waters, and was bound to go ahead. He decided upon going ahead, against the remonstrances of General [Fitz John] Porter, who advised against it. He told me he considered he had done his duty, and said no more. The movement was delayed in consequence of General Stone’s command not being able to move right away. It was then evident that there was so much opposition to it that the General was induced to call a council of the general officers in his command, at which I was present. They were unanimously opposed to the advance. That was at Martinsburg.”
* * * * * * * * *
“Question.–While at Bunker Hill, the night before you left there, were any orders issued to march in the evening? “Answer.–I think there were such orders.”
“Question.–Did not General Patterson issue orders at Bunker Hill, the night before you marched to Charlestown, for an attack on the Enemy?
“Answer.-I think such orders were written. I do not think they were issued. I think General Patterson was again persuaded not to make an advance.”
Colonel R. BUTLER PRICE, Senior aide to Patterson, testified as follows:
* * * * * * * * *
“Question [by Mr. Gooch].–Was it not the intention to move from Bunker Hill to Winchester?
“Answer.–Yes, Sir. At one time General Patterson had given an order to move from Bunker Hill to Winchester. He was very unwilling to leave Johnston even at Winchester without attacking him; and on the afternoon before we left Bunker Hill he decided to attack him, notwithstanding his strong force.”
“Question.–Behind his intrenchments? “Answer.–Yes, Sir; it went so far that his order was written by his adjutant, General [Fitz John] Porter. It was very much against the wishes of General [Fitz John] Porter; and he asked General Patterson if he would send for Colonel Abercrombie and Colonel Thomas and consult them on the movement. General Patterson replied: No, Sir; for I know they will attempt to dissuade me from it, and I have made up my mind to fight Johnston under all circumstances. That was the day before we left Bunker Hill. Then Colonel [Fitz John] Porter asked to have Colonel Abercrombie and Colonel Thomas sent for and consulted as to the best manner to carry out his wishes. He consented, and they came, and after half an hour they dissuaded him from it.”
“Question.–At that time General Patterson felt it was so important to attack Johnston that he had determined to do it? “Answer.–Yes, Sir; the order was not published, but it was written.”
“Question.–You understood General Patterson to be influenced to make that attempt because he felt there was a necessity for detaining Johnston?
“Answer.–Yes, Sir; to detain him as long as he possibly could.”
“Question.–That order was not countermanded until late on Tuesday, the 16th, was it?
“Answer.–That order never was published. It was written; but, at the earnest solicitation of Colonel [Fitz John] Porter, it was withheld until he could have a consultation with Colonel Abercrombie and Colonel Thomas.”]
It is about 1 o’clock on the morning of Thursday, July 18th,–that same day which witnesses the preliminary Battle of Blackburn’s Ford–that Johnston, being at Winchester, and knowing of Patterson’s peculiarly inoffensive and timid movement to his own left and rear, on Charlestown, receives from the Rebel Government at Richmond, a telegraphic dispatch, of July 17th, in these words: “General Beauregard is attacked. To strike the Enemy a decisive blow, a junction of all your effective force will be needed. If practicable, make the movement. * * * In all the arrangements exercise your discretion.”
Johnston loses no time in deciding that it is his duty to prevent, if possible, disaster to Beauregard’s Army; that to do this he must effect a junction with him; and that this necessitates either an immediate fight with, and defeat of, Patterson,–which may occasion a fatal delay–or else, that Union general must be eluded. Johnston determines on the latter course.
Leaving his sick, with some militia to make a pretense of defending the town in case of attack, Johnston secretly and rapidly marches his Army, of 9,000 effective men, Southeasterly from Winchester, at noon of Thursday, the 18th; across by a short cut, wading the Shenandoah River, and then on through Asby’s Gap, in the Blue Ridge, that same night; still on, in the same direction, to a station on the Manassas Gap railroad, known as Piedmont, which is reached by the next (Friday) morning,–the erratic movements of Stuart’s Cavalry entirely concealing the manoeuvre from the knowledge of Patterson.
From Piedmont, the Artillery and Cavalry proceed to march the remaining twenty-five miles, or so, to Manassas Junction, by the roads. The 7th and 8th Georgia Regiments of Bartow’s Brigade, with Jackson’s Brigade, –comprising the 2d, 4th, 5th, 27th and 33d Virginia Regiments–are embarked on the cars, and hurriedly sent in advance, by rail, to Manassas, reaching there on that same (Friday) afternoon and evening. These are followed by General Johnston, with Bee’s Brigade–comprising the 4th Alabama, 2d Mississippi, and a battalion of the 11th Mississippi–which arrive at Manassas about noon of Saturday, the 20th of July, the balance of Johnston’s Infantry being billed for arrival that same day, or night.
