Rebellion Record: a Diary of American Events: Documents and Narratives, Volume 2.
Frank Moore, Ed.

[18] Volunteers, aide-de-camp; Lieutenant Cross of Engineers, and Lieutenant D. W. Flagler, aide-de-camp, all performed their duties to my entire satisfaction: they were absent, conveying orders, during the short time I was in the field.

My aid, Lieutenant Samuel W. Stockton, of the First Cavalry, was with me on the field, and his conduct, under a heavy fire, was perfectly beautiful.

Dr. Rouch, of Chicago, Ill., a citizen surgeon, accompanied the Hon. Mr. Arnold to the field, and devoted himself to the care of the wounded during the whole battle.

I have the honor to be,

Very respectfully, your most obt. servt.,

sir:--I have the honor to report that the brigade under my command, in common with the rest of the division, left Washington at three P. M. on Tuesday, July 15; encamped that night at Annandale; occupied Fairfax Court House, and encamped there on Wednesday. On Thursday, July 17, proceeded to Centreville, where we remained till Sunday morning, July 21, when the whole army took up the line of march to Bull Run.

Nothing of moment occurred till the arrival of the division at the crossing of Bull Run, at half-past 9 o'clock, when intelligence was received that the enemy was in front with considerable force. The brigade was ordered to halt for a supply of water and temporary rest. Afterwards an advance movement was made, and Col. Slocum, of the Second Rhode Island regiment, was ordered to throw out skirmishers upon either flank and in front. These were soon confronted by the enemy's forces, and the head of the brigade found itself in presence of the foe. The Second regiment Rhode Island Volunteers was immediately sent forward with its battery of artillery, and the balance of the brigade was formed in a field to the right of the road. At this time, much to my sorrow, I met you returning from the field severely wounded, and was requested to take charge of the formation of the division in the presence of the enemy. Finding that the Second regiment Rhode Island Volunteers was closely pressed by the enemy, I ordered the Seventy-first regiment New York Militia, and the Second regiment New Hampshire Volunteers to advance, intending to hold the First Rhode Island Volunteers in reserve; but owing to delay in the formation of the two former regiments, the First Rhode Island regiment was at once ordered on the field of action. Major Balch, in command, gallantly led the regiment into it, where it performed most effective service in assisting its comrades to repel the attack of the enemy's forces. The Second Rhode Island regiment of volunteers had steadily borne the enemy's attack, and had bravely stood its ground, even compelling him to give way. At this time Col. Slocum fell, mortally wounded, and soon after Major Ballou was very severely injured by a cannon ball, that killed his horse and crushed one of his legs. The regiment, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Wheaton, continued gallantly to hold its position. Soon after Colonel Martin, of the Seventy-first regiment New York State Militia, led his regiment into action, and planting the two howitzers belonging to the regiment upon the right of his line, worked them most effectively against the enemy's troops. The battery of the Second Rhode Island regiment on the knoll upon the extreme right, was used in silencing the heavy masked battery of the enemy in front, occasionally throwing in shot and shell upon the enemy's infantry, six regiments of which were attempting to force our position. Captain Reynolds, who was in command of this battery, served it with great coolness, precision, and skill. The Second regiment of New Hampshire Volunteers, under Colonel Marston, was now brought into the field, and rendered great service in defending the position. Colonel Marston was wounded early in the action, and Lieutenant-Colonel Fiske ably directed the advance of the regiment. Thus my whole brigade was brought into the engagement at the earliest possible moment, and succeeded in compelling the enemy to retire. We were wholly without support, bearing the brunt of the contest until relieved by Major Sykes, of the Third Infantry United States Army, who formed his battalion most admirably in front of the enemy, and pouring in a destructive fire upon his lines, assisted in staggering him. At that moment, after the fight had continued an hour or more, Colonel Heintzelman's division was seen marching over the hill opposite our left flank, and, attacking the enemy at that point, the opposing force was soon dispersed. This point being gained, and the enemy retiring in confusion before the successful charge of Colonel Heintzelman's division, I withdrew my brigade into the woods in the rear of the line, for the purpose of supplying the troops with ammunition, which had become well-nigh exhausted. The Second regiment New Hampshire Volunteers was sent forward to assist one of Colonel Heintzelman's brigades at that time three-quarters of a mile distant, and driving the enemy before them. The battery of the Second Rhode Island Volunteers changed its position into a field upon the right, and was brought to bear upon the force which Colonel Porter was engaging. The enemy's infantry having fallen back, two sections of Captain Reynolds's battery advanced and succeeded in breaking the charge of the enemy's cavalry, which had now been brought into the engagement.

It was nearly four o'clock P. M., and the