REPORT OF LIEUTENANT-COLONEL FISKE. HEAD-QUARTERS SECOND REGIMEXT NEW HAMPSHIRE VOLUNTEERS, CAMP SULLIVAN. 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 ten 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 After they retired the regiment was withdrawn under shelter of the brow of the hill.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 eamp, 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. FRANK S. FISKE, Lt. Col. 2d Regt., N. H. Volunteers. Colonel HUNTER, commanding Second Division of army of the Potomac. MAJOR SYKES'S REPORT. HEAD QUARTERS, BATTALION OF REGULARS, CAMP TRUMBULL, VA., July 24, 1861. 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 three 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 held my ground until all our troops had fallen back, and my flank was turned by a large force of horse and foot. I then retired a short distance in good order, and facing to the enemy on the crest of a hill, held his cavalry in check, which still threatened our flank. At this stage of the action, my command was the only opposing force to the enemy, and the last to leave the field. By taking advantage of woods and broken ground, I brought it off without loss, although the guns of our opponents were playing on our line of march from every height. While thus retiring, I received an order from our brigade- | commander to cover the retreat of that portion of the army near me, which I did as well as I was able, remaining in rear until all of it had passed me. After crossing "Bull Run," my command was threatened by a large force of cavalry-but its order and the regularity of its march forbade any attack. We reached our camp beyond Centreville at 8 P. M. It is but proper to mention that our officers and men were on their feet from 10 P. M., on the 20th, until 10 A. M., on the 22d-without rest, many without food, footsore, and greatly exhausted they yet bore the retreat cheerfully, and set an example of constancy and discipline worthy of older and more experienced soldiers. My officers, nearly all of them just from civil life and the Military Academy, were eager and zealous, and to their efforts are due the soldierly retreat and safety of the battalion-as well as of many straggling volunteers who accompanied my command. mand was under arms, in light marching order, with two days' cooked rations in their haversacks, and commenced the march at half-past two A. M. on the 21st., the brigade of Colonel Franklin leading, followed by those of Colonels Wilcox and Howard. At Centreville we found the road filled with troops, and were detained three hours to allow the divisions of General Tyler and Colonel Hunter to pass. I followed with my division immediately in the rear of the latter. Between two and three miles beyond Centreville we left the Warrenton turnpike, turning into a country road on the right. Captain Wright accompanied the head of Colonel Hunter's column, with directions to stop at a road which turned in to the left to a ford across Bull Run, about half way between the point where we turned off from the turnpike and Sudley's Springs, at which latter point Colonel Hunter's division was to cross. No such road was found to exist, and about eleven A. M. we found ourselves at Sudley's Springs, about ten miles from Centreville, with one brigade of Colonel Hunter's division still on our side of the Run. Before reaching this point the battle had commenced. We could see the smoke rising on our left from two points, a mile or more apart. Two clouds of dust were seen, showing the advance of troops from the direction of Manassas. At Sudley's Springs, whilst waiting the passage of the troops of the division in our front, I ordered forward the first brigade to fill their canteens. Before this was accomplished the leading regiments of Colonel Hunter's division became engaged. The acting Major, Capt. N. H. Davis, 2d General McDowell, who, accompanied by his infantry, rendered essential service by his staff, had passed us a short time before, sent coolness, zeal, and activity. Capt. Dodge, 8th back Captain Wright of the engineers and infantry, commanding the skirmishers on the Major McDowell, one of his aids, with orders left, was equally efficient, and to those gentle- to send forward two regiments to prevent the men, and all my officers, I am indebted for enemy from outflanking them. Captain Wright cordial cooperation in all the movements of the led forward the Minnesota regiment to the left day. Lieut. Kent, although wounded, endeav- of the road, which crossed the run at this ored to retain command of his company, but point. Major McDowell led the Eleventh Masa second wound forced him to give it up. He sachusetts up the road. I accompanied this and Lieut. Dickinson, acting adjutant, wound-regiment, leaving orders for the remainder of ed and Dr. Sternberg, U. S. A., (since escaped,) the division to follow, with the exception of are believed to be in the hands of the enemy. Arnold's battery, which, supported by the First I beg to call the attention of the brigade-com- Michigan, was posted a little below the crossmander to the services of Sergeant Major Devoe ing of the run as a reserve. At a little more of the 3d infantry, who was conspicuous for than a mile from the ford we came upon the his good conduct on the field. battle-field. Rickett's battery was posted on a hill to the right of Hunter's division and to the right of the road. After firing some twenty minutes at a battery of the enemy, placed just beyond the crest of a hill, on their entrance left, the distance being considered too great, it was moved forward to within about 1,000 feet of the enemy's battery. Here the battery was exposed to a heavy fire of musketry, which soon disabled it. Franklin's brigade was posted on the right of a wood, near the centre