Upon Johnston’s own arrival at Manassas, Saturday noon,–the very day that Patterson ascertains that “the bird has flown,”–after assuming command, by virtue of seniority, he proceeds to examine Beauregard’s position. This he finds “too extensive, and the ground too densely wooded and intricate,” to be learned quickly, and hence he is impelled to rely largely upon Beauregard for information touching the strength and positions of both the Rebel and Union Armies.
Beauregard has now 21,833 men, and 29 pieces of artillery of his own “Army of the Potomac.” Johnston’s and Holmes’s junction with him has raised the Rebel total to 32,000 effectives, and 55 guns. McDowell, on the other hand, who started with 30,000 effectives, finds himself on the 19th–owing to the departure of one of his regiments and a battery of Artillery, because of the expiration of their term of enlistment,–with but “28,000 men at the utmost.”–[Comte de Paris.]
On the evening of Saturday, the 20th of July, Johnston and Beauregard hold an important consultation. The former feels certain that Patterson, with his more than 20,000 effectives, will now lose no time in essaying a junction with McDowell’s Army, and that such junction will probably be effected by July 22nd. Hence he perceives the necessity of attacking McDowell, and if possible, with the combined Rebel Forces, whipping him before Patterson can come up to his assistance.
At this consultation it is agreed by the two Rebel generals to assume the offensive, at once. Beauregard proposes a plan of battle–which is an immediate general advance of the Rebel centre and left, concentrating, from all the fords of Bull Run, upon Centreville, while the Rebel right advances toward Sangster’s cross-roads, ready to fall either on Centreville, or upon Fairfax Court House, in its rear, according to circumstances.
The plan proposed, is accepted at once by Johnston. The necessary order is drawn up by Beauregard that night; and at half past four o’clock on Sunday morning, July 21st, Johnston signs the written order. Nothing now remains, apparently, but the delivery of the order to the Rebel brigade commanders, a hurried preparation for the forward movement, and then the grand attack upon McDowell, at Centreville.
Already, no doubt, the fevered brain of Beauregard pictures, in his vivid imagination, the invincible thunders of his Artillery, the impetuous advance of his Infantry, the glorious onset of his Cavalry, the flight and rout of the Union forces, his triumphal entry into Washington–Lincoln and Scott and the Congress crouching at his feet –and the victorious South and conquered North acclaiming him Dictator! The plan is Beauregard’s own, and Beauregard is to have command. Hence all the glory of capturing the National Capital, must be Beauregard’s. Why not? But “man proposes, and God disposes.” The advance and attack, are, in that shape, never to be made.
McDowell, in the meantime, all unconscious of what has transpired in the Shenandoah Valley, and between there and Manassas; never dreaming for an instant that Patterson has failed to keep Johnson there–even if he has not attacked and defeated him; utterly unsuspicious that his own lessened Union Army has now to deal with the Forces of Johnston and Beauregard combined–with a superior instead of an inferior force; is executing a plan of battle which he has decided upon, and announced to his general officers, on that same Saturday evening, at his Headquarters in Centreville.
Instead of attempting to turn the Enemy’s right, and cut off his communications with Richmond and the South, McDowell has now determined to attack the Enemy’s left, cut his communication, via the Manassas Gap railroad, with Johnston’s Army,–still supposed by him to be in the Valley of the Shenandoah–and, taking him in the left flank and rear, roll him upon Manassas, in disorder and defeat–with whatever might follow.
That is the plan–in its general features. In executing it, Blenker’s Brigade of Miles’s Division is to remain at Centreville as a reserve, throwing up intrenchments about its Heights, upon which to fall back, in case of necessity; Davies’s Brigade of the same Division, with Richardson’s Brigade of Tyler’s Division–as the Left Wing–are to demonstrate at Blackburn’s Ford, toward the Enemy’s right; Tyler’s other three brigades, under Keyes, Schenck, and Sherman, are to feign an attack on the Enemy’s left, posted behind the strongly-defended Stone Bridge over which the Warrenton turnpike, running Westward, on its way from Centreville to Warrenton, crosses Bull Run stream; while the strong divisions under Hunter and Heintzelman–forming McDowell’s Right Wing –are to follow Tyler’s Division Westward down the turnpike to a point within one mile and a half of the Stone Bridge, thence, by cross-road, diverge several miles to the North, then sweep around gradually to the West, and then Southwardly over Bull Run at Sudley Springs Ford, swooping down the Sudley road upon the Enemy’s left flank and rear, near Stone Bridge, rolling it back toward his center, while Tyler’s remaining three brigades cross the bridge and join in the assault. That is the whole plan in a nutshell.
