resist it.
The headquarters of the corps will be at King s division.
By command of Major-General McDowell.
No. 5.
HEADQUARTERS,
Manassas Junction, August 28 4.15 p. m.
Major-General MCDOWELL :
The enemy is reported in force on the other side of Bull Run, on the
CHAP. XXIV.] CAMPAIGN IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA. 361
Orange and Alexandria Railroad, as also near Centre-vine. I have
ordered Sigel to inarch on Centre ville immediately, as also Kearny and
Reno. I will advance Hooker as reserve. Please inarch immediately
with your command directly upon Centre ville from where you are.
JNO. POPE,
Major- General, Commanding.
No. 6.
SPECIAL ORDERS, \ HEADQUARTERS NEAR GROVETON,
No. . J August 30, 186212 m.
The following forces will be immediately thrown forward and in
pursuit of the enemy, and press him vigorously during the whole day.
Major-General McDowell is assigned to the command of the pursuit.
Major-General Porter s corps will push forward on the Warren ton
turnpike, followed by the divisions of Brigadier- Generals King and
Reynolds. The division of Brigadier-General Ricketts will pursue the
Hay Market road, followed by the corps of Major- General Heintzelman.
The necessary cavalry will be assigned to these columns by Major-
General McDowell, to whom regular and frequent reports will be made.
The general headquarters will be somewhere on the Warrenton turn
pike.
By command of Major-General Pope :
GEO. D. RUGGLES,
Colonel and Chief of Staff.
No. 7.
HEADQUARTERS THIRD CORPS, ARMY OF VIRGINIA,
August 30, 1862.
Major-General PonTER,"Commanding 9 &c.:
Major-General McDowell, being charged with the advanced forces
ordered to pursue the enemy, directs me to inform you that your corps
will be followed immediately by King s division, supported by Rey
nolds . Heintzelman, with his corps, preceded by Reynolds division,
will move on your right on the road from Suclley Springs to Hay
Market, He is instructed to throw out skirmishers to the left, which
it is desirable you should join with your right. General McDowell s
headquarters will be at the head of Reynolds division, on the Warren -
ton road. Organize a strong advance to precede your command, and
push on rapidly in pursuit of the enemy until you come in contact with
him. Report frequentty. Bayard s brigade will be ordered to report
to you; push it well to the left as you advance.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
ED. SCHRIVER,
Colonel and Chief of Staff.
No. 8.
HDQRS. THIRD ARMY CORPS, ARMY OF VIRGINIA,
August 30, 1862.
Maj. Gen. FITZ JOHN PORTER,
Commanding, &c. :
GENERAL: Major-General McDowell directs that you push on the
362 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND Mt). [CHAP.
movement suggested in your note to him to the left, and Genoral
Heintzelman, now here, will attend to the front and right. You have
at your disposal to re-enforce you King s division and Reynolds .
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
ED. SCHRIVER,
Colonel and Chief of Staff.
NOTE. The enemy having shown indications of advancing by the
right, Reynolds has been withdrawn from your column and put over
on our left. It is still thought you will be strong enough to effect your
purpose with King ; if not, General Pope will send you Sigel.
HDQRS. THIRD ARMY CORPS, ARMY OF VIRGINIA,
August 30, 1862.
Major-General PORTER,
Commanding, &c. :
Major-General McDowell is now busy attending to our left. He
directs me to inform you that you must use your discretion in refer
ence to the employment of King s division in connection with the serv
ice you are to perform.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
ED. SCHEIVER,
Colonel and Chief of Staff.
No. 9.
[Extract from General Milroy s report.]
At one time, not receiving assistance from the rear, as I had a right
to expect after having sent for it, and our struggling battalions being
nearly overcome by the weight and persistence of the enemy s attack,
I flew back about one-half mile, to where I understood General Mc
Dowell was with a large portion of his corps. I found him and ap
pealed to him in the most earnest manner to send a brigade forward at
once to save the day or all would be* lost. He answered coldly, in sub
stance, that it was not his business to help everybody, and he was not
going to help General Sigel. I told him I was not fighting with General
Sigel s corps $ that ray brigade had got out of ammunition some time
before and gone to the rear, and that I had been fighting with a half
dozen different brigades, and that I had not inquired where or to what
particular corps they belonged. He inquired of one of his aides if
General was fighting over there on the left. His aide said he
thought he was. McDowell replied that he would soon help him, for
he was a good fellow. He then gave the order for a brigade to start.
