Rebellion Record: a Diary of American Events: Documents and Narratives, Volume 5.
Frank Moore, Ed.

Colonel Clary, Chief Quartermaster Army of Va. Colonel: You will immediately send to Alexandria an officer to bring out all supplies of forage and stores — forage particularly — required for this command. The stores will be brought to Fairfax by rail and thence by wagons to Centreville. The officer sent by you will obtain from the commanding officer at Alexandria the escort necessary to protect the trains.

By command of Gen. Pope.

Colonel Clary, Chief Quartermaster Army of Virginia: Major-Gen. Pope directs that you send two hundred and fifty (250) wagons to Major-Gen. Banks, in order that he may remove his sick and public property from his present position to Centreville or vicinity.

I am, Colonel, very respectfully,

Your obedient servant,

(Signed)

Colonel Beckwith, Chief Commissary: Colonel: Gen. Pope directs that all the wagons at Centreville be unloaded there and the property stored. The wagons will then be sent to Sangster's station to haul subsistence stores from that place to Centreville.

By command of Major-Gen. Pope.

(Signed)

General Franklin: Post your command, and whatever other troops you can collect, and put them in the fortifications and other strong positions around Centreville, and hold these positions to the last extremity.

By command of Gen. Pope.

Col. Clary: You will immediately put all the wagons, and every thing that interferes with the range of artillery from the works at Centreville, a good distance to the rear, on the other side of town — out of the range of artillery from the works.

By command of Major-Gen. Pope.

(Signed)

Gen Heintzelman [to be opened and read by Gens. Kearny and Hooker]:

General: Retire to Centreville to-night with your command. If possible go by the way of Sudley's Ford. Gen. Reno commands the rear guard on the turnpike by which the balance of the army will fall back. Upon your arrival at Centreville you will assemble your command on the north side of that town. Early in the morning proper positions will be assigned you.

By command of Major-Gen. Pope.

(Signed)

special orders No.--. The prisoners of war now at this place will be sent to-morrow to Washington City, under guard of one regiment of infantry, to be furnished for this purpose by Major-Gen. McDowell.

By command of Major-Gen. Pope.

(Signed)

Major-General Halleck, General-in-Chief: We have had a terrific battle again to-day. The enemy, largely reenforced, assaulted our position early to-day. We held our ground firmly until six o'clock P. M., when the enemy, massing very heavy forces on our left, forced back that wing about half a mile. At dark we held that position. Under all the circumstances — both horses and men having been two days without food, and the enemy greatly outnumbering us — I thought it best to move back to this place at dark. The movement has been made in perfect order and without loss. The troops are in good heart and marched off the field without the least hurry or confusion. Their conduct was very fine. The battle was most furious for hours, without cessation, and the losses on both sides very heavy. The enemy is badly whipped, and we shall do well enough. Do not be uneasy. We will hold our own here. The labors and hardships of this army for two or three weeks have been beyond description. We have delayed the enemy as long as possible without losing the army. We have damaged him heavily, and I think the army entitled to the gratitude of the country. Be easy: every thing will go well.

(Signed)

P. S.--We have lost nothing — neither guns nor wagons.

Gen. Banks: Destroy the public property at Bristow, and fall back upon Centreville at once. Destroy all the railroad property. Your troops at Bristow will withdraw through Brentsville.