It has been McDowell’s intention to push forward, from Centreville along the Warrenton Pike a few miles, on the evening of this Military conference; but he makes his first mistake, in allowing himself to be dissuaded from that, by those, who, in his own words, “have the greatest distance to go,” and who prefer “starting early in the morning and making but one move.”
The attacking divisions now have orders to march at 2:30 A. M., in order “to avoid the heat,” which is excessive. Tyler’s three immediate brigades–or some of them–are slow in starting Westward, along the Warrenton Pike, to the Stone Bridge; and this leads to a two or three hours delay of the divisions of Hunter and Heintzelman, before they can follow that Pike beyond Centreville, and commence the secret detour to their right, along the cross-road leading to Sudley Springs.
At 6:30 A.M., Tyler’s Artillery gets into position, to cannonade the Enemy’s batteries, on the West Bank of Bull Run, commanding the Stone Bridge, and opens fire. Half an hour before this, (at 6 A.M.), the Rebel artillerists, posted on a hill South of the Pike, and 600 yards West of the bridge, have caught sight of Tyler’s Union blue-jackets. Those of the Rebel gunners whose eyes are directed to the North-East, soon see, nearly a mile away, up the gradual slope, a puff of blue smoke. Immediately the bang of a solitary rifle cannon is heard, and the scream of a rifled shot as it passes over their heads. At intervals, until past 9 A.M., that piece and others in the same position, keep hammering away at the Rebel left, under Evans, at Stone Bridge.
The Rebel response to this cannonade, is very feeble. McDowell observes this. He suspects there has been a weakening of the Enemy’s force at the bridge, in order to strengthen his right for some purpose. And what can that purpose be, but to throw his augmented right upon our left, at Blackburn’s Ford, and so, along the ridge-road, upon Centreville? Thus McDowell guesses, and guesses well. To be in readiness to protect his own left and rear, by reenforcing Miles’s Division, at Centreville and along the ridge to Blackburn’s Ford, he temporarily holds back Howard’s Brigade of Heintzelman’s Division at the point where the cross-road to Sudley Springs Ford-along which Hunter’s Division, followed by the Brigades of Franklin and Wilcox, of Heintzelman’s Division, have already gone-intersects the Warrenton Pike.
It is 9 o’clock. Beauregard, as yet unaware of McDowell’s new plan, sends an order to Ewell, on his right, to hold himself ready “to take the offensive, at a moment’s notice,”–and directing that Ewell be supported in his advance, toward Sangster’s cross-roads and the rear of Centreville, by Holmes’s Brigade. In accordance with that order, Ewell, who is “at Union Mills and its neighborhood,” gets his brigade ready, and Holmes moves up to his support. After waiting two hours, Ewell receives another order, for both Ewell and Holmes “to resume their places.” Something must have occurred since 9 o’clock, to defeat Beauregard’s plan of attack on Centreville–with all its glorious consequences! What can it be? We shall see.
While Tyler’s Artillery has been cannonading the Rebel left, under Evans, at Stone Bridge,–fully impressed with the prevailing Union belief that the bridge is not only protected by strong masked batteries, heavy supports of Infantry, and by abatis as well as other defenses, but is also mined and ready to be blown up at the approach of our troops, when in reality the bridge is not mined, and the Rebel force in men and guns at that point has been greatly weakened in anticipation of Beauregard’s projected advance upon Centreville,–the Union column, under Hunter and Heintzelman, is advancing from Centreville, in the scorching heat and suffocating dust of this tropical July morning, slowly, but surely, along the Warrenton Pike and the cross-road to Sudley Springs Ford–a distance of some eight miles of weary and toilsome marching for raw troops in such a temperature–in this order: Burnside’s Brigade, followed by Andrew Porter’s Brigade,–both of Hunter’s Division; then Franklin’s Brigade, followed by Willcox’s Brigade,–both of Heintzelman’s Division.
It is half past 9 o’clock; before Burnside’s Brigade has crossed the Bull Run stream, at Sudley’s Ford, and the head of Andrew Porter’s Brigade commences to ford it. The troops are somewhat slow in crossing. They are warm, tired, thirsty, and as to dust,–their hair and eyes and nostrils and mouths are full of it, while most of the uniforms, once blue, have become a dirty gray. The sky is clear. The sun already is fiercely hot. The men stop to drink and fill their canteens. It is well they do.
McDowell, who has been waiting two or three hours at the turn, impatient at the delay, has ridden over to the front of the Flanking column, and now reaches Sudley’s Ford. He feels that much valuable time is already lost. His plan has, in a measure, been frustrated by delay. He had calculated on crossing Bull Run, at Sudley’s Ford, and getting to the rear of the Enemy’s position, at Stone Bridge, before a sufficient Rebel force could be assembled to contest the Union advance. He sends back an aide with orders to the regimental commanders in the rear, to “break from column, and hurry forward separately, as fast as possible.” Another aide he sends, with orders to Howard to bring his brigade across-fields. To Tyler he also sends orders to “press forward his attack, as large bodies of the Enemy are passing in front of him to attack the division (Hunter’s) which has passed over.”
