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

[720] them, dispersing their train and turning them back. This I reported to General Jackson, who proceeded to the point where I had attacked the enemy, to examine the ground and the nature of the movement, ordering me at the same time to picket well to the front on the turnpike. I soon found that the enemy, being interrupted on this private road, had changed the direction of his march and came immediately down the pike. General Jackson then attacked him on his left flank, and I, holding my regiment on the right, occupied myself in guarding the right, and capturing many prisoners of cavalry and infantry. I camped on the field.

Next morning I moved around to Gainesville, where, after capturing about forty cavalry, I was driven back by the enemy's infantry. Soon after this, I received orders from General Stuart to join the column advancing from Haymarket.

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Respectfully,

General: On the morning of August thirtieth, my regiment having been considerably reduced by details of one kind or other, the remainder was, in obedience to your order, placed on picket on the extreme right, in the direction of Bristoe, under command of Major Douglas.

Having been placed in command of all the artillery under your command the day previous, I still exercised control of it, and near-------house, occupied by you as your headquarters, with Stribling's and Rodgers's batteries, I had been firing an occasional shot at the enemy, who threatened the position occupied by General Hood. When the order for the lines to advance was given, the enemy's position on the right being very strong, (occupying high wooded ground,) I threw Captains Eshleman, (Washington artillery,) Stribling, and Rodgers on the extreme right of our lines, sending Richardson (Washington artillery) more to the left, to take position near the Chinn house, Stribling sufficiently to the right and front, and opened on a portion of the enemy's lines and artillery, which fire very soon caused them to change their position; then advancing by battery steadily on, when I arrived near the Wheeler house, where I found myself at least a half of a mile in advance of our lines on my left, thus driving the enemy, by this terrible fire of artillery, back on Bull Run.

Receiving information that the enemy was pressing the cavalry, which was my support on the right, I sent two guns of Captain Eshleman's battery, under command of Lieutenant Joseph Norcom, to its support. Seeing that I had an enfilading and reversed fire, I posted my guns to the best advantage, and opened a most terrific fire upon him, which caused him to atempt to carry, by a desperate charge, my advance battery, which was gallantly met and repulsed by Rodgers's canister; but the cavalry being all the time my only support, and my position at this time being very close to the enemy, I drew my batteries up en echelon, and by keeping up a continued sire I soon caused the enemy to seek shelter under cover of the hill, which change in his position very much relieved our infantry.

Darkness had come on. The enemy's sharpshooters were lying just over the hill, in a thick undergrowth of pines. To advance my batteries to a thick undergrowth, occupied entirely by infantry, being perfectly absurd, and being unable to dislodge them, even with canister, I was unable to advance farther. After making repeated, but fruitless, endeavors to get infantry (which, by the way, was at this time near at hand — Armistead's brigade) to drive them away, the firing all along the lines having ceased, I ordered the batteries also to cease firing and move.

I am proud to speak of the gallant conduct of Captain Rodgers and his command, who, by coolness and determination, received the charge of a brigade with a fearful volley of canister, waiting first until the enemy reached the deadly ground of fifty paces. Indeed, the conduct of both officers and men in this desperate struggle entitle them to their country's gratitude.

Early on the following morning, resuming command of my regiment, 1 withdrew my pickets and went in pursuit of the enemy, and, being very soon joined by you, the results you doubtless remember, as you were present, and witnessed the conduct of the regiment on overtaking the enemy. Later in the day, Robertson's brigade having come up, in pursuance with your orders I proceeded, with a command composed of my regiment, a detail of fifty men of Robertson's command, and one piece of the Washington artillery, to Manassas, which I found abandoned, save but by over four hundred stragglers, whom I captured, with a large lot of small arms. Five elegant ambulances, with horses and harness complete, and a quantity of medical stores, all of which were duly turned over to the proper authorities. After getting all information I could obtain from citizens, and from stragglers of Banks's division, (who, by the way, had retreated by way of Bristoe and Brentsville, after destroying a large lot of ammunition and stores at the former place,) I returned and rejoined my brigade next day.

I have the honor to be,

Most respectfully, General,

Your obedient servant,

Colonel: Early on the morning of the twenty-third of August, the artillery, composed of the First company of Washington artillery, (four three-inch rifles,) and Captain Stribling's battery,