Rebellion Record: a Diary of American Events: Documents and Narratives, Volume 9.
Frank Moore, Ed.

[577] with great spirit and determination, and under a leader worthy of a better cause. Assailed by the batteries of Poague and Carpenter, and some of General Hill's division, and apparently seeing that there was danger of its retreat being cut off by our other troops if it continued to move forward, it soon commenced retreating, and, being subjected to a heavy fire from our batteries, was soon routed, leaving its killed and wounded upon the field. Several brigades of General Hill's division pressed forward in pursuit. In this conflict, the Federal commander, General Taylor, was mortally wounded.

Our loss was small. In the afternoon of the same day, heavy columns of the enemy were seen approaching Bristoe Station from the direction of Warrenton Junction, and on the right of the railroad. General Ewell promptly made dispositions to meet them. So soon as the enemy came within range, the batteries of his division opened upon them from their several positions, as did also the Sixth and Eighth Louisiana and Sixtieth Georgia regiments. By this combined fire, two columns of the enemy, of not less than a brigade each, were driven back. But fresh columns soon supplied their places, and it was obvious that the enemy was advancing in heavy force. General Ewell's instructions were, if hard pressed, to fall back and join the main command at Manassas Junction, and orders were accordingly given for the withdrawal of his forces north of Broad Run. At the moment of issuing this order, a portion of the troops were actively engaged, and the enemy advancing, and yet the withdrawal of the infantry and artillery was conducted with perfect order, General Early closing up the rear. The Federals halted near Bristoe Station, and General Ewell moved without further molestation, Colonel Munford, of the Second, and Colonel Rosser, of the Fifth Virginia cavalry, bringing up his rear to Manassas. The destruction of the railroad bridge across Broad Run was intrusted to Lieutenant (now Captain) Boswell, of the engineer corps, under whose superintendence the duty was promptly and efficiently executed. Orders were given to supply the troops with rations and other articles which they could properly make subservient to their use from the captured property. It was vast in quantity and of great value, comprising fifty thousand pounds of bacon, one thousand barrels of corn-beef, two thousand barrels of salt pork, two thousand barrels of flour, quartermasters', ordnance, and sutler's stores, deposited in buildings and filling two trains of cars. Having appropriated all that we could use, and unwilling that the residue should again fall into the hands of the enemy, who took possession of the place the following day, orders were given to destroy all that remained after supplying the immediate wants of the army. This was done during the night.

General Taliaferro moved his division that night across to the Warrenton and Alexandria turnpike, pursuing the road to Sudley Mill, and crossing the turnpike in the vicinity of Groveton, halted near the battle-field on the twenty-first of July, 1861. Ewell's and Hill's divisions joined Jackson's on the twenty-eighth. My command had hardly concentrated north of the turnpike before the enemy's advance reached the vicinity of Groveton from the direction of Warrenton. General Stuart kept me advised of the general movements of the enemy, whilst Colonel Rosser, of the cavalry, with his command, and Colonel Bradley T. Johnson, commanding Campbell's brigade, remained in front of the Federals, and operated against their advance. Dispositions were promptly made to attack the enemy, based upon the idea that he would continue to press forward upon the turnpike toward Alexandria. But as he did not appear to advance in force, and there was reason to believe his main body was leaving the road, and inclining toward Manassas Junction, my command was advanced through the woods, leaving Groveton on the left, until it reached a commanding position near Brawner's house. By this time it was near sunset, but his column appeared to be moving by with its flank exposed. I determined to attack at once, which was vigorously done by the divisions of Taliaferro and Ewell. The batteries of Wooding, Poague, and Carpenter were placed in position in front of Starke's brigade, and above the village of Groveton, and firing over the heads of our skirmishers, poured a heavy fire of shot and shell upon the enemy. This was responded to by a very heavy fire from the enemy, forcing our batteries to select another position. By this time, Taliaferro's command, with Lawton's and Trimble's brigades on his left, were advanced from the woods to the open field, and were now moving in gallant style until they reached an orchard on the right of our line, and were less than a hundred yards from a large force of the enemy. The conflict here was fierce and sanguinary. Although largely reenforced, the Federals did not attempt to advance, but maintained their ground with obstinate determination. Both lines stood exposed to the discharge of musketry and artillery, until about nine o'clock, when the enemy slowly fell back, yielding the field to our troops. The loss on both sides was heavy, and among our wounded were Major-General Ewell and Brigadier-General Taliaferro: the latter, after a few months, was able to assume his duties; the former, I regret to say, is still disabled by his wound, and the army thus deprived of his valuable services.

This obstinate resistance of the enemy appears to have been for the purpose of protecting the flank of his column until it should pass the position occupied by our troops. Owing to the difficulty of getting artillery through the woods, I did not have so much of that arm as I desired at the opening of the engagement; but this want was met by Major Pelham, with the Stuart horse artillery, who dashed forward on my right, and opened upon the enemy at a moment when his services were much needed. Although the enemy moved off under cover of the night, and left us in quiet possession of the field, he did not long permit us to remain inactive, or in doubt as to