THE BATTLE AT BULL RUN.; ACCOUNTS FROM THE CONFEDERATES. Names of Some of the Killed and Wounded. THE BATTLE. Correspondence of the Richmond Enquirer.
Published: August 1, 1861
MANASSAS JUNCTION, Sunday, July 21, 1861.
The severest battle that was ever fought in this country took place to-day, between the Confederates and National forces. As stated to you a few days ago, the armies had faced each other until it was evident that a collision must ensue. About 8 o'clock this morning, a part of the National forces, about 10,000 strong, commenced an attack on the Confederate troops at Stone Bridge, on the turnpike, six miles above here, numbering only 600, being the Fourth Alabama Regiment, under Col. SLOANE. Such was the suddenness of the charge, that the regiment suffered greatly, but like the immortal Spartans, they held their ground until reinforcements came up. The enemy succeeded in crossing the Run, but were forced back in the evening, and made to retreat in the utmost disorder. The Confederates had on the field about 30,000. Two intelligent prisoners, who were taken, stated that the enemy had from 70,000 to 90,000 picked troops on the ground, and yet they were forced to retreat, and leave the field to the victorious Southerners. Thank God for the bravery of our glorious Southern soldiers!
It will be impossible to give details at present. It must be confessed that the victory was the result of the most desperate, daring and dashing courage of our troops. The Fourth Alabama, Fifth Virginia and Seventh and Eighth Georgia regiments are said to have suffered most in the engagement. Among these, it is with regret we record the loss of Gen. BARTOW, of the Eighth Georgia; Gen. BER, of South Carolina, and Maj. WHEAT, of Louisiana, all mortally wounded. The loss in killed is not very large, while quite a number are wounded. The loss of the enemy, as exhibited on the field, is immense.
SHERMAN's battery of sixteen pieces, and a portion of the Rhode Island battery, are in our possession, and a beautiful battery it is. CUMMINGS' Virginia regiment charged first upon it, and were repulsed, when another regiment came up shooting down every man and capturing the pieces. The Washington Louisiana Artillery took two of the pieces and immediately turned them with deadly fire upon the enemy.
It would be unjust to discriminate among the various regiments, for all did their work-well. Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, Texas, Arkansas, Kentucky, and perhaps little Florida, have united their destinies this day in eternal bonds of friendship scaled in blood. May it ever continue, and strengthen as time shall pass.
It must not be omitted that Capt. DELAWARE KEMPER's Alexandria Battery joined the conflict in the evening and did noble work, as on Thursday last, mowing lanes in the enemy's ranks without the loss of any of their number.
Ex-Gov. SMITH was active in the engagement with the portion of the regiment assigned to him, and elicited the warmest expressions of admiration from Gen. BEAUREGARD.
It is sad to think that the folly of our invaders has caused much grief to the firesides of Southerners, but when it is remembered that the loss is done in the glorious cause of Southern independence, it will be a lasting honor to the families of those who fall in its prosecution.
By the way, Gen. BEAUREGARD must be a man of great and active mind. He was upon the field the whole day, and planned the movements with precision. His horse was shot from under him by a cannon-ball, which shows he was not far from the scene of battle. He was all the while perfectly calm and collected, and seemed to regard the occurrence as a mere incident of war.
Capt. MURRAY and Lieut. H. CLAY WARD, of the Fauquier Guards, lately gotten up, had an important position.
In concluding, I would state that if proper to do so, you will be furnished with details to-morrow-
It may be added, however, as a matter of interest to your readers in this section, that the Alexandria regiment, containing the Alexandria companies, Fairfax Riflemen, Warren Riflemen, Warrenton Riflemen, Emmett Guards, and some others, were engaged in skirmishing with a body of the enemy with a battery on the hill beyond Bull Run. Several of the Old Dominion Rifles were wounded, and young MCDERMOTT killed. It is said the Warren Rifles had one young man wounded, besides which this regiment escaped with little injury to-day.
Gen. BEAUREGARD is delighted with the cool, determined bravery of our Virginia forces, and glories in the Union which is formed with his native gallant South.
Several hundred prisoners of the enemy have been captured and brought to this station to-night.
P.S. -- A gentleman who has just arrived from the field of the battle states that Lieut. CALEB SMITH was badly wounded in the hip, and H. CLAY WARD is probably killed. He received a deadly shot, and seems to be conscious of his condition. He bears it with fortitude and resignation.
Among the prisoners is Gen. WILCOX, late of the Alexandria National command, who was wounded and captured. Lieut. RAMSEY, of the National artillery, is killed. The whole field is covered with the dead and dying of the enemy. Blankets, hats, knapsacks, guns, pistols, &c., lie in thousands over the field. After the retreat of the enemy, the cavalry, about two thousand strong, pursued them for about six miles, cutting down and capturing all the detached parties they could find. The cavalry suffered but little loss. The prisoners all confirm the fact than the very best troops, artillery and other appurtenances of the National. Government were used in the action of to-day, which were defeated and driven from the field.
