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

Agreeably to general order No. 9, the 2d brigade, commanded by me, consisting of the 16th, 18th, 31st, and 32d regiments, and Company G 2d artillery, (Green's light battery,) took the advance of the 5th division, moving on Fairfax Court House by way of the old Braddock road, south of the turnpike road. I found the road very difficult for heavy artillery, and barricaded by trees felled across the road as often as once in a quarter of a mile, requiring the constant use of the pioneer corps. After passing over many of these barricades, we came to a blind barricade directly across the road, and evidently intended for artillery; after making a reconnoissance, we found a small picket posted behind it, when my advanced pickets were ordered to charge and fire upon them, which they did, dispersing it under a running fire. No one on our side was injured, and we never turned aside to ascertain whether any of the enemy were killed or not; the pickets reported, however, seeing several men fall.

This running fire and reconnoissance was continued to within one mile of Fairfax Court House, the enemy continuing retreating and firing upon our advancing pickets at every convenient opportunity. After the exchange of fire, a reconnaissance was made, discovering many abandoned masked batteries, and at last quite an extensive temporary fortification about one and a half miles from Fairfax Court House, out of which we drove the enemy, who left their camp equipage, clothing, swords, and the like. We then pressed into the encampment of the 5th Alabama regiment, which fled before [455] us, leaving many valuable articles, guns, camp equipage, tents, corn, stores, and personal baggage of all sorts, and their hospital sick — taking the road, as we understood, to Centreville and Manassas Junction. At this point, having received information that Gen. McDowell had taken possession of Fairfax Court House, the 5th division encamped partly on the ground of the 5th Alabama, and the balance in the vicinity of the cross-roads.

I have to report to you that we had three men wounded--one in the leg, one in the side, and one through the hand;. we did not stop to examine the effect of shots which were made, but it is reported to me that as many as 15 or 20 were seen to fall in the woods. I have to report to you further the energetic manner in which Lieut.-Col. Young, of the 18th regiment, in charge of the advanced guard, performed his duty, and further, that not a single man of any regiment fell back for an instant, but, on the contrary, the most determined bravery was displayed by every man who came in contact with the enemy.¹

Respectfully, your obedient servant,