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

[399] of my command are deserving the highest praise for coolness, bravery, and the soldier-like manner with which they obeyed every order, and endured the trials and fatigues of the day.

Appended find the list of killed, wounded, and missing.

I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

(Signed)

sir: I have the honor to report my knowledge of the connection of the First New-Jersey brigade with the engagement at Bull Run bridge on Wednesday, August twenty-seventh, 1862.

This brigade, falling back before the forces of the enemy, crossed the bridge, passing through the lines of the Eleventh and Twelfth Ohio regiments, which were formed with the right of the Twelfth regiment resting upon, or near, the bridge. At the rear of the Twelfth an attempt was made by some person, as also by myself by your order, to halt the string of refugees from the New-Jersey brigade. I was informed that they were ordered back by Gen. Taylor, and were commanded to form on the left of the First brigade. Of this I informed you. About this time Capt. Dunham, A. A.G. of the First New-Jersey brigade, brought back the word that they had received no such orders, and they were to be halted. A fruitless attempt was made. The Twelfth regiment having been ordered forward to protect the bridge by your orders, I went forward to Colonel White, whom I found fighting bravely under a heavy fire. Having accomplished the orders upon which I was sent I returned with a report of the condition of affairs in front. In accordance with orders, I then directed the Eleventh up the hill on the left bank of the river, where I left it under the guidance of Lieutenant James L. Botsford, A. A.D. C., and then returned to the rear to rally the New-Jersey troops, if possible, and conduct one regiment up to the front on the right, and protecting the threatened flank of the Twelfth regiment.

Having passed down the railroad for some distance, I endeavored to stop the retreating columns — but to men and officers I appealed in vain, until having thrown a guard across the road, a force of some one hundred and fifty or two hundred was gathered together. About this time, General Taylor, suffering from his wound, passed, borne upon a litter, and appealed to me to rally the men, and for God's sake to prevent another “Bull Run.” I promised to do all I could. Shortly after, Captain Dunham, A. A.G., came to my assistance. I requested him to take a horse and go to head off the retreating columns, move some distance down the railroad and bring the force back to the front, and to do so by throwing a guard across the road with instructions to bayonet the first man who attempted to pass. He readily consented, and finally succeeded in bringing back a force, gathered by great exertion, but too late for action. I desire to particularly notice the conduct of Captain Dunham, A. A.G., First New-Jersey brigade, whose exertions to rally the broken columns of his brigade were untiring.

Very respectfully, etc., etc.,

dear sir: I most respectfully submit the following report of the part taken by the Nineteenth Indiana volunteers in the battle of the twenty-ninth and thirtieth of August, 1862, at Bull Run:

At one o'clock A. M., on the twenty-ninth, we left Manassas for Bull Run. Arriving on the battle-field, we were immediately ordered to support Captain Campbell's battery of Gibbon's brigade, which was then moving down to the engagement. A line of battle was formed in rear of the battery, in which position we remained until the close of the engagement for the evening. We were ordered a short distance to the left, where we went into camp during the night.

Early in the morning of the thirtieth August the cannonading became general along the lines, which ceased in a few hours. In the afternoon we received orders to be ready to march at a moment's notice. We soon formed in line and marched to the front and centre of our lines, which were there engaged with the enemy. Large numbers of disorganized troops were returning through the woods from the front, where the battle was raging fiercely. The Nineteenth Indiana moved forward through the woods with a firm step until we approached near the enemy. I then ordered company B to go forward as skirmishers. They had not advanced but a short distance until the enemy fired upon them, when they returned to the regiment. We remained in that position for some time in advance of any other troops in the centre, when we were ordered to fall back and take position in the field. The Nineteenth Indiana fell back under fire in perfect order. I halted the regiment several times, and awaited the approach of the enemy. During the time fifteen of my command were wounded. After returning, we were ordered to take position toward our left to support Capt. Campbell's battery of Gibbon's brigade. We held the position for some time, driving back the .enemy with great loss by discharges from Capt. Campbell's battery. We lost one man killed and three wounded at that place. We were then ordered to take a position on a hill some distance east. The movement was made in fine order. After remaining a short time, we were ordered to take position on our extreme left, where we remained until about ten o'clock at night, when we, in connection with the entire brigade, covered the retreat from the