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

Secession accounts of the fight.

near Middleburg, July 19, 1861.

I left Manassas Junction last night at sundown. Our troops had very severe fighting on Bull Run, about three miles distant from the Junction, nearly all day yesterday. The artillery was in full play from nine A. M. until between four and five P. M., with two or three intervals of about one hour each. The enemy's loss is thought to be very heavy. Ours is comparatively light. Marye, of the Alexandria Riflemen, and Sangster, of the same company, are killed. A good many of same regiment are wounded, among them Capt. Dulany, severely. I could not learn that any of the Guard were killed or wounded, though I did all in my power to ascertain. The regiment to which they are attached covered itself with glory; but were unfortunately fired into by a Mississippi regiment by mistake. The enemy were repulsed three different times with heavy loss. To use the expression of one of their men taken prisoner, “they were slaughtered like sheep” --among them several field-officers.

F. L. Fred.

Account by a Washington artillerist.

The writer graphically describes the battle at Bull Run:

Culpepper, Va., July 20, 1861.

Dear Sister Olivia: I suppose that ere this you have heard of the fight we had with the Yankees on the 18th inst.

However, I will give you a correct history of it, or at least as near as I can. Our battalion (the New Orleans Washington Artillery) were stationed on a small creek called Bull Run, five miles north of Manassas Junction. On the morning of the 17th couriers came running into our camps, bringing the information that the enemy had taken Fairfax Court House, and were advancing toward Manassas. We immediately left our tents standing, and went two miles further down on the same creek, to a ford where we thought the enemy would attempt to cross. Arriving at the ford we found the Seventeenth and Eighteenth Mississippi regiments awaiting the approach of the enemy. We planted our battery of seven guns, and waited till morning, but the enemy did not come. About 12 o'clock on the 18th, General Beauregard ordered our guns to be removed to another ford one mile above where we were. We left immediately, and had just reached the ford when the enemy commenced firing on our infantry. We only had five regiments at this ford, and the enemy were between fifteen and twenty thousand strong. However, our little force waded across the creek, pitched into them, and they immediately retired. It was not long, however, before they rallied on another part of the hill, and commenced firing on our artillery.

They were on a high hill behind some thick [351] trees, so that we could not see them; but our boys guessed from the direction their balls came where they were, so we commenced firing on them, and they again retreated. They soon returned again, and an incessant fire was kept up until about one hundred rounds were fired, when the enemy retreated some three miles, leaving about one thousand killed and wounded on the field. Our side lost five killed and about forty wounded. Out of this number there were six of our battalion wounded, though none of them seriously. I am one of the number, which accounts for my being here. A small ball passed through my upper lip, on the left side, knocking out one of my lower and one of my upper teeth — also giving two other front teeth such a jar that I am fearful they will have to be taken out.

I left the same evening of the fight, and came here, where I will remain about a week, when I will go back and join our battalion.

I was offered a discharge to go home, but I can't think of going home while there is a live Yankee to fight on our soil; besides I want to go back and get satisfaction for the shot I received. If the shot had struck me two inches higher, I would have been a “gone chicken.”

Brother was within a mile of the fight, but was not in the engagement.

We were expecting another attack on the 19th, but I have not heard whether there was one or not.

My wound is getting on very well — pains me but little.

I hope you are all well — wish I could see you. My love to all. Good-bye.

Howard Tulle.

Baltimore exchange narrative.

The following account of the battle at Bull Run is given by the Hons. Wm. A. Richardson, John A. McClernand, of Ill., and John W. Noel, of Missouri, (all members of the House,) who were eye-witnesses of the battle, and aided in several instances in bearing from the field members of the New York 12th, who were wounded.

The action commenced under the direction of Gen. Tyler, of Connecticut, at 1 1/2 o'clock on Thursday afternoon, at Bull Run, three miles from Centreville, between several companies of skirmishers attached to the Massachusetts 1st, and a masked battery situated on a slight eminence. The skirmishers retreated rapidly, and were succeeded in the engagement by Sherman's battery and two companies of regular cavalry, which, after continuing the contest for some time, were supported by the New York 12th, 1st Maine, 2d Michigan, 1st Massachusetts, and a Wisconsin regiment, when the battle was waged with great earnestness, continuing until 5 o'clock. The Federal troops were then drawn back in great confusion beyond the range of the Confederate batteries, where they bivouacked for the night.

During the conflict the Michigan, Maine, and Wisconsin regiments held their ground with a fortitude which, in view of the galling fire to which they were exposed, was most remarkable, but the New York 12th and the Massachusetts 1st regiments retired in great disorder from the field, a portion of them throwing away knapsacks and even their arms, in their flight. A number of the members of the former regiments openly asserted that their confused retreat was the fault of their officers, who evinced a total lack of courage, and were the first to flee.

