SUBSISTENCE DEPARTMENT REPORT. ARLINGTON, Va., Aug. 2, 1861. CAPTAIN: For the information of the general commanding the Department, I have the honor to submit the following report in reference to the subsistence of the army under his command during its recent operations in front. On the 15th ult., the commanders of divisions were directed to see that all the troops of their respective commands have cooked and in their haversacks by 3 P. M. the next day three days' rations; and orders were given that five days' additional subsistence should be loaded into wagon-trains on the day of march, and follow the army on the day succeeding, and that a specified number of beef cattle should be driven forward with each train. Owing to the necessary number of wagons not being furnished in season, to uninstructed and many worthless teamsters and green teams, and to some of the roads being bad, only one of the trains, that in charge of First Lieut. J. P. Hawkins, 2d Infantry, A. A. C. S., was able to overtake the army on the morning of the 18th. It, with 90 head of beef cattle, by travelling all the previous night, arrived at Fairfax Court House on the morning stated, before the army had taken up its march. culties arose, and I may not have succeeded in my object. Making due allowance for all losses on the march, according to the reports of the officers conducting the trains, and my own observation, at least (160,000) one hundred and sixty thousand complete rations were received by the army at and in the vicinity of Centreville-sufficient for its subsistence for five days. In a circular from Department Head-quarters, dated at Centreville, July 20, 1861, commanders, of divisions were directed to give the necessary orders that an equal distribution of the subsistence stores on hand might be made immediately to the different companies in their respective commands, so that they should be provided with the same number of days' subsistence and that the same be cooked and put into the haversacks of the men, and they were informed that the subsistence stores there in possession of each division, with the fresh beef that could be drawn from the chief commissary, must last to include the 23d inst. The three days' subsistence it was directed the troops should have in their haversacks by 3 P. M., on the 16th of July, should have lasted them to the afternoon of the 19th. After the distribution made in compliance with the circuDuring the morning, while the army was lars above referred to, I know of several inmoving forward to Centreville, it was thought stances in which subsistence stores remained in the other subsistence trains, in charge of First possession of division and brigade commissaLieutenants G. Bell, 1st Artillery, James Cur-ries, and of others in which provisions were tis, 15th Infantry, intended for Col. Heintzelman's and Gen. Tyler's divisions, respectively, would not reach the army in season, and I was directed to distribute the subsistence in the train present as equally as possible among the several divisions. left on the ground of the encampments on the morning of the 21st of July. From personal observation on the march, on the morning of the 21st of July, I know that, generally, the haversacks of the men were filled-whether properly or not, I do not know. Fourteen wagons, containing about 17,000 Regimental officers should be held accountable rations, were sent in charge of Lieut. Hawkins for that. During the battle, and following it, I to the 5th division; the remaining wagons noticed many filled haversacks, canteens, blanwere directed to immediately proceed to Čen-kets, and other property, lying on the ground, treville, and I had made the best arrangements in my power to distribute the provisions they contained among the other three divisions. Shortly after our arrival at Centreville I was officially informed that the train, with 65 head of beef cattle, in charge of Licut. Curtis, was in the vicinity, and the train, with 70 head of beef cattle, in charge of Lieut. Bell, was at Fairfax Court House. I then directed the first of these trains to come forward to Centreville and encamp for the night, and the second to come forward with as little delay as possible, and myself conducted the remaining wagons of Lieut. Hawkins's train, and turned them over to the officer (Lieut. Merrill) directed by Gen. Tyler to receive and distribute to the 1st division the subsistence stores they contained. I endeavored to distribute the subsistence stores equally among the several divisions, according to the strength of each; but in consequence of the necessity of breaking up the train in charge of Lieut. Hawkins, which was intended for the divisions of Colonels Miles and Hunter, and the late arrival of the others, diffi their owners having doubtless thrown them away to get rid of the labor of carrying them on so hot a day, and under such trying circumstances. I beg leave to call your attention to the reports of Lieutenants Bell, Hawkins, and Curtis. The duties they performed were highly important, and all who are acquainted with the difficulties under which they labored and overcame, will know that they acted with judgment and energy, and for the best interests of the Government. I am, sir, very respectfully, H. F. CLARKE, Capt. and Com. Subs. Capt. JAMES B. FRY, Ass't Adj.