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

sir: I have the honor to submit the following report of the movements of the Second regiment New Hampshire Volunteers, during the march and battle on the 21st inst. I give the time of the different movements as nearly as possible. The regiment left its camp, near Centreville, at two o'clock A. M., and immediately took its place in the column of the Second Brigade, under Col. Burnside. We continued in the column of the brigade until near the field of battle. On arriving at the battle field (at half-past 10 o'clock) we were ordered up to support the Rhode Island battery. Before arriving at the place indicated, we were ordered on to the crest of a hill in a field considerably to the right, exposed to the fire of the enemy's batteries. We here fired upon some battalions, said to be Georgia troops, who retired to the shelter of the woods opposite. After they retired the regiment was withdrawn under shelter of the brow of the hill. We were then ordered to the left, to support the Rhode Island battery. The men took their positions and fired several volleys. Colonel Marston was wounded here and carried to the rear. At 11.30 A. M. we were moved from here to a position on the left, and in advance of the Rhode Island battery, where we fired a few shots at the retreating enemy. After remaining here an hour, more or less, we were ordered to report ourselves to Col. Heintzelman, (one o'clock P. M.) The regiment moved to a position near his column, and I sent the sergeant-major three several times to report the regiment ready to render any succor or support they were able to afford. The sergeant-major was unable to meet with Col. Heintzelman or his staff. After remaining in our position some time, I received an order (2.30 P. M.) to advance to a position indicated, which was to the left, and a quarter of a mile in advance of the troops engaged in that part of the field. The enemy were screened from our sight. As the men were exposed to fire from a battery and from musketry, I ordered them to lie down and fire when any of the enemy were exposed.

After a short time we were ordered to withdraw. The men retired leisurely, and in perfectly good order, halting once under the shelter of some woods. On our way to join our brigade we were ordered by an officer of dragoons, whose regiment was in advance of the retreat, to make haste, or we should be cut off by the enemy's cavalry. Our column was formed again in the brigade; but before the formation was complete the retreat began, and continued, with a short rest at our former camp, near Centreville, to Washington. The men obeyed orders with coolness and precision during the whole day. They took every position they were ordered to, and never wavered or retired until ordered to do so, and were among the last, if not the last, to leave the field. Their retreat, on the whole route to the camp, was unattended by tumult or any disorder further than leaving their ranks. Their conduct throughout the day inspires me with entire confidence in their courage and steadiness, and I hope will meet your commendation.

Captain: In compliance with your circular of the 23d inst., I have the honor to report the following casualties that occurred in my command during the recent battle before Manassas: 3 commissioned officers wounded, 1 assistant surgeon missing, 13 rank and file killed, 17 wounded, 12 of whom are missing, 42 missing. Many of the latter are supposed to have taken the Alexandria turnpike by mistake, and will no doubt rejoin their colors to-day.

This battalion, composed of two companies of the 2d U. S. Infantry, five companies of the 3d U. S. Infantry, and one company of the 8th U. S. Infantry, left its camp near Centreville about half-past 3 A. M., on the 21st inst., and after a circuitous march of ten or twelve miles arrived on the enemy's left, and was immediately ordered to support the force under Colonel Burnside, which was suffering from a severe fire in its front. Our line was rapidly formed, opening fire, and a column under Colonel Heintzleman appearing at the same moment at our left, the enemy fell back to the rising ground in his rear. My battalion was then advanced to the front and took a position on the edge of a wood immediately opposite to a masked battery and a large force of the secessionists, posted around a house and the fences and trees around it. The three left companies were deployed as skirmishers under Captain Dodge, 8th Infantry, and did great execution among their ranks. At this time the whole battalion became actively engaged, and a Rhode Island battery coming into action on my right and having no supports, at the request of its commanding officer, and seeing myself the necessity of the case, I remained as a protection to his guns. For more than an hour the command was here exposed to a concentrated fire from the batteries and regiments of the enemy, which seemed doubled when the guns of the Rhode Islanders opened. Many of my men assisted in working the latter battery.

As the attack of our army became more developed on the right, and the necessity of my staying with the guns ceased, I moved my battalion in that direction, passing through crowds of retiring troops whom we endeavored in vain to rally. Taking a position on the extreme right in front of several regiments of the enemy, I opened an effective fire upon them, and