It may here be explained, that the Sudley road, running about six miles South-Southeasterly from Sudley Springs Ford to Manassas Junction, is crossed at right angles, about two miles South of the Springs, by the Warrenton Pike, at a point about one mile and a half West of the Stone Bridge. For nearly a mile South of Sudley Ford, the Sudley road passes through thick woods on the left, and alternate patches of wooded and cleared lands on the right. The country farther South, opens into rolling fields, occasionally cut by transverse gullies, and patched with woods. This is what Burnside’s Brigade beholds, as it marches Southward, along the Sudley road, this eventful morning.
Thus far, the cannonade of Tyler’s batteries, and the weak return-fire of the Rebel Artillery, at Stone Bridge, over two miles South-East of Sudley Ford, is about the only music by which the Union march has kept time.
But now, as Burnside’s foremost regiment emerges from the woods, at half past 10 o’clock, the Artillery of the Enemy opens upon it.
Let us see how this happens. Evans’s Brigade, defending the Stone Bridge, and constituting the Enemy’s extreme left, comprises, as has already been mentioned, Sloan’s 4th South Carolina Regiment, Wheat’s Louisiana battalion, Terry’s squadron of Virginia Cavalry, and Davidson’s section of Latham’s Battery of six-pounders.
Earlier in the morning Evans has supposed, from the cannonade of Tyler’s batteries among the pines on the hills obliquely opposite the Enemy’s left, as well as from the sound of the cannonade of the Union batteries away down the stream on the Enemy’s right, near Blackburn’s Ford, that McDowell is about to make an attack upon the whole front of the Rebel line of defense along Bull Run-by way of the Stone Bridge, and the various fords below it, which cross that stream. But by 10 o’clock, that Rebel general begins to feel doubtful, suspicious, and uneasy. Despite the booming of Tyler’s guns, he has caught in the distance the rumbling sounds of Hunter’s Artillery wheels.
Evans finds himself pondering the meaning of those long lines of dust, away to his left; and then, like a flash, it bursts upon him, that all this Military hubbub in his front, and far away to his right, is but a feint; that the real danger is somehow connected with that mysterious far-away rumble, and those lines of yellow dust; that the main attack is to be on the unprepared left and rear of the Rebel position!
No sooner has the Rebel brigade-commander thus divined the Union plan of attack, than he prepares, with the limited force at his command, to thwart it. Burnside and he are about equidistant, by this time, from the intersection of the Sudley road, running South, with the Warrenton Pike, running West. Much depends upon which of them shall be the first to reach it,–and the instinctive, intuitive knowledge of this, spurs Evans to his utmost energy. He leaves four of his fifteen companies, and Rogers’s section of the Loudoun Artillery,–which has come up from Cocke’s Brigade, at the ford below–to defend the approaches to the Stone Bridge, from the East side of Bull Run,–and, with the other eleven companies, and Latham’s half-battery, he hurries Westward, along the Warrenton Pike, toward the Sudley road-crossing, to resist the impending Union attack.
It is now 10:30 o’clock, and, as he hurries along, with anxious eyes, scanning the woods at the North, he suddenly catches the glitter of Burnside’s bayonets coming down through them, East of the Sudley road, in “column of regiments” toward Young’s Branch–a small stream turning, in a Northern and Southern loop, respectively above and below the Warrenton Pike, much as the S of a prostrate dollar-mark twines above and below its horizontal line, the vicinity of which is destined to be hotly-contested ground ere night-fall.
[Says Captain D. P. Woodbury, U. S. corps of engineers, and who, with Captain Wright, guided the divisions of Hunter and Heintzelman in making the detour to the upper part of Bull Run: “At Sudley’s Mills we lingered about an hour to give the men and horses water and a little rest before going into action, our advance guard in the mean time going ahead about three quarters of a mile. Resuming our march, we emerged from the woods about one mile South of the ford, and came upon a beautiful open valley about one and a quarter miles square, bounded on the right or West by a wooded ridge, on the Fast by the rough spurs or bluffs of Bull Run, on the North by an open plain and ridge, on which our troops began to form, and on the South by another ridge, on which the Enemy was strongly posted, with woods behind their backs. The Enemy was also in possession of the bluffs of Bull Run on our left.”]