of our line, and on ground rising towards the enemy's position. In the meantime, I sent orders for the Zouaves to move forward to support Rickett's battery on its right. As soon as The arms and equipments of my command are in good condition, but the men are destitute of blankets, and in want of necessary clothing. GEO. SYKES, Major 14th Infantry. Capt. AVERILL. THIRD DIVISION. COLONEL HEINTZELMAN'S REPORT. SIR: In obedience to instructions received on the 20th inst., the division under my com fine position a short distance in the rear, where I hoped to make a stand with a section of Arnold's battery and the United States cavalry, if I could rally a few regiments of infantry. In this I utterly failed, and we continued our retreat on the road we had advanced on in the morning. I sent forward my staff officers to rally some troops beyond the run, but not a company would form. I stopped back a few moments at the hospital to see what arrangements could be made to save the wounded. The few ambulances that were there were filled and started to the rear. The church, which was used as a hospital, with the wounded and some of the surgeons, soon after fell into the hands of the secession cavalry, that followed us closely. A company of cavalry crossed the rear and seized an ambulance fuil of wounded. Captain Arnold gave them a couple of rounds of “ canister" from his section of artillery, which sent them scampering away and kept them at a respectful distance during the remainder of our retreat. At this point most of the stragglers were in advance of us. Having every reason to fear a vigorous pursuit from the enemy's fresh troops, I was desirous of forming a strong rear guard, but neither the efforts of the officers of the regular army, nor the coolness of the regular troops with me, could induce them to form a single company. We relied entirely for our protection on one section of artillery and a few companies of cavalry. Most of the road was favorable for infantry, but unfavorable for cavalry and artillery. About dusk, as we approached the Warrenton turnpike, we heard a firing of rifled cannon on our right, and learned that the enemy had established a battery enfilading the road. Captain Arnold, with his section of artillery, attempted to run the gauntlet and reached the bridge over Cub Run, about two miles from Centreville, but found it obstructed with broken vehicles, and was compelled to abandon his pieces as they were under the fire of these rifled cannon. The cavalry turned to the left, and after passing through a strip of woods and some fields, struck a road which led them to some camps occupied by our troops in the morning, through which we regained the turnpike. At about eight P. M. we reached the camps we had occupied in the morning. Had a brigade from the reserve advanced a short distance beyond Centreville near onethird of the artillery lost might have been saved, as it was abandoned at or near this crossing. Such a rout I never witnessed before. No efforts could induce a single regiment to form after the retreat had commenced. they came up I led them forward against an | treat about half-past four P. M. There was a Alabama regiment, partly concealed in a clump of small pines in an old field. At the first fire they broke and the greater portion of them fled to the rear, keeping up a desultory firing over the heads of their comrades in front; at the same moment they were charged by a company of secession cavalry on their rear, who came by a road through two strips of woods on our extreme right. The fire of the Zouaves killed four and wounded one, dispersing them. The discomfiture of this cavalry was completed by a fire from Captain Collum's company of United States cavalry, which killed and wounded several men. Colonel Farnham, with some of his officers and men, behaved gallantly, but the regiment of Zouaves, as a regiment, did not appear again on the field. Many of the men joined other regiments and did good service as skirmishers. I then led up the Minnesota regiment, which was also repulsed, but retired in tolerably good order. It did good service in the woods on our right flank, and was among the last to retire, moving off the field with the Third United States infantry. Next was led forward the First Michigan, which was also repulsed, and retired in considerable confusion. They were rallied, and helped to hold the woods on our right. The Brooklyn Fourteenth then appeared on the ground, coming forward in gallant style. I led them forward to the left, where the Alabama regiment had been posted in the early part of the action, but had now disappeared, but soon came in sight of the line of the enemy drawn up beyond the clump of trees. Soon after the firing commenced the regiment broke and ran. I considered it useless to attempt to rally them. The want of discipline in these regiments was so great that the most of the men would run from fifty to several hundred yards to the rear, and continue to fire-fortunately for the braver ones-very high in the air, and compelling those in front to retreat. During this time Reickell's battery had been taken and retaken three times by us, but was finally lost, most of the horses having been killed-Capt. Reickell being wounded, and First Lieut. D. Ramsay killed. Lieut. Kirby behaved very gallantly, and succeeded in carrying off one caisson. Before this time heavy reinforcements of the enemy were distinctly seen approaching by two roads extending and outflanking us on the right. Col. Stewart's brigade came on the field at this time, having been detained by the General as a reserve at the point where we left the turnpike. It took post on a hill on our right and rear, and for some time gallantly held the enemy in check. I had one company of cavalry attached to my division, which was joined