-Gen. Doo. 2. SECESSION REPORTS. REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL ARNOLD ELZEY. of the services of my brigade during the day of the 21st of July, 1861: The brigade left Piedmont at daylight on the 21st inst., and after much delay and detention on the railroad, arrived at Manassas Junction about 12 M., when it received orders to detach a regiment to remain at the Junction to guard a weak point, and then to proceed to Lewis House, near the battle-field, and hold itself in waiting. Col. A. P. Hill's regiment, being the smallest four companies not having come up from Piedmont-was designated for the service. Brigadier-General Smith accompanied the brigade to the battle-field, and continued to exercise the command over it with which he had been empowered at Piedmont. The march to the field, part of the way, was performed in doublequick. The battle raged fiercely, and Gen. Smith ordered the brigade to pass Lewis House and proceed to the scene of action. The Maryland regiment was under Lieut.-Col. I cannot speak too highly of the gallantry Brigadier-General Cominanding 4th Brigade. To Major TпоMAS G. RHETT, Ass't Adj't-Gen. REPORT OF CAPT. JOHN D. IMBODEN, OF THE "6 STAUNTON ARTILLERY." MANASSAS JUNCTION, VA., July 22, 18C1. Brigadier-General W. H. Whiting, Commanding the Third Brigade of the Army of the Shenandoah: On entering the field to the left, Gen. Smith was shot from his horse, and the entire command reverted to myself. The brigade was formed in line of battle, with the 10th Virginia I submit the following summary report of regiment in reserve. About this time Captains the part taken in the engagement of yesterday, Hill and Cunningham, of Gen. Smith's staff, by tho battery of the brigade-the Staunton reported to me. I detached Capt. Cunningham Artillery-under my command. The battery with four companies of the 10th Virginia regi- arrived at Camp Walker, below the Junction, ment to hold a captured battery, and directed at half-past eleven o'clock the night before the Capt. Hill to conduct Beckham's battery to a battle, with men and horses greatly fatigued, point on the left. The position was well se- by a forced march of thirty-two miles, comfected, and the battery under Lieut. Beckham menced at daybreak over an extremely rough was admirably served and made a decided im- and steep, hilly road. Having had but four pression on the enemy. Having received intel- hours' sleep, and that on the ground, without ligence that our left was weakened, I deter- shelter, on a rainy night, since the preceding mined to make a movement in that direction, Wednesday night, at Winchester, and no food and accordingly to march by the left flank on Saturday, except breakfast which was kindly through a wood to the left and then to the furnished us by some ladies at Salem, in Faufront. The brigade in line-3d Tennesseo reg-quier, my men were so tired on getting into iment on the right, 1st Maryland in the centre, 10th Virginia on the left-passed an open field and through a wood. On arriving at the edge A little after sunrise on Sunday morning, the of the woods, the enemy was discovered but a lamentable Gen. Bee sent for me to his quarshort distance in front, Stars and Stripes wav-ters, and informed me of the approach of the ing. I ordered the line to open fire. A brisk and terrific fire was kept up for a few seconds, and the enemy disappeared. camp that they threw themselves upon the ground to snatch a few hours' rest. enemy, and that he was ordered to "the stone bridge" with his brigade and a battery not so much exhausted as mine, and asked me if we The command was ordered to advance, and would "stand that?" I replied, "Not if we on rising the crest of an open field, nothing can help it." He then ordered me to put the could be seen but the dead bodies of men and battery in motion immediately, and let my horses. The line continued to advance, and on wagons remain, and bring our rations and forcoming to a thicket in front, again encountered age after us to the field. In about twenty the enemy, and opened fire; the charge was minutes we were in motion, very much stimuordered, the thicket cleared, and the enemy lated by a cannonade which had then opened dispersed. I was ordered by Gen. Beauregard so near Camp Walker that one of the balls to retire with my command to the hill in came whizzing over us just as we started. After rear, from which I subsequently took up a posi-a rapid march of about five miles we met the tion across the stone bridge. It is with pride and pleasure that I refer to the coolness and gallantry of the whole command during the day. The fire upon the enemy was well-directed and destructive, and they sustained his fire with the indifference of veteran troops. Piedmont is a station on the Manassas Gap Railroad below Front Royal. The delay alluded to is said to have been occasioned by a collision of some empty cars. infantry of the brigade, who had gone by a nearer route. Gen. Bee, in person, then joined the battery, and rode with us about a mile and selected the ground we were to occupy, and remained till after the firing commenced on both sides. To his consummate judgment in choosing our ground, we are indebted for our almost miraculous escape from utter destruction. We were placed on the slope of a hill facing to the surgeon. A few minutes afterwards another shell did its work by wounding 2d Lieut. A. W. Garber so severely in the wrist that I ordered him off the field for surgical aid. We now had ten guns at work upon us, with no artillery to aid us for more than an hour, except, I believe, three rounds fired by the gun with the Alabama regiment. It ceased its fire, I have heard, because the horses ran off with the limber and left the gun without ammunition. During this time the enemy's infantry was assembling behind, between and to the numbers, but beyond our reach, as we could only see their