Sending word to Headquarters, Evans pushes forward and gaining Buck Ridge, to the North of the Northern loop of Young’s Branch, forms his line-of-battle upon that elevation–which somewhat compensates him for the inferiority of his numbers–nearly at right angles to the Bull Run line; rapidly puts his Artillery in position; the Rebel guns open on Burnside’s advance–their hoarse roar soon supplemented by the rattle of Rebel musketry, and the answering roar and rattle of the Union onset; and the Battle of Bull Run has commenced!
It is after 10:30 A.M., and Beauregard and Johnston are upon an eminence in the rear of the centre of the Enemy’s Bull Run line. They have been there since 8 o’clock. An hour ago, or more, their Signal Officer has reported a large body of Union troops crossing the Bull Run Valley, some two or three miles above the Stone Bridge; upon the strength of which, Johnston has ordered Bee’s Brigade from near Cocke’s position, with Hampton’s Legion and Stonewall Jackson’s Brigade from near Bonham’s left, to move to the Rebel left, at Stone Bridge; and these troops are now hastening thither, guided by the sound of the guns.
The artillery-firing is also heard by Johnston and Beauregard, but intervening wooded slopes prevent them from determining precisely whence it comes. Beauregard, with a badly-organized staff, is chaffing over the delay that has occurred in carrying out his own plan of battle. He is waiting to hear of the progress of the attack which he has ordered upon the Union Army,–supposed by him to be at Centreville,–and especially as to the advance of his right toward Sangster’s Station. In the meantime also,–from early morning,–the Rebel commanders have heard heavy firing in the direction of Blackburn’s Ford, toward their right, where the Artillery attached to the brigades of Davies and Richardson, constituting McDowell’s Left Wing, is demonstrating in a lively manner, in accordance with McDowell’s plan.
It is 11 o’clock. Beauregard has become satisfied that his orders for the Rebel advance and attack on Centreville, have failed or miscarried. His plan is abandoned, and the orders countermanded. At the same time the growing volume of artillery-detonations upon the left of the Bull Run line of defense–together with the clouds of dust which indicate the route of march of Hunter’s and Heintzelman’s Divisions from near Centreville to the point of conflict, satisfies both Johnston and Beauregard, that a serious attack is imperilling the Rebel left.
Beauregard at once proposes to Johnston “a modification of the abandoned plan,” viz.: “to attack with the” Rebel “right, while the left stands on the defensive.” But rapidly transpiring events conspire to make even the modified plan impracticable.
Johnston, convinced by the still growing volume of battle-sounds on the Rebel left, that the main attack of McDowell is being made there, urges Beauregard to strengthen the left, as much as possible; and, after that general has sent orders to this end,–to Holmes and Early to come up with their Brigades from Union Mills Ford, moving “with all speed to the sound of the firing,” and to Bonham to promptly send up, from Mitchell’s Ford, a battery and two of his regiments–both he and Beauregard put spurs to their horses, and gallop at full speed toward the firing, four miles away on their left,–stopping on the way only long enough for Johnston to order his Chief-of-artillery, Colonel Pendleton, to “follow, with his own, and Alburtis’s Batteries.”
Meanwhile let us return and witness the progress of the battle, on the Rebel left,–where we were looking on, at 10:30 o’clock. Evans had then just posted his eleven companies of Infantry on Buck Ridge, with one of his two guns on his left, near the Sudley road, and the other not far from the Robinson House, upon the Northern spur of the elevated plateau just South of Young’s Branch, and nearly midway between the Sudley road and Stone Bridge.
The battle, as we have seen, has opened. As Burnside’s Brigade appears on the slope, to the North of Buck Ridge (or Hill), it is received by a rapid, well-sustained, and uncomfortable, but not very destructive fire, from Evans’s Artillery, and, as the Union regiments press forward, in column, full of impulsive ardor, the Enemy welcomes the head of the column with a hot musketry-fire also, delivered from the crest of the elevation behind which the Rebel Infantry lie flat upon the ground.
This defense by Evan’s demi-Brigade still continues, although half an hour, or more, has elapsed. Burnside has not yet been able to dislodge the Enemy from the position. Emboldened to temerity by this fact, Major Wheat’s Louisiana battalion advances through the woods in front, upon Burnside, but is hurled back by a galling fire, which throws it into disorder and flight.
At this moment, however, the brigades of Bee and Bartow–comprising the 7th and 8th Georgia, 2nd Mississippi, 4th Alabama, 6th North Carolina, and two companies of the 11th Mississippi, with Imboden’s Battery of four pieces–recently arrived with Johnston from Winchester, come up, form on the right of Sloan’s 4th South Carolina Regiment, while Wheat rallies his remnant on Sloan’s left, now resting on the Sudley road, and the whole new Rebel line opens a hot fire upon Burnside’s Brigade.
