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 brigadecommander 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,) are believed to be in the hands of the enemy. I beg to call the attention of the brigade-commander to the services of Sergeant Major Devoe of the 3d infantry, who was conspicuous for his good conduct on the field.

the division to follow, with the exception of Arnold's battery, which, supported by the First Michigan, was posted a little below the crossing of the run as a reserve. At a little more than a mile from the ford we came upon the 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

There was a

they came up I led them forward against an treat about half-past four P. M. Alabama regiment, partly concealed in a clump fine position a short distance in the rear, where of small pines in an old field. At the first fire I hoped to make a stand with a section of Arthey broke and the greater portion of them fled nold's battery and the United States cavalry, if to the rear, keeping up a desultory firing over I could rally a few regiments of infantry. In the heads of their comrades in front; at the this I utterly failed, and we continued our resame moment they were charged by a company treat on the road we had advanced on in the of secession cavalry on their rear, who came morning. I sent forward my staff officers to by a road through two strips of woods on our rally some troops beyond the run, but not a extreme right. The fire of the Zouaves killed company would form. I stopped back a few four and wounded one, dispersing them. The moments at the hospital to see what arrangediscomfiture of this cavalry was completed by ments could be made to save the wounded. a fire from Captain Collum's company of Unit- The few ambulances that were there were ed States cavalry, which killed and wounded filled and started to the rear. The church, several men. Colonel Farnham, with some which was used as a hospital, with the woundof his officers and men, behaved gallantly, but ed and some of the surgeons, soon after fell the regiment of Zouaves, as a regiment, did not into the hands of the secession cavalry, that appear again on the field. Many of the men followed us closely. A company of cavalry joined other regiments and did good service as crossed the rear and seized an ambulance fullskirmishers. I then led up the Minnesota regi- of wounded. Captain Arnold gave them a ment, which was also repulsed, but retired in couple of rounds of "canister" from his sectolerably good order. It did good service in tion of artillery, which sent them scampering the woods on our right flank, and was among away and kept them at a respectful distance the last to retire, moving off the field with the during the remainder of our retreat. At this Third United States infantry. Next was led point most of the stragglers were in advance of forward the First Michigan, which was also re- us. Having every reason to fear a vigorous pulsed, and retired in considerable confusion. pursuit from the enemy's fresh troops, I was They were rallied, and helped to hold the desirous of forming a strong rear guard, but woods on our right. The Brooklyn Fourteenth neither the efforts of the officers of the regular then appeared on the ground, coming forward army, nor the coolness of the regular troops in gallant style. I led them forward to the with me, could induce them to form a single left, where the Alabama regiment had been company. We relied entirely for our proteoposted in the early part of the action, but had tion on one section of artillery and a few comnow disappeared, but soon came in sight of the panies of cavalry. Most of the road was favorline of the enemy drawn up beyond the clump able for infantry, but unfavorable for cavalry of trees. Soon after the firing commenced the and artillery. About dusk, as we approached regiment broke and ran. I considered it use- the Warrenton turnpike, we heard a firing of less to attempt to rally them. The want of rifled cannon on our right, and learned that the discipline in these regiments was so great that enemy had established a battery enfilading the the most of the men would run from fifty to road. Captain Arnold, with his section of arseveral hundred yards to the rear, and continue tillery, attempted to run the gauntlet and to fire-fortunately for the braver ones-very reached the bridge over Cub Run, about two high in the air, and compelling those in front miles from Centreville, but found it obstructed to retreat. During this time Reickell's battery with broken vehicles, and was compelled to had been taken and retaken three times by us, abandon his pieces as they were under the fire but was finally lost, most of the horses having of these rifled cannon, The cavalry turned to been killed-Capt. Reickell being wounded, the left, and after passing through a strip of and First Lieut. D. Ramsay killed. Lieut. woods and some fields, struck a road which led Kirby behaved very gallantly, and succeeded in them to some camps occupied by our troops in carrying off one caisson. Before this time the morning, through which we regained the heavy reinforcements of the enemy were dis- turnpike. At about eight P. M. we reached tinctly seen approaching by two roads extend- the camps we had occupied in the morning. ing and outflanking us on the right. Col. Had a brigade from the reserve advanced a Stewart's brigade came on the field at this time, short distance beyond Centreville near onehaving been detained by the General as a re-third of the artillery lost might have been serve 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 Our artillery was served admirably and did engagement by the cavalry of Col. Stanton's much execution. Some of the volunteer regidivision Major Palmer, who cannonaded them, ments behaved very well, and much excuse can was anxious to engage the enemy. The ground be made for those who fled, as few of the enemy being unfavorable, I ordered them back out of could at any time be seen. Raw troops cannot range of fire. Finding it impossible to rally be expected to stand long against an unseen any of the regiments, we commenced our re-enemy. I have been unable to obtain any re