bayonets over the top of the hill. Two or three times they ventured in sight when the Alabamians turned them back on their left by a well-directed fire, and we gave them a few shot and shells on their right with the same result, as they invariably dropped back over the hill when we fired at them, as almost every shot made a gap in their ranks. After we had been engaged for, I suppose, nearly two hours, a detachment of some other battery, (the New Orleans Washington Battalion, I believe,) of two guns, formed upon our right and commenced a well-directed fire, much to our aid and relief. My men by this time were so overcome with the intense heat and excessive labor, that half of them fell upon the ground completely exhausted. The guns were so hot that it was dangerous to load themone was temporarily spiked by the priming wire hanging in it, the vent having become foul. My teams were cut to pieces, five of the horses were killed out of one single piece, and other teams partially destroyed, so that, alone, we could not much longer have replied to the enemy's batteries as briskly as was necessary. the west, with a sight depression or ravine, running almost parallel with the base of the hill. We came "into battery" and unlimbered in this depression, being thus sheltered by a swell in the ground to our front five or six feet high. Our position commanded a beautiful open farm which rose gently from the valley in front of us, back to the woods about 1,500 yards distant. In the edge of these woods a heavy column of the enemy was marching to the southward, while we were descending the hill to our position. At the moment we wheeled into line, I observed one of their bat-right (our left) of their batteries in immense teries of six guns do the same thing, and they unlimbered simultaneously with us. We immediately loaded with spherical-case shot, with the fuze cut for 1,500 yards. General Bee ordered me not to fire till they opened on me, as he had sent the Fourth Alabama regiment, Colonel Jones, across the valley to our right to occupy a piece of woods about 500 yards nearer the enemy, and he wished this regiment, together with one 6-pounder they had along with them, to get fairly in position before we fired. He had hardly uttered the order, however, when the enemy's battery-six long rifle 10-pounder Parrott guns, afterwards captured by our troops-within 150 yards of our first position, opened on us with elongated cylindrical shells. They passed a few feet over our heads, and very near the general and his staff in our rear, and exploded near the top of the hill. We instantly returned the compliment. Gen. Bee then directed me to hold my position till further orders, and observe the enemy's movements towards our left, and report to him any thing I might discover of importance. This was the last time my gallant, heroic general ever spoke to me. Seeing us fairly engaged, he rode off to take charge of his regiments. The firing of both batteries now becaine very rapid-they at first overshot us and burst their shells in our rear, but at every round improved their aim and shortened their fuze. In about fifteen minutes we received our first injury. A shell passed between two of our guns and exploded amongst the caissons, mangling the arm of private J. J. Points with a fragment in a most shocking manner. I ordered him to be carried off the field to the surgeon at once. He was scarcely gone when another shell exploded at the same place and killed a horse. About this time the enemy began to fire too low, striking the knoll in our front, from ten to twenty steps, from which the ricochet was sufficient to carry the projectiles over us; they discovered this, and again began to fire over us. After we had been engaged for perhaps a half hour, the enemy brought another battery of four guns into position about 400 yards south of the first, and a little nearer to us, and commenced a very brisk fire upon us. A shell from this last battery soon plunged into our midst, instantly killing a horse and nearly cutting off the leg of private W. A. Siders, just below the knee. He was immediately taken to We were now serving the guns with diminished numbers-Lieuts. Harinan and Imboden working at them as privates, to relieve the privates; the latter had the handspike in his hand directing his piece, when one of its rings was shot off the trail by a piece of a shell. After our friends on the right commenced firing, the enemy advanced a third battery of four pieces down the hill, directly in front of and about six hundred yards distant from us, upon which we opened fire immediately and crippled one of their guns by cutting off its trail, compelling them to dismount and send the piece away without its carriage. While this last battery was forming in our front, a vast column of thousands of infantry marched down in close order, about two hundred yards to its right. I did not then know where the several regiments of our brigade were posted. We heard firing upon our right and left, but too far off to protect us from a sudden charge, as we were in the middle of an open field, and not a single company of infantry visible to us on the right, left, or rear. At the moment the enemy's main column came down the hill, we observed the head of another column advancing down the valley from our left, and therefore concealed by again and fight with him. I did so with a remnant of my men and guns. The caissons, except one, were empty, and many of the men were ready to faint from sheer exhaustion. We got into position 300 or 400 yards north of the ground we at first occupied, within full view