Hunter, for the purpose of better directing the Union attack, is at this moment rapidly riding to the left of the Union line,–which is advancing Southwardly, at right angles to Bull Run stream and the old line of Rebel defense thereon. He is struck by the fragment of a shell, and carried to the rear.
Colonel John S. Slocum’s, 2nd Rhode Island, Regiment, with Reynold’s Rhode Island Battery (six 13-pounders), having been sent to the front of Burnside’s left, and being closely pressed by the Enemy, Burnside’s own regiment the 1st Rhode Island, is gallantly led by Major Balch to the support of the 2nd, and together they handsomely repulse the Rebel onset. Burnside now sends forward Martin’s 71st New York, with its two howitzers, and Marston’s 2nd New Hampshire,–his whole Brigade, of four regiments and a light artillery battery, being engaged with the heavy masked battery (Imboden’s and two other pieces), and nearly seven full regiments of the Enemy.
The regiments of Burnside’s Brigade are getting considerably cut up. Colonels Slocum and Marston, and Major Balch, are wounded. There is some confusion in the ranks, and the Rhode Island Battery is in danger of capture, when General Andrew Porter–whose own brigade has just reached the field and is deploying to the right of Burnside’s–succeeds Hunter in command of the division, and rides over to his left. Burnside asks him for Sykes’s battalion of regulars, which is accordingly detached from the extreme right of Andrew Porter’s Division, rapidly forms on the left, in support of the Rhode Island Battery, and opens a hot and effective fire which, in connection with the renewed fire of Burnside’s rallied regiments, and the opening artillery practice of Griffin’s Battery–that has just come up at a gallop and gone into a good position upon an eminence to the right of Porter’s Division, and to the right of the Sudley road looking South–fairly staggers the Enemy.
And now the brigades of Sherman and Keyes, having been ordered across Bull Run by General Tyler, are seen advancing from Poplar Ford, at the rear of our left,–Sherman’s Brigade, headed by Corcoran’s 69th New York Regiment, coming up on Burnside’s left, while Keves’s Brigade is following, to the left again of, Sherman.
[Sherman, in his Official Report, after mentioning the receipt by him of Tyler’s order to “cross over with the whole brigade to the assistance of Colonel Hunter”–which he did, so far as the Infantry was concerned, but left his battery under Ayres behind, on account of the impassability of the bluff on the Western bank of Bull Run –says: “Early in the day, when reconnoitering the ground, I had seen a horseman descend from a bluff in our front, cross the stream, and show himself in the open field, and, inferring we could cross over at the same point, I sent forward a company as skirmishers, and followed with the whole brigade, the New York Sixty-ninth leading.”
This is evidently the ford at the elbow of Bull Run, to the right of Sherman’s front, which is laid down on the Army-maps as “Poplar Ford,” and which McDowell’s engineers had previously discovered and mapped; and to which Major Barnard of the U. S. Engineer Corps alludes when, in his Official Report, he says: “Midway between the Stone Bridge and Sudley Spring our maps indicated another ford, which was said to be good.”
The Comte de Paris, at page 241, vol. I. of his admirable “History of the Civil War in America,” and perhaps other Military historians, having assumed and stated–upon the strength of this passage in Sherman’s Report–that “the Military instinct” of that successful soldier had “discovered” this ford; and the impression being thus conveyed, however undesignedly, to their readers, that McDowell’s Engineer corps, after spending two or three days in reconnaissances, had failed to find the ford which Sherman had in a few minutes “discovered” by “Military instinct;” it is surely due to the truth of Military history, that the Engineers be fairly credited with the discovery and mapping of that ford, the existence of which should also have been known to McDowell’s brigade commanders.
If, on the other hand, the Report of the Rebel Captain Arthur L. Rogers, of the Loudoun Artillery, to General Philip St. George Cocke, be correct, it would seem that Sherman attempted to cross Bull Run lower down than Poplar Ford, which is “about one mile above the Stone Bridge,” but was driven back by the fire of Rogers’s guns to cross at that particular ford; for Rogers, in that Report, says that about 11 o’clock A. M., the first section of the Loudoun Artillery, under his command, “proceeded to the crest of the hill on the West Side of Bull Run, commanding Stone Bridge. * * * Here.” continues he, “I posted my section of Artillery, and opened a brisk fire upon a column of the Enemy’s Infantry, supposed to be two regiments, advancing towards me, and supported by his battery of rifled cannon on the hills opposite. These poured into my section a steady fire of shot and shell. After giving them some fifty rounds, I succeeded in heading his column, and turned it up Bull Run to a ford about one mile above Stone Bridge, where, with the regiments which followed, they crossed, and proceeded to join the rest of the Enemy’s forces in front of the main body of our Army.”]