This was all I desired. I dashed in front of them, waved my sword,
and cheered them forward. They raised the cheer, and came on at
double-quick. I soon led them to where they were inost needed, and
the gallant manner in which they entered the fight and the rapidity of
their fire soon turned back the tide of battle. But this gallant brigade,
like many others which had preceded it, found the enemy too strong for
them as they advanced into the forest, and was forced back by the tre
mendous fire that met them.
CHAP. XXIT.] CAMPAIGN IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA. 363
No. 10.
WASHINGTON, October 17, 1862.
Col. ROBERT C. BUCHANAN:
I inclose a printed copy of Brigadier-General Milroy s report of the
battle of the 30th of August last, and beg to call your attention to that
part of it where he speaks of asking me for re-enforcements, or the day
would be lost, &c. I mark the portion to which I refer, as yours was
the brigade which at this time was sent to re-enforce General Meade,
the officer referred to by General Milroy, but whose name he does not
give. I wish you would give me your recollection of the circumstances
1st. As to the state of mind General Milroy seemed to be in, his
manner, and the impression it produced at the time to which I refer.
2d. As to whether or not it was a question of my sending re-enforce
ments to General Sigel and if I refused to do so.
3d. As to the part taken by General Milroy with your brigade, which
he claims to have led to where they were most needed, but from which
they were forced back, &c.
Please return the report with your answer.
Very respectfully, &c.,
MCDOWELL,
Major- General*
No. 11.
WASHINGTON, October 20, 1862.
Maj. Gen. IRVIN MCDOWELL, Washington, D. C. :
GENERAL : Your note [of October 17], inclosing a printed copy of
General Milroy s report, is before me, and I will answer your questions
seriatim.
1st. "As to the state of mind General Milroy seemed to be in, his
manner, and the impression it produced at the time to which you refer f
that is, when he rode up and asked for re-enforcements.
Answer. General Milroy s manner was very excited, so much so as
to attract the especial attention of those present, and induced many to
inquire "who that was that was rushing about so wildly, and what he
wanted."
Second. "As to whether or not it Avas a question of my (your) send
ing re-enforcements to General Sigel, and if I (you) refused to do so f
Answer. General SigePs name or corps was not referred to in any
way in my hearing, as far as I recollect.
Third. "As to the part taken by General Milroy with your (my) bri
gade, which he claims to have led to where they were most needed, but
from which they were forced back," &c.
Answer. When re-enforcements were called for to go to the assistance
of General Meade I was ordered by General Sykes to take three of my
battalions and move up to the front and left to the point most threatened,
which I did at once. I left General Milroy haranguing and gesticulat
ing most emphatically in the same place where his conversation with
you commenced. He was calling for re-enforcements, saying that " if
they were sent at once the day would be ours and that the enemy were
ready to run." After 1 placed my three battalions in position I moved
to the right of my line, when, to my surprise, I saw about 100 yards to
364 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. [CHAP.
my right the remainder of my brigade, which had been sent to the front
after I left, and General Milroy was giving it some orders. I at once
rode up to him and told him that those battalions belonged to my bri
gade of regulars, and that I could not consent to any interference with
my command. He said that he "did not know they were my men; did
not wish to interfere with me, and only wanted to place them in the best
position." I told him I was responsible for the position of my com
mand, and did not want any assistance either in posting or fighting it,
when ho left me. His own brigade was not near there, and he seemed
to be rushing about the field without any especial aim or object, unless
it was to assist in the performance of other officers duties wherever he
could find one to listen to him. I did not lose one inch of ground after
I got my brigade together, which I did immediately, by moving this
latter portion to the left, but held the enemy at bay for an hour: and
instead of being "forced back," I maintained my position until ordered
to fall back to the position from whence we started. Had the enemy
"forced "me back in the sense of General Milroy s report, he would
have obtained possession not only of the turnpike, but of the stone
bridge, and what would have then been the result you are well aware
our defeat would have been disastrous.
