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

[28]

I am more than gratified to say that I kept the larger portion of my regiment together, and marched from the field in order, and on the march and near an open space where Colonel Heintzelman's column left the Centreville and Manassas road in the morning, and passed to the right, we, in conjunction with others, repulsed the enemy's cavalry, who attempted to charge.

Before leaving the field a portion of the right wing, owing to the configuration of the ground and intervening woods, became detached, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Miller, whose gallantry was conspicuous throughout the entire battle, and who contested every inch of the ground with his forces thrown out as skirmishers in the woods, and succeeded in occupying the original ground on the right, after the repulse of a body of cavalry. I deem it worthy of remark that during a part of the engagement my regiment and that of the enemy, at some points, became so intermingled as scarcely to be able to distinguish friends from foes, and my forces made several prisoners, among whom was Lieutenant-Colonel Boone, of Mississippi, who is now in Washington, and fully recognizes his captors.

I regard it as an event of rare occurrence in the annals of history that a regiment of volunteers, not over three months in the service, marched up without flinching to the mouth of batteries of cannon supported by thousands of infantry, and opened and maintained a fire until one-fifth of the whole regiment were killed, wounded, or made prisoners before retiring, except for purposes of advantage of position.

My heart is full of gratitude to my officers and men for their gallant bearing throughout the whole of this desperate engagement, and to distinguish the merits of one from another would be invidious, and injustice might be done.

Major Dike and my adjutant bore themselves with coolness throughout. My chaplain, Rev. E. D. Neill, was on the field the whole time and in the midst of danger, giving aid and comfort to the wounded.

Dr. Stewart, while on the field, was ordered to the hospital by a medical officer of the army; Dr. Le Boutillier continued with the regiment, and actually engaged in the fight-neither of whom have been heard from since.

That I have not unfairly or unjustly to the truth of history stated the facts in regard to the gallant conduct of my regiment, is fully proven by the appended list of killed and wounded, showing forty-nine killed, one hundred and seven wounded, and thirty-four missing; the names and companies to which they belong, in detail, will more fully appear in the accompanying lists and abstracts.

Among the incidents of the engagement my command took several prisoners, among whom was Lieutenant-Colonel Boone, of the Mississippi regiment, taken personally by Mr. Irvine, of my regiment; and since said prisoner's confinement in the Capitol at Washington city, Mr. Irvine, in company with Hon. Morton S. Wilkinson, United States Senator from Minnesota, visited him, when he promptly recognized Mr. Irvine as his captor, and thanked him very cordially for his humane treatment and kindness to him as a prisoner. I deem it but just that this fact should be officially known, as Lieutenant-Colonel Boone was an officer of the highest rank taken in the battle.

The humble part which I have performed as an officer commanding one of the regiments of your brigade, individually and otherwise, is now left to you and those commanding the division.

Respectfully,

The regimental flag borne by my color-bearer has through its folds one cannon ball, two grape shot, and sixteen bullets, and one in the staff. The color guard were all wounded but the color-bearer, one mortally. The company flag of Company I was pierced with five balls and one on the spear head. Please attach this to my report.

Respectfully,

sir: The temporary command of this brigade having devolved upon me in consequence of the mishap to Col. Wilcox, I have the honor to transmit herewith the following report, also the regimental reports of a portion of the brigade, viz.: from the First Michigan regiment, the Scott Life Guard, Thirty-eighth regiment New York State Volunteers, containing detailed accounts of their action during the engagement near Bull Run, on Sunday, 21st inst.; the remaining regiments of the brigade, viz.: the Fire Zouaves (Eleventh regiment New York Volunteers) and Arnold's battery having already rendered their reports to division Headquarters.

This brigade commenced the action under command of Col. Wilcox, of Michigan, who was wounded while gallantly leading his command, and whose bravery could not have been excelled, and who is now a prisoner in the hands of the enemy. While I deeply deplore the circumstances by which it became my duty to forward this report, yet it affords me much gratification to speak in terms of the highest commendation of the brave and officer-like conduct of the gentlemen composing his staff, viz.: Lieuts. Woodruff, Parker, and Edie, in their efforts to bring order out of chaos, under a most galling and deadly fire from the enemy.