Before this developing, expanding, and advancing attack of the Union forces, the Rebel General Bee, who–since his coming up to support Evans, with his own and Bartow’s Brigades, to which had since been added Hampton’s Legion,–has been in command of this new Rebel line of defense upon the left of the Bull Run line, concludes that that attack is getting too strong for him, and orders his forces to retreat to the Southward, and re-form on a second line, parallel to their present line, and behind the rising ground at their rear. They do so, somewhat faster than he desires. The whole line of the Rebel centre gives way, followed by the wings, as far as the victorious Union troops can see.
We must be blind if we cannot perceive that thus far, the outlook, from the Union point of view,–despite numberless mistakes of detail, and some, perhaps, more general in their character–is very good. The “Boys in Blue” are irresistibly advancing, driving the “Rebel Gray” back and back, without let or hindrance, over the Buck Hill ridge, over Young’s Branch, back to, and even over, the Warrenton Pike. Time, to be sure, is flying–valuable time; but the Enemy also is retiring.–There is some slight confusion in parts of our own ranks; but there is much more in his. At present, we have decidedly the best of it. McDowell’s plan has been, thus far, successful. Will that success continue? We shall see.
Heintzelman’s Division is coming, up from the rear, to the Union right –Franklin’s Brigade, made up of the 5th and 11th Massachusetts, and 1st Minnesota, with Ricketts’s splendid battery of six 10-pounder Parrotts, forming on the right of Andrew Porter’s Brigade and Division; while Willcox’s demi-Brigade, with its 11th (“Fire Zouaves”) and 38th New York–having left Arnold’s Battery of four pieces, with the 1st Michigan as its support, posted on a hill commanding Sudley’s Ford–comes in, on the right of Franklin, thus forming the extreme right of the advancing Union line of attack.
As our re-enforcing brigades come up, on our right, and on our left, the Enemy falls back, more and more discouraged and dismayed. It seems to him, as it does to us, “as though nothing can stop us.” Jackson, however, is now hurrying up to the relief of the flying and disordered remnants of Bee’s, Bartow’s, and Evans’s Brigades; and these subsequently rally, with Hampton’s Legion, upon Jackson’s strong brigade of fresh troops, so that, on a third new line, to which they have been driven back, they soon have–6,500 Infantry, 13 pieces of Artillery, and Stuart’s cavalry-posted in a belt of pines which fringes the Southern skirt of the Henry House plateau–in a line-of-battle which, with its left resting upon the Sudley road, three-quarters of a mile South of its intersection with the Warrenton Pike, is the irregular hypothenuse of a right-angled triangle, formed by itself and those two intersecting roads, to the South-East of such intersection. It is within this right-angled triangular space that the battle, now proceeding, bids fair to rage most fiercely.
Johnston and Beauregard, riding up from their rear, reach this new (third) line to which the Rebel troops have been driven, about noon. They find the brigades of Bee, Bartow, and Evans, falling back in great disorder, and taking shelter in a wooded ravine, South of the Robinson House and of the Warrenton Pike. Hampton’s Legion, which has just been driven backward over the Pike, with great loss, still holds the Robinson House. Jackson, however, has reached the front of this line of defense, with his brigade of the 2nd, 4th, 5th, 27th, and 33rd Virginia Infantry, and Pendleton’s Battery–all of which have been well rested, since their arrival, with other brigades of Johnston’s Army of the Shenandoah, from Winchester, a day or two back.
As Jackson comes up, on the left of “the ravine and woods occupied by the mingled remnants of Bee’s, Bartow’s and Evans’s commands,” he posts Imboden’s, Stanard’s, and Pendleton’s Batteries in line, “below the brim of the Henry House plateau,” perhaps one-eighth of a mile to the East-Southeastward of the Henry House, at his centre; Preston’s 4th Virginia, and Echol’s 27th Virginia, at the rear of the battery-line; Harper’s 5th Virginia, with Radford’s Cavalry, at its right; and, on its left, Allen’s 2nd Virginia; with Cumming’s 33rd Virginia to the left of that again, and Stuart’s Cavalry covering the Rebel left flank.
It is about this time that the chief Rebel generals find their position so desperate, as to necessitate extraordinary measures, and personal exposure, on their part. Now it is, that Jackson earns the famous sobriquet which sticks to him until he dies.
[Bee approaches Jackson–so goes the story, according to Swinton; he points to the disordered remnants of his own brigade mingled with those of the brigades of Bartow and Evans huddled together in the woods, and exclaims: “General, they are beating us back!” “Sir,” responds Jackson, drawing himself up, severely, “We’ll give them the bayonet!” And Bee, rushing back among his confused troops, rallies them with the cry: “There is Jackson, standing like a Stone wall! Let us determine to die here, and we will conquer.”]
