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

[387] commenced shelling them, at the same time throwing my infantry into the woods, who soon found and opened a brisk fire upon the rebel infantry in front of them on our side of the creek — my men being exposed from the commencement to a cross-fire of grape and canister from a masked battery across the creek; but, notwithstanding all this odds, we soon forced them across the creek, and to retire for protection behind their guns. The enemy having torn up the bridge, and it now being dark, I encamped my brigade for the night a short distance back from the banks of the creek.

Next morning, (twenty-fourth,) a strong pioneer party having been put to work upon the bridge to repair it for crossing our artillery, I crossed my infantry upon the sleepers, not waiting for my cavalry or artillery. I deployed a strong skirmishing party, and was soon on the track of the rebels, who had fallen back during the night to their main body, who had crossed the river by the bridge at Sulphur Springs, my skirmishers advancing as far as the Springs, but as soon as my infantry appeared on the heights commanding the bridge across the Hedgeman River, the enemy, who were in position, opened fire from the opposite shore. I sent back for my battery and returned fire; the other batteries of the corps soon coming up, a general engagement ensued, which resulted in our driving their gunners away, leaving their pieces very temptingly displayed.

Wishing to take advantage of this unexpected opportunity in securing their guns, I had just crossed the bridge with one of my regiments (the Fifth Virginia) following close behind, and when nearly in reach of the prize, found myself in a hornet's nest. As if by magic, the woods and hills were alive with the enemy; the deserted batteries were suddenly manned, and a semicircle of guns, nearly a mile around us, poured a steady stream of shell and canister upon the bridge. I called to my regiment, which was then crossing, to retire, which it did in good order and rapid style. Our batteries immediately responded to their fire, thus drawing their attention away from us. In a moment the air was perfectly alive with shot and shell. I took advantage of the elevation in their firing to join my command.

At this juncture, receiving orders to take the advance of the corps in the direction of Waterloo Bridge, (six miles above Warrenton Springs,) I got my brigade in motion, arriving at the bridge about five o'clock in the afternoon. I placed Dieckman's battery in position on a commanding eminence on the left of the road, and near the bridge, immediately opening fire on a rebel battery across the river, at the same time throwing my skirmishers down near the bridge and along the bank, where they were soon engaging the rebel skirmishers. Thus matters stood when darkness partially put an end to the firing, but the enemy opened on us furiously with small arms several times in the fore part of the night.

Next morning, the twenty-fifth, the batteries on both sides opened again, and continued during the day without any serious results to us. About three P. M., I received orders to burn the bridge at all hazards at once, and to this end brought forward my four regiments of infantry to engage the enemy's infantry concealed in the woods on the opposite bank near the bridge. By keeping up a steady musketry and artillery fire, I succeeded in covering a party which fired the bridge, which, being of heavy oak, burned slowly, and it was not until dark that the bridge was entirely consumed. We then received orders to march to Warrenton, my brigade to bring up the rear. We left about nine P. M., and arrived at Warrenton at daylight next morning. Here we remained in camp until the morning of the twenty-seventh, when we received orders to take the advance in the direction of Gainesville.

We started at daylight. My cavalry, upon arriving at Broad Run, within four miles of Gainesville, found the bridge on fire, and the rebel cavalry, with one piece of artillery, drawn up on the other side. Major Krepps, commanding my cavalry detachment, immediately ordered a charge, and after two successive charges, succeeded in putting them to flight. By this time my infantry had arrived, and I set the pioneer corps to work repairing the bridge, which was executed with such promptness that in fifteen minutes we were enabled to cross our artillery. Meanwhile I had pushed ahead with my cavalry and infantry toward Gainesville.

When within two miles of Gainesville, I sent a platoon of cavalry with a regiment of infantry and a section of artillery to hold the road leading to Haymarket station. With the rest of the brigade I continued on the main road, and in approaching Gainesville found we had intercepted Longstreet from joining Jackson, Ewell, and Hill, who had just passed up the railroad toward Manassas Junction. At Gainesville we took some two hundred prisoners, stragglers from Jackson's army. I here received orders to halt my brigade and rest for the night.

Next morning, August twenty-eighth, we took the advance toward Manassas Junction. Arrived within a mile of the Junction at noon, when I was directed to halt and wait further orders.

I accordingly turned my infantry aside into the shade of the woods, and sent my artillery ahead as far as the Junction, there being no water for them nearer. Upon visiting the railroad station at the Junction, I found an immense quantity of Government stores in cars, which were still burning, having been set on fire by the rebels the night previous, after having helped themselves to all they could carry off.

At three P. M. we received orders to join the balance of the corps, then marching in the direction of Newmarket.

I moved across the country and soon overtook them. After marching about an hour, skirmishing commenced in front. I was ordered to go forward and take position on Schenck's left. I pressed forward through the woods and underbrush in the direction of the rebel firing, which seemed to recede as I advanced. It finally grew