during the engagement by the cavalry of Col. Stanton's division Major Palmer, who cannonaded them, was anxious to engage the enemy. The ground being unfavorable, I ordered them back out of range of fire. Finding it impossible to rally any of the regiments, we commenced our re Our artillery was served admirably and did much execution. Some of the volunteer regiments behaved very well, and much excuse can be made for those who fled, as few of the enemy could at any time be seen. Raw troops cannot be expected to stand long against an unseen enemy. I have been unable to obtain any re port from the Zouaves, as Col. Farnham is still at hospital. Since the retreat more than threefourths of the Zouaves have disappeared. I beg leave to express my obligations to the officers of my staff, viz. :-Captain H. S. Wright, Lieut. E. S. W. Snyder, Lieutenant F. N. Farquhar, of the Engineers; Captain Chauncey McKeever, Assistant Adjutant-General; Lieutenant J. J. Sweet, of the Second Cavalry, and Lieutenant J. D. Fairbanks, of the First Michigan, for the able and fearless performance of their duties, and to recommend them to your favorable consideration. REPORT OF COLONEL GORMAN. HEAD-QUARTERS FIRST MINNESOTA REGIMENT, WASHINGTON, D. C., July 24, 1861. Colonel Franklin, Commanding First Brigade Colonel Heintzelman's Division, N. E. Virginia: SIR: I have the honor to communicate, as Colonel of the First Minnesota regiment of Volunteers, the events connected with the movements of my command, comprising a part of your brigade. On Tuesday morning, the 16th inst., in obedience to your order, we took up the line of march, and on the evening of Thursday arrived at Centreville and bivouacked until Sunday morning, the 21st instant, at half-past two o'clock, when we again took up our line of march, in obedience to your orders, to meet the enemy, then known to be in large force between Bull Run and Manassas station, Virginia. Our march from Centreville to Bull Run was not marked by any extraordinary event, my regiment leading the advance of your brigade. On arriving at Bull Run, the battle began to rage with great warmth with the advance column of infantry and artillery of another division, both being hotly engaged. Here Captain Wright, of the military engineers, serving as an aid upon the staff of Colonel Heintzelman, commanding our division, informed me that my regiment was needed to flank the enemy upon the extreme left; whereupon I moved forward at "quick and "double-quick" time, until we arrived at an open field looking out upon the enemy's lines. After holding this position a short time, Captain Wright, by your direction, ordered me through the woods to take position near the front and centre of the enemy's line, in an open field, where we came under the direct fire of the enemy's batteries, formed in "column by division."' After remaining in this position for some ten minutes, I received orders from both your aids and those of Colonel Heintzelman to pass the whole front of the enemy's line, in support of Rickett's battery, and proceed to the extreme right of our line and the left of the enemy, a distance of about a mile or more. This movement was effected at "quick" and double-quick" time, both by the infantry and artillery, during which march the men threw from their shoulders their haversacks, blankets, and most of their canteens, to facilitate their eagerness to engage the enemy. On arriving at the point indicated, being the extreme left of the enemy and the extreme right of our line, and in advance of all other of our troops, and where I was informed officially that two other regiments had declined to charge, we formed a line of battle, our right resting within a few feet of the woods, and the left at and around Rickett's battery, and upon the crest of the hill, within fifty or sixty feet of the enemy's line of infantry, with whom we could have readily conversed in an ordinary tone of voice. Immediately upon Rickett's battery coming into position and we in "line of battle," Colonel Heintzelman rode up between our lines and that of the enemy, within pistol shot of each, which circumstance staggered my judgment whether those in front were friends or enemies, it being equally manifest that the enemy were in the same dilemma as to our identity. But a few seconds, however, undeceived both― they displaying the rebel and we the Union flag. Instantly a blaze of fire was poured into the faces of the combatants, each producing terrible destruction, owing to the close proximity of the forces, which was followed by volley after volley, in regular and irregular order as to time, until Rickett's battery was disabled and cut to pieces, and a large portion of its officers and men had fallen, and until Companies II, I, K, C, G, and those immediately surrounding my regimental flag, were so desperately cut to pieces as to make it more of a slaughter-house than an equal combat, the enemy manifestly numbering five guns to our one, besides being intrenched in the woods and behind ditches and pits plainly perceptible, and with batteries upon the enemy's right, enfilading my left flank, and within three hundred and fifty yards' direct range. After an effort to obtain aid from the Fire Zouaves, then immedi ately upon our left, two or three different orders came to retire, as it was manifest that the contest was too deadly and unequal to be longer justifiably maintained. Whereupon, I gave the command to retire, seeing that the whole of our forces were seemingly in retreat. Every inch of ground, however, was strongly con tested by skirmishers, through the woods, by the fences and over the undulating ground, until we had retired some four hundred yards in reasonably good order, to a point where the men could procure water, and then took up a regular and orderly retreat to