Now it is, that Johnston and Beauregard, accompanied by their staffs, ride backward and forward among the Rebel ranks, rallying and encouraging them. Now it is, that, Bee and Bartow and Hampton being wounded, and the Lieutenant-Colonel of the Hampton Legion killed, Beauregard leads a gallant charge of that legion in person. And now it is, that Johnston himself, finding all the field-officers of the 4th Alabama disabled, “impressively and gallantly charges to the front” with the colors of that regiment at his side!
These conspicuous examples of bravery, inspire the Rebel troops with fresh courage, at this admittedly “critical” moment.
Johnston now assigns to Beauregard the chief “command of the left” of the Bull Run line,–that is to say, the chief command of the Enemy’s new line of defense, which, as we have seen, is on the left of, and at right angles to, the old Bull Run line–while he himself, riding back to the Lewis House, resumes “the command of the whole field.”
On his way to his rear, Johnston orders Cocke to send reenforcements to Beauregard. He also dispatches orders to hurry up to that Rebel general’s support, the brigades of Holmes and Early from near the Union Mills Ford, and that of Bonham from Mitchell’s Ford,–Ewell with his brigade, being also directed to “follow with all speed” from Union Mills Ford-making a total of over 10,000 fresh troops.
From the “commanding elevation” of the Lewis House, Johnston can observe the position of the Union forces beyond Bull Run, at Blackburn’s Ford and Stone Bridge; the coming of his own re-enforcing brigades from far down the valley, toward Manassas; and the manoeuvres of our advancing columns under McDowell.
As the battle proceeds, the Enemy’s strength on the third new line of defense increases, until he has 22 guns, 260 Cavalry, and 12 regiments of Infantry, now engaged. It is interesting to observe also, that, of these, 16 of the guns, 9 of the regiments, and all of the Cavalry (Stuart’s), belong to Johnston’s Army of the Shenandoah, while only 6 guns and 3 Infantry regiments thus engaged, belong to Beauregard’s Army of the Potomac. Thus the burden of the battle has been, and is being, borne by Johnston’s, and not Beauregard’s troops–in the proportion of about three of the former, to one of the latter,–which, for over two hours, maintain their position despite many successive assaults we make upon them.
It is after 2 o’clock P.M., when Howard’s Brigade, of Heintzelman’s Division, reaches the battle-field, almost broken down with exhaustion. By order of Heintzelman it has moved at double-quick for a mile of the way, until, under the broiling heat, it can do so no longer. The last two miles of the weary tramp, while the head of the brigade has moved at quick time, the rear, having lost distances, moves, much of the time, at a double-quick. As a consequence, many of Howard’s men drop out, and absolutely faint from exhaustion.
As Howard’s Brigade approaches the field, besides the ambulances and litters, conveying to the rear the wounded and dying, crowds of retreating stragglers meet and tell it to hurry along; that the Enemy has been driven back a mile; but, as it marches along, its regiments do not feel particularly encouraged by the disorganization so prevalent; and the fact that as they come into action, the thunders of the Rebel Artillery do not seem to meet an adequately voluminous response–from the Union side, seems to them, a portent of evil. Weary and fagged out, they are permitted to rest, for a while, under cover.
Up to this time, our line, increased, as it has been, by the brigades of Sherman and Keyes, on the left of Burnside, and of Franklin and Wilcox, on the right of Porter, has continued to advance victoriously. Our troops are, to be sure, considerably scattered, having been “moved from point to point” a good deal. On our left, the Enemy has been driven back nearly a mile, and Keyes’s Brigade is pushing down Bull Run, under shelter of the bluffs, trying to turn the right of the Enemy’s new line, and give Schenck’s Brigade a better chance for crossing the Stone Bridge, still commanded by some of the Rebel guns.
Having “nothing to do” there, “several of the Union regiments” are coming over, from our left toward our right, with a view of overlapping, and turning, the Enemy’s left.
It is about half past 2 o’clock. The batteries of Griffin and Ricketts have already been advanced as far as the eminence, upon our right, upon which stands the Dogan House. Supported by Lyons’s gallant 14th New York Chasseurs, Griffin’s and Ricketts’s Batteries are still pouring a terribly destructive fire into the batteries and columns of the Enemy, now behind the brow of the Henry House hill, wherever exposed, while Palmer’s seven companies of Union Cavalry are feeling the Enemy’s left flank, which McDowell proposes to turn. The flags of eight Union regiments, though “borne somewhat wearily” now point toward the hilly Henry House plateau, beyond which “disordered masses of Rebels” have been seen “hastily retiring.”
There is a lull in the battle. The terrible heat is exhausting to the combatants on both sides. Griffin and Ricketts have wrought such havoc with their guns, that “nothing remains to be fired at.” Victory seems