Gen. BEAUREGARD commanded the Federate troops in person, was in the thickest, of the fight, and rallied his men with an enthusiasm almost unbounded, telling them he was ready to die with them or gain the victory.
Dr. C.E. CHANCELLER was the medical director of the day, and has been doing his utmost to relieve the sufferings of the wounded.
Many trophies have been brought here, and are being sent to all parts of the country. Whole packages of envelopes, with every description of device, and franked by J. HARLAND, and other cheats, were found in the enemy's knapsacks.
Correspondence of the Louisville Courier.
RICHMOND, Tuesday, July 23, 1861.
First, of the battle-ground. This was upon both sides of Bull Run, -- a creek perhaps twenty feet wide, and less than as many inches deep, -- and upon both sides of the road leading to Centreville. Here the enemy appeared after having paid their respects to Fairfax, and the other positions from which our forces, by previous arrangement, had fallen back; and here they encountered a Virginia Brigade, under the command of Gen. LONGSTREET, consisting of the First, Eleventh and Seventeenth Virginia Regiments, two or three companies of the Seventh Louisiana Regiment, Col. HAYS, and the Washington Artillery, of New-Orleans. The South Carolinians and other regiments which from the Advance Division, under Gen. BONHAM, were located within a short distance of the scene, ready, if necessary, at a moment's warning, to cooperate with the Confederate troops engaged.
The object of the enemy was undoubtedly to break our lines and fight the flanks. To this end, SHERMAN's Battery was brought forward, and at a distance of a mile and a half opened a heavy but ineffectual fire, expecting doubtless to make a breach in our ranks through which their infantry might enter and open a general battle. They were gallantly encountered, however, by the Washington Artillery, with six pieces, and in the course of the action, notwithstanding the enemy had thirteen guns, served by United States regulars, the far-famed SHERMAN's Battery was completely silenced and compelled, to return. It is said, however, that we had the advantage of firing up hill, where nearly every shot took effect, whereas the shells and balls of the enemy passed entirely over the heads of our own artillerists, and buried themselves in a mound beyond. Under the cover of this fire, MCDOWELL threw forward his skirmishers, who were soon after followed by the entire attacking column. These took up their position on the banks of Bull Run and in the adjoining fields.
Our own force were stationed immediately opposite, the First Virginia Regiment, Col. MOORE, which, a portion of the day, sustained the brunt of the attack, lying flat upon their faces, and firing from the ground. It is said that at one time they were so close that the smoke from their muskets enveloped each other almost from sight, yet, strange to say, the wounds caused resulted mostly from the fallen fragments of shells, and not from musket balls. The fight did not become general until about 11 o'clock, and did not cease till nearly 5 P.M., when the enemy finally gave way before the combined fire, and fell back in disorder, leaving the ground strewed with dead and wounded. They were thus repulsed twice during the fight, but each time related to the work and fought with a bravery at which many of our soldiers were surprised.
Once a small party endeavored to cross the stream, but these were completely riddled, with the exception of one individual, who was wounded and taken prisoner. From him it has since been learned that a Pennsylvania regiment was almost completely annihilated, the artillery mowing great lanes through their ranks at every shot, while the infantry dropped them with their small arms by acres at every discharge.
The number of the enemy killed is variously estimated from five hundred to a thousand. One gentleman informs me that he counted more than two hundred bodies within the space of two acres. Certain it is that the enemy, under a flag of truce, were engaged the greater part of yesterday in digging pits and burying them ten and twenty in a bunch. A small cartload of caps and felt hats was picked up on the field since the battle, some of them riddled with balls and saturated with blood. Such was the stench of the decaying bodies, twenty-four hours after the battle, that our men in the neighborhood were obliged to go out and cover them with earth.
RICHMOND, July 24.
An intelligent and reliable gentleman from South Carolina, who had a prominent position on the battle field, says that South Carolina had seven regiments, including Hampton's Legion, in the battle.
These regiments were under a cannonade from sunrise to sunset, but being intrenched suffered but little.
Just before sundown, when the right wing of the enemy gave way, they were ordered to charge a battery on their front, which they executed in a gallantstyle, under the command of Gen. BONHAM, the enemy promptly retiring. These regiments suffered only slightly.
Lieut. DICKINSON, the Adjutant of the independent Battalion from Louisiana, commanded by Major ROBT. WHEAT, is wounded by a Minie ball in his thigh, and is here well attended. He says that out of the 400 of WHEAT's command engaged, less than 100 escaped being either killed or wounded.
Catahoula Guerrillas, belonging to the battalion, fought with desperation.
Lieut. DICKINSON thinks that a large majority of the Guerrillas were either killed or wounded. This company was commanded by Capt. BORHONEPH. They acted as it all was at stake with them. The Captain himself was unhurt.
The Tiger Rifles, Capt. WHITE, of Kentucky, First Lieut. TOM. ADRAIN, becoming disgusted with their Mississippi rifles, (without bayonets,) when ordered to charge, threw away their rifles and charged with their knives, as the enemy say, like demons, and put all to flight before them.