After the retreat had been commenced, Corcoran's New York 69th (Irish) and Cameron's New York 79th (Scotch) regiments were ordered up to the support, but arrived too late to take part in the action.

There were three batteries in all. The first to open fire which was the smallest, was situated on the top of an eminence; the second, and most destructive, in a ravine.

The latter was totally concealed from view by brushwood, &c.; and it was in attempting to take the first by assault that the Federal troops stumbled upon it. The battle occurred at a point in the declivity of the road, where it makes a turn, forming an obtuse angle, and the third battery was so placed as to enfilade with its fire the approaches towards the Junction.

Much jealousy, it is stated by the same authority, existed between the regular officers and those of the volunteer corps, each appearing desirous of shifting to the other side the responsibility of any movement not advised by themselves, and the jealousy, it is feared, will seriously affect the efficiency of the “grand army.” Thus, Gen. McDowell expressly states that the battle was not his own, but that of Gen. Tyler.

The former officer said he would not advance further until he had thoroughly and carefully reconnoitred the position of the batteries, their capabilities, &c.; and the inference derived by my informants from his remarks is, that he deems his present force entirely insufficient to carry the position before him.

One of the gentlemen mentioned at the commencement of this account gives it as his opinion that Manassas Junction cannot be carried by 50,000 men in two months, and all agreed in saying that the force under Beauregard has been entirely underrated numerically, and that their fighting qualities are superior. The cheers with which they rushed to the fight frequently rang above the din of the battle. Their numbers were not ascertained, but it is estimated at upwards of 5,000 South Carolinians, under command of Gen. M. L. Bonham, of South Carolina.

Their artillery was of the best kind. A shot from one of their batteries severed a bough from a tree quite two miles distant, and but a few feet from where the vehicles of two Congressmen [352] were standing. One ball fell directly in the midst of a group of Congressmen, among whom was Owen Lovejoy, but injured no one, the members scampering in different directions, sheltering among trees, &c.

It is said to have been admirably served, too, as the heavy list of killed and the disabling of Sherman's battery amply testify.

There were a number of rifle-pits also in front of the batteries, from which much execution was done by expert riflemen.

The Congressmen were greatly impressed with the extent and magnitude of the earthworks, intrenchments, &c., erected by the Confederates from Alexandria to Centreville and beyond. They were all of the most formidable and extensive character.

It is thought by them that Manassas Junction is encircled by a chain of batteries, which can only be penetrated by severe fighting. All the intrenchments evidence consummate skill in their construction. The entire column under Gen. McDowell fell back at 8 o'clock on Thursday evening, a short distance from Centreville, where they encamped. They were joined during the evening by Heintzelman's command, and on the succeeding morning by that of Col. Burnside, all of which troops are encamped there.

Later in the evening, Gen. Schenck's brigade of Ohio troops was sent forward on the Hainesville road to flank the batteries, but no tidings had been heard of them up to 8 o'clock yesterday (Friday) morning, when the Congressmen left Gen. McDowell's Headquarters, bringing with them his despatches to the War Department.

These despatches put the loss of the Federalists in killed at 5, but Mr. McClernand states that he himself saw a greater number than that killed. All of these gentlemen agree in estimating the number killed at 100. The disparity between the statements of the gentlemen and the official despatches is accounted for by the fact that the latter are based upon the returns of the surgeons, and that many of the killed are oftentimes never reported until after the publication of the official accounts.

One remarkable fact which commanded the special attention of the members of Congress was the absence, from that portion of Virginia visited by them, of all the male inhabitants capable of bearing arms. They state that they saw but few people, and those were chiefly old women and children. The women seemed to regard the soldiers with bitter hostility, and, to quote the language of one of the Congressmen, their “eyes fairly flashed fire whenever they looked at a soldier.”

General McDowell expressed no fears of being attacked, but seemed apprehensive of some of the volunteer corps stumbling upon a masked battery, and thus “precipitating a general engagement.”

The loss of the Confederates was not known, but is conjectured by the Federalists to have been heavy. Among the killed, is said to be one Colonel Fountain--at least, a deserter so stated.

The excesses of the Federal troops in Virginia are exciting general indignation among army officers. A member of Congress, who visited the scene this morning, states that the village of Germantown has been entirely burnt, with the exception of one house, in which lay a sick man, who had been robbed, he was told, by an army surgeon, of nearly every article he possessed of the slightest value, even to his jack-knife.

Gen. McDowell has issued orders that the first soldier detected in perpetrating these depredations shall be shot, and has ordered that a guard be placed over the principal residences of any town the troops may enter.

Memphis appeal account.