In July,
1861, Abraham Lincoln sent Major General
Irvin McDowell and the Union
Army to take Richmond, the new base
the Confederate government. On 21st July McDowell attacked the forces
of Pierre T. Beauregard near the
stone bridge over Bull Run at Manassas Junction, Virginia. The advance
was blocked by Thomas Stonewall Jackson,
who was described as standing like a "stone wall" against
the enemy.
With the arrival of Confederate troops led by E.
Kirby Smith, the inexperienced Union
Army retreated. Attacked by armies led by Joseph
E. Johnston, James Jeb Stuart, Jubal
Early, and Braxton Bragg, the Union
forces rushed back North. The South had won the first great battle
of the war and the Northern casualties totaled 1,492 with another
1,216 missing.
The battle was witnessed by several members of Congress including
Benjamin Wade, Lyman
Trumbull, James Grimes, and Zachariah
Chandler. At one stage they came close to being captured by the
Confederate Army and after arriving back
in Washington they led the attack
on the incompetence of the leadership of the Union
Army.
(1)
In his autobiography Oliver
Howard described fighting at Bull
Run on 21st July, 1861.
I saw Burnside's men, who had come back from the field with their
muskets gleaming in the sunshine. They had some appearance of formation
and were resting on their arms. I noticed other troops more scattered;
ambulances in long columns leaving the field with the wounded. There
were men with broken arms; faces with bandages stained with blood;
bodies pierced; many were walking or limping to the rear; meanwhile
shells were shrieking and breaking in the heated air. I was sorry,
indeed, that those left of my men had to pass that ordeal.
When forming, I so stationed myself, mounted, that the men, marching
in twos, should pass me. I closely observed them. They were pale and
thoughtful. Many looked up into my face and smiled. As soon as it
was ready the first line swept up the slope, through a sprinkling
of trees, out into an open space on high ground. An enemy's battery
toward our front and some musketry shots with no enemy plainly in
sight caused the first annoyance. Soon another battery off to our
right coming into position increased the danger. And, worse than the
batteries, showers of musket balls from the wood, two hundred yards
away.
Many officers labored to keep their men together, but I saw could
effect nothing under fire. At last I ordered all to fall back to the
valley and reform behind the thicket. Before many minutes, however,
it was evident that a panic had seized all the troops within sight.
Some experienced veteran officers, like Heintzelman, entreated and
commanded their subordinates, by turns, to rally their men; but nothing
could stop the drift and eddies of the masses that were faster and
faster flowing toward the rear.
Captain Heath, of the Third Maine, who, promoted subsequently to lieutenant
colonel and fell in the battle of Gaines Mills, walked for some time
by my horse and shed tears as he talked to me: "My men will not
stay together, Colonel, they will not obey me," he said. Other
brave officers pleaded and threatened. Surgeons staying back pointed
to their wounded and cried: "for God's sake, stop; don't leave
us!" Nothing could at that time reach and influence the fleeing
crowds except panicky cries like: "The enemy is upon us! We shall
be taken!" These cries gave increase to confusion and speed to
flight.
Heintzelman, with his wounded arm in a sling, rode up and down and
made a last effort to restore order. He sharply reprimanded every
officer he encountered. He swore at me. From time to time I renewed
my attempts. My brother, C. H. Howard, if he saw me relax for a moment,
sang out: "Oh, do try again!" Part of the Fourteenth New
York from Brooklyn rallied north of Bull Run and were moving on in
fine shape. "See them," said my brother; "let us try
to form like that!" So we were trying, gathering a few, but in
vain. Then I stopped all efforts, but sent out this message and kept
repeating it to every Maine and Vermont man within reach: "To
the old camp at Centreville. Rally at the Centreville camp."
(2)
Henry Villard reported the battle of
Bull Run in July, 1861, for the New
York Tribune.