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.

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.

Very respectfully,

S. P. HEINTZELMAN, Colonel of the Seventeenth Infantry, Commanding the

First Division.

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 boththey displaying the rebel and we the Union flag. Instantly a blaze of fire was poured into the On Tuesday morning, the 16th inst., in obe- faces of the combatants, each producing terrible dience to your order, we took up the line of destruction, owing to the close proximity of the march, and on the evening of Thursday ar- forces, which was followed by volley after volley, rived at Centreville and bivouacked until Sun-in regular and irregular order as to time, until day 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.

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. Vir-
ginia:

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.

Rickett's battery was disabled and cut to pieces, and a large portion of its officers and men had fallen, and until Companies H, 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 comOur march from Centreville to Bull Run was bat, the enemy manifestly numbering five guns not marked by any extraordinary event, my to our one, besides being intrenched in the woods regiment leading the advance of your brigade. and behind ditches and pits plainly perceptible, On arriving at Bull Run, the battle began to and with batteries upon the enemy's right, enfirage with great warmth with the advance col- lading my left flank, and within three hundred umn of infantry and artillery of another divi- and fifty yards' direct range. After an effort to sion, both being hotly engaged. Here Captain obtain aid from the Fire Zouaves, then immediWright, of the military engineers, serving as an ately upon our left, two or three different oraid upon the staff of Colonel Heintzelman, com-ders came to retire, as it was manifest that the manding 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.

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 contested 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 | finement in the Capitol at Washington city, the larger portion of my regiment together, Mr. Irvine, in company with Hon. Morton S. and marched from the field in order, and on Wilkinson, United States Senator from Minthe march and near an open space where Col-nesota, visited him, when he promptly recogonel Heintzelman's column left the Centreville nized Mr. Irvine as his captor, and thanked and Manassas road in the morning, and passed him very cordially for his humane treatment to the right, we, in conjunction with others, and kindness to him as a prisoner. I deem it repulsed the enemy's cavalry, who attempted but just that this fact should be officially known, to charge. as Lieutenant-Colonel Boone was an officer of the highest rank taken in the battle.

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.

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, 18c1.

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 to my report. Respectfully, and one on the spear head. Please attach this W. A. GORMAN, Col. First Regiment, Minnesota.

REPORT OF COL. J. H. H. WARD.

HEAD-QUARTERS SECOND BRIGADE, THIRD DIVISION, CAMP NEAR SHOOTER'S HILL, Monday, July 29, 1861.

Col. W. P. Franklin, Commanding Third Divi

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, the Scott Life Guard, Thirty-eighth regiment New York State Volunteers, containing detailed accounts of their action during the en

Major Dike and my adjutant bore themselves with coolness throughout. My chaplain, Rev. E. D. Neill, was on the field the whole time and 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 hav ing 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.

SIR: In compliance with my duty, I respectfully submit the following report of the operation of my regiment during the recent battle at or near Bull Run on the 21st of July, 1861. On the morning of the 21st, in obedience to brigade orders, the regiment was formed, the Retiring to a road about one hundred yards men equipped in light marching order, and distant, my regiment was again formed in line prepared to leave its bivouac at or near Cen- of battle, and under the eye of the commandertreville. The march, however, was not com-in-chief, Gen. McDowell, the men, inspired by menced until 6 o'clock a. M., when the regiment, with others constituting the brigade, advanced towards the scene of future operations.