such point as some general officer might indicate thereafter. I feel it due to my regiment to say, that before leaving the extreme right of our line the enemy attempted to make a charge with a body of perhaps five hundred cavalry, who were met by my command and a part of the Fire Zouaves, and repulsed with considerable loss to the enemy, but without any to us. I am more than gratified to say that I kept the larger portion of my regiment together, and marched from the field in order, and on the march and near an open space where Colonel Heintzelman's column left the Centreville and Manassas road in the morning, and passed to the right, we, in conjunction with others, repulsed the enemy's cavalry, who attempted to charge. Before leaving the field a portion of the right wing, owing to the configuration of the ground and intervening woods, became detached, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Miller, whose gallantry was conspicuous throughout the entire battle, and who contested every inch of the ground with his forces thrown out as skirmishers in the woods, and succeeded in occupying the original ground on the right, after the repulse of a body of cavalry. I deem it worthy of remark that during a part of the engagement my regiment and that of the enemy, at some points, became so intermingled as scarcely to be able to distinguish friends from foes, and my forces made several prisoners, among whom was Lieutenant-Colonel Boone, of Mississippi, who is now in Washington, and fully recognizes his captors. I regard it as an event of rare occurrence in the annals of history that a regiment of volunteers, not over three months in the service, marched up without flinching to the mouth of batteries of cannon supported by thousands of infantry, and opened and maintained a fire until one-fifth of the whole regiment were killed, wounded, or made prisoners before retiring, except for purposes of advantage of position. My heart is full of gratitude to my officers and men for their gallant bearing throughout the whole of this desperate engagement, and to distinguish the merits of one from another would be invidious, and injustice might be done. finement in the Capitol at Washington city, Mr. Irvine, in company with Hon. Morton S. Wilkinson, United States Senator from Minnesota, visited him, when he promptly recog nized Mr. Irvine as his captor, and thanked him very cordially for his humane treatment and kindness to him as a prisoner. I deem it but just that this fact should be officially known, as Lieutenant-Colonel Boone was an officer of the highest rank taken in the battle. The humble part which I have performed as an officer commanding one of the regiments of your brigade, individually and otherwise, is now left to you and those commanding the division. Respectfully, W. A. GORMAN, Col. First Regiment, Minnesota. SUPPLEMENT TO THE OFFICIAL REPORT OF COL GORMAN, OF THE FIRST REGIMENT, MINNESOTA. CAMP MINNESOTA, July 26, 1961. The regimental flag borne by my color-bearer has through its folds one cannon ball, two grape shot, and sixteen bullets, and one in the staff. The color guard were all wounded but the color-bearer, one mortally. The company flag of Company I was pierced with five balls and one on the spear head. Please attach this W. A. GORMAN, Col. First Regiment, Minnesota. to my report. Respectfully, REPORT OF COL. J. HI. II. WARD. HEAD-QUARTERS SECOND BRIGADE, THIRD DIVISION, CAMP NEAR SHOOTER'S HILL, Monday, July 29, 1861. '{ Col. W. P. Franklin, Commanding Third Diri sion. SIR: The temporary command of this brigade having devolved upon me in consequence of the mishap to Col. Wilcox, I have the honor to transmit herewith the following report, also the regimental reports of a portion of the brigade, viz. from the First Michigan regiment, Major Dike and my adjutant bore themselves the Scott Life Guard, Thirty-eighth regiment with coolness throughout. My chaplain, Rev. New York State Volunteers, containing deE. D. Neill, was on the field the whole time tailed accounts of their action during the enand in the midst of danger, giving aid and com-gagement near Bull Run, on Sunday, 21st inst.; fort to the wounded. Dr. Stewart, while on the field, was ordered to the hospital by a medical officer of the army; Dr. Le Boutillier continued with the regiment, and actually engaged in the fight-neither of whom have been heard from since. That I have not unfairly or unjustly to the truth of history stated the facts in regard to the gallant conduct of my regiment, is fully proven by the appended list of killed and wounded, showing forty-nine killed, one hundred and seven wounded, and thirty-four missing; the names and companies to which they belong, in detail, will more fully appear in the accompanying lists and abstracts. Among the incidents of the engagement my command took several prisoners, among whom was Lieutenant-Colonel Boone, of the Mississippi regiment, taken personally by Mr. Irvine, of my regiment; and since said prisoner's con the remaining regiments of the brigade, viz. : the Fire Zouaves (Eleventh regiment New York Volunteers) and Arnold's battery having already rendered their reports to division head-quarters. This brigade commenced the action under command of Col. Wilcox, of Michigan, who was wounded while gallantly leading his command, and whose bravery could not have been excelled, and who is now a prisoner in the hands of the enemy. While I deeply deplore the circumstances by which it became my duty to forward this report, yet it affords me much gratification to speak in terms of the highest commendation of the brave and officer-like conduct of the gentlemen composing his staff, viz. Lieuts. Woodruff, Parker, and Edie, in their efforts to bring order out of chaos, under a most galling and deadly fire from the enemy. |