I am, sir, respectfully, your obedient servant,
EOBT. C. BUCHANAN,
Lieut. Col. Fourth Infty.j Comclg. First Brig. Regular Infantry.
No. 12.
HEADQUARTERS FIRST ARMY CORPS,
October 9, 1862.
Major-General MCDOWELL,
Washington, I). C.:
GENERAL : I observe in the report by General Schenck s acting as
sistant adjutant-general, published in the Philadelphia Inquirer of to
day, of the operations of that general s division when General Sigel
advanced to attack the enemy on the morning of the 29th of August
last (you will yourself observe the error in the dates), several mis-
statements, unintentional no doubt, when referring to the movements
of my division. My division maneuvered on his left from early in the
morning until he gained the position alluded to, on the pike near Gib
bon s battle ground of the evening previous.
It was here that General Schenck asked me for a battery. Cooper s
battery, with Meade s brigade as a support, was immediately placed in
position on the ridge to the right of the pike, and on the left of the
woods where Gibbon s brigade had been in action, by General Meade
and myself. In returning from this position to bring up the other bat
tery and Seymour s brigade I passed through Schenck s troops, drawn
up on the right of the woods before alluded to, in which Gibbon had
been engaged. But in bringing up Ransom s battery and Seymour s
brigade along the pike I noticed that Schenck s troops had disappeared
from this position and were nowhere in sight. I understood that
Schenck had detached a brigade to the right, to the support of Milroy,
and that I was therefore left alone, as far as I knew. I immediately
arrested Seymour s movement, and directed the division to occupy the
position across the pike from which it had moved ; in doing which Mc
Lean s brigade was discovered occupying a piece of woods just on the
CHAP. XXIV.] CAMPAIGN IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA. 365
left of the pike, and as sooii as could be this movement was arrested
and made to correspond with his position.
It was subsequently ascertained that he was disconnected from the
rest of Sigel s troops, and the position was again changed to make
them connect.
I sent no word to General Schenck of the kind indicated in this re
port of the movement of the enemy at the time this change of position
was made nor at any time. There was a report came later in the even
ing that the enemy were moving down the pike, but I am not aware
that I communicated it to General Scheuck, as at that time I had lost
all connection with him.
I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
JNO. F. REYNOLDS,
Brigadier-General Volunteers, Commanding.
I make this correction to you without any desire to enter into a con
troversy in the papers on official matters.
J. F. R.
No. 13.
WASHINGTON, D. 0., October 20, 1862.
Major-General MCDOWELL, U. S. A. :
GENERAL : In reply to General Reynolds letter of the 9th instant I
have the honor to make the following remarks:
I can discover but little difference between the statements of Gen
eral Reynolds and my report. He states, first, " that his division
maneuvered on our left from early in the morning until he had gained
the position alluded to, on the pike near Gibbon s battle ground of the
evening previous." This I do not attempt to deny. I merely give in
my report the time when we first became acquainted with his (General
Reynolds ) position. He then says that u it was here that General
Schenck asked me for a battery," which agrees entirely with my report,
with the exception that I did not enter so much into the details.
He then remarks that " in returning from this position to bring up
the other battery and Seymour s brigade I passed through Schenck s
troops drawn up on the right of the woods before alluded to, in which
Gibbon had been engaged;" but in bringing up the battery and Sey
mour s brigade he noticed that Schenck s troops had disappeared from
this position and were nowhere in sight.
In the first place, General Reynolds is incorrect in his impression of
our position. Our troops were always on the left of the pike through
out the day, except when the brigade under General Stahel was sent
to Milroy s assistance.
Our position before Stahel moved was in the woods, which had been
occupied as a hospital by Gibbon s brigade, to the left of the pike, Gen
eral Stahel s right resting on the road and Colonel McLean s brigade
on his left; the wood in which Gibbon had had his principal fighting
being across the pike and to our right. At the time that General Rey
nolds returned from placing the battery and Meade s brigade it is prob
able that he passed through General Stahel s brigade, which was in mo
tion, and had gained the right of the pike on its way to join Milroy,
and that afterward when General Reynolds was bringing up Ransom s
battery and Seymour s brigade they were gone, which accounts for
his impression that he " was left alone." He soon discovered his error,
366 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. [CHAP. XXIV.
however, as he states in his letter, " in doing which McLean s brigade
was discovered."