of the enemy's heavy column of divisions advancing towards us. We opened fire at once, but slowly, as we had not over four or fivo men left able to work the guns, respectively, and ammunition had to be brought from a caisson left two hundred yards in the rear, becauso we were unable to get it up with the guns. Every shot here told with terrible effect, as we could see a lane opened through the enemy after almost every fire. Our first gun was worked, during this part of the action, by tho Captain, First Lieutenant, and two privates. In the course of three-quarters of an hour our supply of shot and shells was exhausted-the men could no longer work-we had nothing but some canister left, which was useless at so great a distance. A fresh battery came upon the field, and Gen. Jackson ordered me to retire with my men and guns to a place of safety, which I did, and had no further part in the fight. a hill, and not over 350 or 400 yards distant. I plexity. He directed me to fall in between At first I took them for friends, and ordered two of his regiments and return to the first hill the men not to fire on them. To ascertain certainly who they were, I sprang upon my horse and galloped to the top of the hill to our left, when I had a nearer and better view. There were two regiments of them. They halted about three hundred yards in front of their own battery on the hill-side, wheeled into line, with their backs towards us, and fired a volley, apparently at their battery. This deceived me, and I shouted to my men to fire upon the battery, that these were friends, who would charge and take it in a moment. Fortunately, my order was not heard or not obeyed by all the gunners, for some of them commenced firing into this line, which brought them to the rightabout, and they commenced advancing towards us, when their uniform disclosed fully their character. I instantly ordered the second section of my battery to limber up and come on the hill where I was, intending to open on them with canister. Anticipating this movement, and intending to make the hill to the left too hot for us, or seeing me out there alone, where I could observe their movements and report them, their nearest battery directed and fired all its guns at me at once, but without hitting me or my horse. I galloped back to my guns, and found that the two guns on our right had left the field, and we were alone again. My order to limber up the second section was understood as applying to the whole battery, so that the drivers had equalized the teams sufficiently to move all the guns and caissons, and the pieces were all limbered. On riding back a short distance, where I could see over the hill again, I discovered the enemy approaching rapidly, and so near that I doubted Several others were slightly touched with our ability to save the battery; but, by a very fragments of shells, without injury. I had 71 rapid movement up the ravine, we avoided the horses on Sunday morning, before the battle shells of the three batteries that were now di- commenced; 10 of those are killed and missrected at us, sufficient to escape with three ing, and 21 more variously injured and at guns and all the caissons. The fourth gun, I present wholly unserviceable, leaving me but think, was struck under the axle by an explod-40 horses fit for work. My harness is half deing shell, as it broke right in the middle, and stroyed and lost. One piece is dismounted, but dropped the gun in the field. We saved the will be as good as ever when remounted on a team. Their advance fired a volley of musketry new carriage. All my officers behaved throughat us without effect, when we got over the hill out with heroic coolness and bravery, and the out of their reach, and a few moments after- conduct of the men was that of veterans. wards heard the infantry engage them from tho No company in the army was more exposed, woods, some distance to the south of us. See- and none, I believe, so long a time, and yet no ing no troops where we first crossed the hill man quailed. There were instances of indiamongst whom we could fall in with and pre-vidual heroism worthy of special notice; but pare for battle again, and having had no com- where all did so well, it would seem almost inmunication with or from any human being for, vidious to single out individuals. I suppose, three hours, and not knowing where to find our brigade or any part of it, I determined to retiro to the next hill, some 400 yards distant, and there form the remnant of my battery, and await the opportunity for further ser- REPORT OF MAJOR WALTON, OF THE WASHINGTON vice. Just as we were ascending this second hill we met Gen. T. J. Jackson with the First Virginia brigade, hastening on to the field of bat We were the first battery of the left wing of the army engaged. We were in the fight till near its close, having been engaged altogether upwards of four hours. We fired about 460 rounds of ball and case-shot, our whole supply, during the action. The only serious damage to my men I have mentioned above. Privates Points and Siders will doubtless get well, but will lose their wounded limbs. Lieut. Garber may save his hand. Respectfully submitted, ARTILLERY. HEAD-QUARTERS. WASHINGTON ARTILLERY, NEAR STONE BRIDGE, BULL REN, July 22, 1861. GENERAL: I have the honor to report:-On tle. I reported to him my condition and per- the morning of the 21st instant, (Sunday,) the battalion of Washington artillery, consisting of four companies, numbering 284 officers and men and thirteen guns-six 6-pounders, smooth bore, four 12-pound howitzers, and three rifled 6-pounders, all bronze-under