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

Leaving my camp, one mile south of Centreville, at 2 1/2 o'clock A. M. of that day, I marched at the head of your division, as ordered, with my command in column, in the following order: the First Regiment of Ohio Volunteers, Col. McCook; the Second Ohio, Lieut.-Col. Mason; the Second New York State Militia, Col. Tompkins; and Capt. Carlisle's Battery of Light Artillery, six (6) brass guns. To Capt. Carlisle's command was also attached the large Parrott gun, 30-pounder, under direction of Lieut. Haines, of the artillery corps.

Proceeding slowly and carefully, preceded by five companies of skirmishers of the First and Second Ohio, which I threw out on either side of the road, we approached the bridge over Bull Run, beyond which the rebels were understood to be posted and intrenched, and to within a distance of perhaps three-fourths of a mile of their batteries, on the other side of the stream.

In obedience to your command, on first discovery of the presence of the enemy's infantry forming into line on the hill-side beyond the run, I deployed my three regiments of infantry to the left of the road, and formed them in line of battle in front of his right. Thus my command was constituted the left wing of our division, Col. Sherman's brigade coming up and taking position to the right of the road.

After the fire had been opened by discharge of the large Parrott gun from the centre in the direction of the enemy's works, I moved my extended line gradually forward at intervals, taking advantage of the ground until I had my force sheltered partly in a hollow covered by a ridge and wood in front, and partly by the edge of the timber lying between us and the run. Here we lay, in pursuance of your orders, for perhaps two and a half or three hours, with no evidence of our nearness to the enemy except the occasional firing of musketry by our skirmishers in the wood in front, answered by the muskets or rifles of the enemy, to whom our presence and position were thus indicated, with a view to distract his attention from the approach of Col. Hunter's force from above and in his rear. At this time I received your notice and order, announcing that Hunter was heard from — that he had crossed, and was coming down about two miles above us, and directing that if I saw any signs of a stampede of the enemy in front, I should make a dash with the two Ohio regiments, keeping the New York regiment in reserve. For this movement I immediately formed and prepared.

Soon after, and when, by the firing of artillery and musketry in front at the right, it appeared that the rebels were actively engaged in their position by our forces on the other side of the stream, I received your order to extend my line still further to the left, sending forward Col. McCook's regiment to feel the battery of the enemy, which was ascertained to be on the hill covering the ford, half a mile below the bridge, and supporting him with my two other regiments. This was immediately done. Col. McCook advanced in that direction along the road, which we found to be a narrow track through a pine wood, thick and close with undergrowth, and flanked on either side by ambuscades of brush work, which were now, however, abandoned. Reaching the head of this narrow road, where it opened upon the stream, Col. McCook found the battery to be a strong earthwork immediately opposite, mounted with at least four heavy guns, and commanding the outlet from the wood. An open space of low ground lay between, with a cornfield to the left, the direct distance across the enemy's battery being 350 yards.

Behind the battery, and supporting it, were discovered some four regiments of the rebel troops, while rifle pits were seen directly in front of it. The First regiment was then deployed to the left in the edge of the woods, and into the cornfield; one company, Captain Kells's, being thrown forward towards the run, up to within, perhaps, twenty yards of the battery. While this was done, I advanced the Second Ohio, followed by the Second New York, towards the head of the road, in supporting distance from the First Ohio, Lieut.Col. Mason's regiment filing also to the left. Receiving Col. McCook's report of the battery, and that it would be impossible to turn it with any force we had, I immediately despatched a message to the centre to bring up some pieces of artillery to engage the enemy from the head of the road. In the mean time the enemy, discovering our presence and position in the woods, and evidently having the exact range of the