Colonel McLean still held his position, and was immediately moved
so that his right would rest on the pike, and General Eeynolds made
his movement to correspond.
It was about this time that our position was changed, but not because
we had ascertained that we were disconnected from the rest of Sigel s
troops. We had been and were well aware of our position. It is true
we had advanced farther than was intended, being constantly urged
by General Sigel to advance and press toward the right, he evidently
not understanding our true position. We fell back, however, on ac
count of the information received from General Eeynolds that the
enemy were bearing down on his left. General Eeynolds did not com
municate directly with General Scheuck, as it would appear from my
report, but the information was received through Colonel McLean, who
told General Schenck that General Eeyuolds had informed him u that
the enemy were bearing down," &c., "and that he (Eeynolds) intended
to fall back, and had actually commenced the movement." Colonel
McLean wished to know if he should act accordingly. General Scheuck
directed him to accommodate himself to General Eeynolds 7 movement.
We retired s 1 owly across the open space to and within the woods
and halted. General Stahel rejoined us here, and General Stevens also
reported with two regiments of in fan try and a battery. General Stevens
force was thrown to the right of the pike; General Stahel on the left of
the pike, and Colonel McLean to the left of Stahel.
I here state in my report that General Schenck, on receiving these
re-enforcements, determined to advance again, and communicated his
intention to General Eeynolds. I carried this message myself, and after
some difficulty found General Eeyuolds, and requested him to halt and
form on the left of McLean. He had fallen back however some distance
to the rear of McLean s line of battle, so much so that the enemy s skir
mishers had actually flanked us, and in returning to the division I had
a narrow escape from being captured.
I also asked General Eeynolds to ride forward to meet General
Schenck, who had directed me to say that he would be at the extreme
left of our line for that purpose. General Eeynolds neither gave me any
positive answer as to whether he would meet General Schenck or any
information as to what he intended to do. I do not know if he complied
with the request to make this connection on our left, as on my return to
General Scheuck I was immediately sent to General Sigel to represent
our position, and when returning again with the order to General
Schenck to retire slowly I met the command executing the movement.
My report was intended merely as a sketch of our movements for
General Sigel s information, and I endeavored throughout to be as con
cise as possible, and confine myself solely to the operations and move
ments of our division.
I now submit the above statement, trusting that the explanations
will be satisfactory to General Eeynolds.
I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
WM. H. CHESEBEOUGH,
Lieut. j Eleventh Infty., and Aide-de-camp to Maj. Gen. Schenck.
CUAI>. XXiv.J CAMPAIGN IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA. 367
No. 14.
CENTRE VILLE, September 1, 1862 12 m.
Major-General MCDOWELL :
You will march rapidly back to Fairfax Court-House with your whole
division, assume command of the two brigades now there, and imme
diately occupy Germantown with your whole force, so as to cover the
turnpike from this place to Alexandria. Jackson is reported advanc
ing on Fairfax with 20.000 men. Move rapidly.
JNO. POPE,
Major- Genera I, Commanding.
No. 28.
Report of Brig. Gen. John P. Hatch, U. 8. Army, commanding First
Division, of the battles of Groveton and Bull Run.
CAMP NEAR FREDERICK, MD., September 13, 1862.
CAPTAIN : I have the honor to submit the following report of the
movements of the First Division, Third Corps, temporarily under my
command during parts of the 29th and 30th days of August :
Late on the afternoon of the 29th ultimo I was ordered by General
McDowell in person (who was at the time stationed near the stone
house, on the turnpike from Gainesville to Centreville) to move the
division on the Gainesville road in pursuit of the enemy, who, he
informed me, were retreating. Gibbon s brigade had been detached to
support some batteries. With the three other brigades of the division
and Gerrish s battery of howitzers I proceeded with all the speed pos
sible, hoping by harassing the enemy s rear to turn their retreat into
a rout.