When the Unionists resumed their advance, the rebels successfully
resisted their rather desultory attacks at different points. With
every unsuccessful onward attempt there was a rapid melting away of
the assailants. Fewer and fewer officers and men could be rallied
for another advance. Towards four o'clock, the rebels felt strong
enough to take the offensive. A brigade with a battery under Earle
managed to strike the Federal right on the flank and rear and throw
it into utter confusion, which spread rapidly along the whole front.
Now came the disastrous end. Without any formal orders to retreat,
what was left of the several organizations yielded to a general impulse
to abandon the field. Officers and men became controlled by the one
thought of getting as far as possible from the enemy.
(3)
John Singleton Mosby, letter to
his wife after the battle of Bull Run (22nd June, 1861)
There was a great battle yesterday. The Yankees are overwhelmingly
routed. Thousands of them killed. I was in the fight. We at one time
stood for two hours under a perfect storm of shot and shell - it was
a miracle that none of our company was killed. We took all of their
cannon from them; among the batteries captured was Sherman's - battle
lasted about 7 hours - about 90,000 Yankees, 45,000 of our men. The
cavalry pursued them till dark - followed 6 or 7 miles. General Scott
commanded them. I just snatch this moment to write - am out doors
in a rain - will write you all particulars when I get a chance. We
start just as soon as we can get our breakfast to follow them to Alexandria.
We made a forced march to get here to the battle - travelled about
65 miles without stopping. My love to all of you. In haste.
(4)
General Pierre T. Beauregard, report
on the battle of Bull Run (June, 1861)
The conduct of General Jackson also requires mention as eminently
that of an able, fearless soldier and sagacious commander, one fit
to lead his efficient brigade. His prompt, timely arrival before the
plateau of the Henry House, and his judicious disposition of his troops,
contributed much to the success of the day. Although painfully wounded
in the hand, he remained on the field to the end of the battle, rendering
valuable assistance.
(5)
General Joseph E. Johnston, report
on the battle of Bull Run (June, 1861)
Our victory was as complete as one gained by infantry and artillery
alone can be. An adequate force of cavalry would have made it decisive.
It is due under Almighty God, to the skill and resolution of General
Beauregard, the admirable conduct of Generals Bee, Kirby Smith and
Jackson and of the Colonel Evans, Cocke, Early and Elzey, and the
courage, and unyielding firmness of our patriotic volunteers.
(6)
Walt Whitman
was living in Washington when the
Union Army returned after the battle
of Bull Run in July, 1861.
The defeated troops commenced pouring into Washington over the
Long Bridge at daylight on Monday, 22nd July. The day drizzling all
through with rain. The Saturday and Sunday of the battle had been
parched and hot to an extreme - the dust, the grime, and smoke, in
layers, sweated in, their clothes all saturated with the clay-powder
filling the air - stirred up everywhere on the dry roads and trodden
fields by the regiments, swarming wagons, artillery. All the men with
this coating of sweat and rain, now recoiling back, pouring over the
Long Bridge - a horrible march of twenty miles, returning to Washington
baffled, humiliated, panic-struck. Occasionally, a rare regiment,
in perfect order, with its officers (some gaps, dead, the true braves)
marching in silence, with lowering faces, stern, weary to sinking,
all black and dirty, but every man with his musket, and stepping alive;
but these are the exceptions.
(7)
Report on the activities of Matthew Brady
at Bull Run in the Photographic Art Journal (August, 1861)
Brady, the irrepressible photographer, who like the war horse,
sniffs the battle from afar. He got as far as the smoke of Bull Run
and was aiming his nevertheless tube at friends and foe alike, when
with the rest of our Grand Army they were completely routed and took
to their heels, losing their photographic accouterments on the ground,
which the Rebels no doubt pounced upon as trophies of victory. Perhaps
they considered the camera as an infernal machine. The soldiers live
to fight another day, our special friends to make again their photographs.
When will photographers have another chance in Virginia.
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