my command, was assigned to duty as follows: Four 12-pound howitzers, under Lieutenant J. T. Rosser, commanding; Lieut. C. C. Lewis, Lieut. C. H. Slocumb, and Lieut. H. A. Battles, with Gen. Ewell's second brigade at Union Mill Ford. Two 6-pounders, smooth bore, under command of Capt. M. B. Miller, Lieut. Joseph Norcom, with General Jones's third brigade, at McLain's Ford. One rifled 6-pounder and one smooth 6pounder, under command of Lieutenant J. J. Garnett, Lieutenant L. A. Adams, (reported sick after being engaged in the battle of the 18th inst.,) with General Longstreet's fourth brigade, at Blackburn's Ford. Five guns-three smooth 6-pounders and two rifled 6-pounders-under command of Lieutenant C. W. Squires, Lieutenant J. B. Richardson, Lieutenant J. B. Whittington, with Colonel Early's fifth brigade, then bivouacking near McLean's farm-house-thirteen guns. well-directed fire, death, destruction, and confusion in the ranks of both; as the enemy's artillery would frequently get our range, we advanced by hand to the front, until finally the battery was upon the crown of the hill, entirely exposed to the view of their artillery and infantry. At this moment their fire fell like hail around us, the artillery in front of our position evidently suffering greatly from the concentration of fire from my guns and those of the battery on my right, and notwithstanding we were at this time subjected to a terrific fire of infantry on our left, my guns were as rapidly and beautifully served by the cannoneers, and with as much composure and silence, as they are when upon the ordinary daily drill. The batteries of the enemy on our front having become silenced, and the fire of the infantry upon our left increasing, I considered it prudent to remove my battery from its then exposed condition, being nearly out of ammunition, (some of the guns having only a few rounds left in the boxes;) the order to limber to the rear was consequently given, and my battery, followed by the batteries on my right, was removed to its first position upon the elevated ground near Lewis's farm-house. At about seven o'clock on the morning of At about one o'clock, as nearly as I can now the 21st an order was communicated to me to calculate, Lieutenant Squires was detached with follow, with the battery under Lieutenant three six-pounders and took position near the Squires, the brigade of General Jackson, then road leading to Stone Bridge, from Lewis's on the march towards Stone Bridge. Every house, and directing against the enemy's artilpreparation having been previously made, the lery which had now opened fire upon our posiorder to mount was immediately given, and the tion from the vicinity of Stone Bridge. This battery moved forward, arriving at Lewis's farm- fire having been silenced by some guns of house, just in time to receive the first fire from Colonel Pendleton and the section of my guns the enemy's guns, then in position near Stone under Lieutenant Squires, we discovered from Bridge; here I was ordered to halt and await the position on the hill the enemy in full retreat orders from General Bee. Shortly after half- across the fields, in range of my rifled guns, past eight o'clock A. M., I detached two rifle when I opened fire upon their retreating colguns, under Lieut. Richardson, and took posi- umns, which was continued with admirable sition about one-half mile to the left of Lewis's effect, scattering and causing them to spread farm-house, where the enemy was found in over the fields in the greatest confusion, until large numbers. Fire was at once opened by I was ordered to desist by General Jackson, the section under Lieut. Richardson, and con- and save my ammunition for whatever occasion tinued with good effect, until his situation be- might now arise. Subsequently, I was percame so perilous that he was obliged to with-mitted by General Johnston to open fire again, draw, firing whilst retiring, until his guns were out of range, when he limbered up and reported to me. In this engagement, one of the enemy's pieces was dismounted by a shot from the rifle gun directed by First Sergeant Owen, first company, and other serious work was accomplished. Now, under directions of Gen. Cocke, I took position in battery on the hill in front of Lewis's farm-house, my guns directed towards Stone Bridge, where it was reported the enemy was about to attack. Shortly before ten o'clock orders were communicated to me to advance with my battery to a point which was indicated, near the position lately occupied by the section under Lieut. Richardson. Here we at once opened fire, soon obtaining range with the rifle guns against artillery, and the sixpounders, with round shot, spherical-case and canister, against infantry, scattering, by our which was now, after having obtained the range, like target practice, so exactly did each shot do its work. The enemy, by thousands, in the greatest disorder, at a double-quick, received our fire and the fire of the Parrott gun of the battery alongside, dealing terrible destruction at every discharge. Thus ended the battle of the 21st, the last gun having been fired from one of the rifles of my battery The guns of this battery, under command of Captain Miller, with General Jones's brigades, and Lieutenant Garnett with General Longstreet's brigade, were not engaged at their respective points, although under fire a portion of the day. The howitzer battery under Lieutenant commanding Rosser, with General Ewell's brigade, was on the march from two P. M., in the direction of Fairfax Court House, and, returning by way of Union Mills Ford, arrived |