After marching about three-quarters of a mile the Second Eegiment
of U. S. Sharpshooters was deployed to the front as skirmishers, the
column continuing up the road in support. The advance almost im
mediately became warmly engaged on the left of the road. Two how
itzers were then placed in position, one on each side of the road, and
Doubleday s brigade was deployed to the front, on the left of the road,
and moved up to the support of the skirmishers. We were met by a
force consisting of three brigades of infantry, one of which was posted
in the woods on the left, parallel to and about an eighth of a mile from
the road. The two other brigades were drawn up in line of battle, one
on each side of the road. These were in turn supported by a large
portion of the rebel forces, estimated by a prisoner, who was taken to
their rear, at about 30,000 men, drawn up in successive lines, extend
ing 1 miles to the rear. Doubleday s brigade moved to the front
under a very heavy fire, which they gallantly sustained ; but the firing
continuing very heavy, Hatch s brigade, commanded by Colonel Sulli
van, was also deployed, and moved to the support of General Double-
day. Patrick s brigade, which had been held in reserve, took up a
position on the opposite side of the road, completely commanding it.
The struggle, lasting some three-quarters of an hour, was a desperate
one, being in many instances a hand-to-hand conflict.
Night had now come on, our loss had been severe, and the enemy
occupying a position in the woods on our left which gave them a flank
fire upon us, I was forced to give the order for a retreat. The retreat
was executed in good order, the attempt of the enemy to follow being
defeated by a few well-directed volleys from Patrick s brigade.
368 OPEKATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. [CHAP. XXIV.
*r
On the afternoon of the 30th ultimo I was directed to report with
the division to General Fitz John Porter, who, as I was informed,
would hold us as a reserve to support the attack on the enemy s center.
I found General Porter s troops formed in rear of a piece of woods
about one-half a mile to the right of the point at which the division
had been engaged the day previous. On reporting to General Porter,
and informing him of the order under which I came, he directed me to
post the division on the right of his own troops, and to make the attack
simultaneously with himself.
The division was drawn up in seven lines, composed as follows : JFirst
and second, Hatch s brigade; third and fourth, Patrick s brigade; fifth
and sixth, Gibbon s brigade; seventh, Doubleday s brigade; the Second
U. S. Sharpshooters being advanced as skirmishers in the woods. At
the word given by General Porter the division advanced, with an in
terval of 50 yards between the lines. The enemy were very strongly
posted behind an old disused railroad embankment, where, according
to their own statement, they had been awaiting us for two days. This
railroad embankment, which runs parallel to the edge of the woods
where we entered in front of our right wing, bears more to the rear on
reaching a piece of open ground in front of our left wing.
After passing through the woods and reaching the open space the
left wing of the first line was obliged to make a partial wheel to the
right to enable them to approach the enemy. This movement was
executed under a heavy fire of artillery on the left and of musketry
from the woods directly in our front.
Seeing the great disadvantages under which the first and second
lines labored, the others, as they came up, were ordered to oblique
more to the right, to enable them to attack the troops behind the rail
road embankment, and also to get a partial flank fire upon that portion
of the embankment which crosses the open field. The contest for the
possession of this embankment was most desperate. The troops on
both sides fought with the most determined courage, and I doubt not
the conflict at this point was one of the most bloody of the whole war.
Having myself received a wound which disabled me I was forced to
leave the field before the struggle terminated. For the details, and an
account of the last of the battle, I must refer you to the reports of the
brigade commanders.
General Doubleday exhibited the greatest gallantry in leading on
his brigade under a terrible fire on the night of the 29th, and, with his
aide-de-camp, Maj. II. Doubleday, and Capt. E. P. Halstead, assistant
adjutant-general, did much by reckless daring toward keeping this
brigade from giving way when hard pressed.
Capt. Eobert Chandler, assistant adjutant-general (King s staff), and
Capt. J. A. Judson, assistant adjutant-general (who was taken prisoner
while bearing an order on the field), were distinguished for their good
conduct on the 29th.
Lieutenant Bartlett, aide-de-camp to General King, behaved with
the greatest coolness, and rendered efficient service on the 30th, bear
ing orders under a heavy fire.
Lieut. James Lyon, aide-de-camp, both on the 29th and 30th of Au
gust, bore himself in the most gallant manner, and deserves, as he
receives, my most heartfelt thanks.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
JNO. P. HATCH,
Brigadier- General Volunteers..
Capt. E. CHANDLER, Assistant Adjutant- General,
CHAI-. xxiv.] CAMPAIGN IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA. 369
No. 29.