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

[40] the regiment. Gen. McDowell's disposition for the march from Centreville on the morning of the 21st inst., placed Tidball's and Green's batteries (8 pieces) in reserve with the division of Col. Miles, to remain at Centreville; Hunt's and Edwards's (6 pieces) with the brigade of Col. Richardson, at Blackburn's Ford; and Carlisle's, Ayres's, and the 30-pounder (11 pieces) with the division of Gen. Tyler, at the stone bridge; Rickett's, Griffin's, Arnold's, the Rhode Island, and the 71st regiment batteries (24 pieces) accompanied the main column, which crossed Bull Run at Sudley's Springs. As soon as the column came in presence of the enemy after crossing Bull Run, I received from Gen. McDowell, in person, directions to superintend the posting of the batteries as they severally debouched from the road and arrived from the field. The Rhode Island battery came first upon the ground, and took up at a gallop the position assigned it. It was immediately exposed to a sharp fire from the enemy's skirmishers and infantry, posted on the declivity of the hill and in the valley in its immediate front, and to a well-sustained fire of shot and shell from the enemy's batteries, posted behind the crest of the range of hills, about 1,000 yards listant. This battery sustained, in a very gallant manner, the whole force of this fire for nearly half an hour, when the howitzers of the 71st New York Militia came up, and went into battery on its left. A few minutes afterward, Griffin brought up his pieces at a gallop, and came into battery about 500 yards to the left of the Rhode Island and New York batteries. Rickett's battery came up in less than half an hour afterward, and was posted to the left of and immediately adjoining Griffin's. The enemy's right, which had been wavering from the moment Griffin opened fire upon it, now began to give way throughout its whole extent, and retire steadily, his batteries limbering up rapidly, and at a gallop taking up successively two new positions further to his rear. The foot troops on our left, following up the enemy's retiring right, soon left our batteries so far in our rear that their fire was over the heads of our own men. I therefore directed the Rhode Island battery to advance about 500 yards in front of its first position, accompanied it myself, and saw it open fire with increased effect upon the enemy's still retiring right. Returning to the position occupied by Rickett's and Griffin's batteries, I received an order from Gen. McDowell to advance two batteries to an eminence, specially designated by him, about 800 yards in front of the line previously occupied by the enemy's batteries. I therefore ordered these two batteries to move forward at once, and, as soon as they were in motion, went for and secured as supports the 11th (Fire Zouaves) and the 14th (Brooklyn) New York regiments. I accompanied the former regiment to guide it to its proper position, and Col. Heintzelman, 17th United States Infantry, performed the same service for the 14th on the right of the 11th. A squadron of United States Cavalry, under Captain Colburn, 1st Cavalry, was subsequently ordered as additional support. We were soon upon the ground designated, and the two batteries at once opened a very effective fire upon the enemy's left. The new position had scarcely been occupied, when a troop of the enemy's cavalry, debouching from a piece of woods close upon our right flank, charged down upon the New York 11th. The Zouaves catching sight of the cavalry a few moments before they were upon them, broke ranks to such a degree that the cavalry dashed through without doing them much harm. The Zouaves gave them a scattering fire as they passed, which emptied five saddles and killed three horses. A few minutes afterward a regiment of the enemy's infantry, covered by a high fence, presented itself in line on the left and front of the two batteries, at not more than 60 or 70 yards' distance, and delivered a volley full upon the batteries and their supports. Lieut. Ramsay, 1st Artillery, was killed, and Capt. Ricketts, 1st Artillery, was wounded, and a number of men and horses were killed or disabled by this close and well-directed volley. The 11th and 14th regiments instantly broke, and fled in confusion to the rear, and, in spite of the repeated and earnest efforts of Col. Heintzelman with the latter, and myself with the former, refused to rally and return to the support of the batteries. The enemy, seeing the guns thus abandoned by their supports, rushed upon them, and driving off the cannoneers, who with their officers stood bravely at their posts until the last moment, captured them, ten in number. These were the only guns taken by the enemy on the field. Arnold's battery came upon the field after Rickett's, and was posted on our left centre, where it performed good service throughout the day, and by its continual and well-directed fire assisted materially in breaking and driving back the enemy's right and centre.

The batteries of Hunt, Carlisle, Ayres, Tidball, Edwards, and Green (21 pieces) being detached from the main body, and not being under my immediate notice during the greater portion of the day, I respectfully refer you to the reports of their brigade and division commanders for the record of their services.

The army having retired upon Centreville, I was ordered by Gen. McDowell in person to post the artillery in position to cover the retreat. The batteries of Hunt, Ayres, Tidball, Edwards, Green, and the New York 8th regiment, (the latter served by volunteers from Wilcox's brigade,) 20 pieces in all, were at once placed in position; and thus remained until 12 o'clock P. M., when orders having been received to retire upon the Potomac, the batteries were put in march, and, covered by Richardson's brigade, retired in good order and without haste, and early next morning reoccupied their former camps on the Potomac.

In conclusion, it gives me great satisfaction to state that the conduct of the officers and enlisted