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

[17] saw him the last time. I trust he will yet be found. My two mounted orderlies, Cooper and Ballou, were both with me until near the end of the conflict, and are now both missing. My brigade being far in advance, and the ground very hilly and interspersed with patches of wood, rendered it difficult to avoid being enveloped by the enemy. The last individuals probably missed their way, and were killed or captured. I have delayed this report of the action until all the wanderers could be gathered in, and the following may therefore be taken as a very close approximation of the actual casualties in my brigade. Those reported missing are supposed to be killed or taken prisoners:

	Killed.	Wounded.	Missing.	Total.
Second Regt. Conn. Vols	2	5	9	16
First Regt. Conn. Vols	--	8	9	17
Third Regt. Conn. Vols	4	13	18	35
Second Regt. Maine Vols	15	40	115	170
Prisoners killed and wounded of Second Maine Regt.	--	--	--	4
Total,				242

In addition to the above reported loss of the Second Maine regiment, Lieut. Skinner, Surgeon Allen and his son, while assisting the wounded, were taken prisoners. The aggregate loss of this gallant regiment was therefore 174 out of 640, which was the complete strength on going into action. It was impossible to obtain exact returns of my brigade on the morning of the 21st, but I am certain its aggregate strength was about 2,500 men. We captured fifteen of the enemy and brought six prisoners to Washington. In concluding the account of the battle, I am happy to be able to add that the conduct of the First Brigade, First Division, was generally excellent. The troops composing it need only instruction to make them as good as any in the world.

I take the liberty to add, in continuation of this report, that the three Connecticut regiments, and a part of the Second Maine Volunteers, of my brigade, left their camp near Centreville at about 10 o'clock P. M., by order of Gen. Tyler, and arrived at Camp McDowell, six and a half miles from the Potomac, at dawn of day the morning after the battle. The camps of my four regiments and half of one company of cavalry were standing, and during the day I learned that the Ohio camp, a mile and a quarter this way, was vacant of troops, and the camp of the New York Second had only a guard of fifty or sixty men left in it. Not wishing the enemy to get possession of so many standing tents and such an abundance of camp equipage, I ordered my brigade to retreat no further until all the public property should be removed. The rain fell in torrents all the 22d. The men were excessively fatigued, and we had only eleven wagons. Brigade Quartermaster Hodge made two journeys to the city to obtain transportation, but, with four or five exceptions, the drivers refused to come out. Over eleven wagons were kept in motion, and at nightfall the troops were drenched to the skin, and without shelter. So, leaving guards at the regimental camps of my brigade, I moved forward with the bulk of the Third Connecticut regiment, and by 11 o'clock at night the majority were housed in the Ohio and New York camps.

We kept good watch throughout the night, and early in the morning of the 23d inst., Quartermaster-General Meigs sent out long trains of wagons, and Brigade Quartermaster Hodge walked six miles to Alexandria and brought up a train of cars, and the work of removal proceeded with vigor. As early as at 5 1/2 o'clock P. M., the last thing of value had been removed and sent forward to the amount of 175 four-horse wagon loads. The order to fall in was then given, and the brigade marched in perfect order, every man with his firelock, and at sunset bivouacked near Fort Corcoran.

I acknowledge great indebtedness to Brigade Quartermaster Hodge. But for his untiring exertions in procuring the means of transportation, nearly all the public property must have been abandoned. The men of the different regiments labored with extraordinary zeal, considering their great fatigue, and they merit the highest praise. I had given permission to about 100 sick and lame to limp forward in advance, and about an equal number of cowards and recreants had fled without permission. The balance of my brigade, faithful and laborious, stood by, and they may claim the right to teach that it is unmanly to destroy the public property, and base to abandon it to the enemy, except in cases of the extremest necessity.

I have the honor to be, sir,

Your most obedient servant,

sir:--Having had the honor to command the Second division of the army before Manassas on the 21st of July, 1861, and having been wounded early in the action, the command, as well as the duty of making the division report, devolved on Colonel Andrew Porter, of the United States Army. I deem it, however, a duty I owe to the gallant gentlemen of my staff, briefly to mention their services.

The Hon. Isaac N. Arnold, of the United States House of Representatives, one of my volunteer aids, was with me on the field till I received my wound, and then devoted himself to having the wounded removed, and to alleviating their sufferings.

Captain G. P. Woodbury, Chief Engineer of the division, fearlessly exposed himself in front of the skirmishers during our whole advance, and determined, with great judgment, the route of the division.

Captain W. D. Whipple, Assistant Adjutant-General; Captain Cook, of the Fourth Pennsylvania