Potomac Crossing Event

Check out Brian Downey’s recap of a recent outing in which participants forded the Potomac in commemoration of the Battle of Shepherdstown.  Good stuff, and thanks, Brian!

#53 – Col. Hiram G. Berry

Report of Col. Hiram G. Berry, Fourth Maine Infantry

O.R.– SERIES I–VOLUME 2 [S# 2] — CHAPTER IX, pp. 420-421

HDQRS. FOURTH REGIMENT MAINE VOLUNTEERS,

Clermont, Va., July 26, 1861

SIR:: I have the honor to report to you my regiment now in quarters at this post. The engagement with the enemy on Sunday, and the long march incident thereto, have exhausted my men, and some time must necessarily elapse before the regiment will be fitted for active duties. As near as can be ascertained, the loss in killed in the engagement at Bull Run consists of two commissioned officers, Lieutenant Clark, of Company G (Wiscasset), and Lieutenant Burd, of Company F. Two commissioned officers wounded, Captain Bean and Lieutenant Huxford. Sergeant-Major Chapman killed; twenty-eight privates killed and thirty-three wounded.(*) This indeed has been an unfortunate affair for this regiment.

I herewith hand you report of wants for regiment, in accordance with order so to do. In doing so, I must beg leave to say that my men have no confidence whatever in the kind of arms with which we are now partially supplied. Had they been properly armed, the result of Sunday’s loss would have been somewhat different. It will take some time to bring the regiment up to that state of confidence in the managers of this war that it had prior to last Sunday’s affair. I mention these things for the reason that a commander should know all the facts material to the efficiency of his command.

Truly, your servant,

H. G. BERRY,

Colonel Fourth Regiment

Col. O. O. HOWARD,

Commanding Brigade

(*) But see division return, p. 405.

Eyes on the Prize

Toshiro Mifune as the Bandit Tajomaru

Sometimes the temptation to regale my reader with the brilliance of my opinion is difficult to resist.  But lately I’ve been trying to keep in mind that this site is more than a web log – in fact, the blog feature is secondary.  First and foremost, I want this to be a source for primary material related to the First Battle of Bull Run.  The WordPress blog platform just happens to be an easy (and cheap) alternative to a traditional web page.  That’s why you’ll notice that, while my posting pace has picked up considerably, I haven’t been putting up much original content.  Not to fear if you’re into that stuff, I’ll get back to it; at least I’ll be writing original articles as much as usual.  But please take time to read the reports and what have you (I’m almost done with the reports, but there’s lots of other good stuff coming); it’s cool to watch the story unfold through the eyes of the participants, in a Rashomon kind of way.

No disrespect to way-cool dudes Steve McQueen and Paul Newman, but was there ever a cooler cat than the one pictured above? (Did you know: Newman played the Mifune role in the American version of Rashomon, The Outrage.)

#52 – Maj. Henry G. Staples

Report of Maj. Henry G. Staples, Third Maine Infantry

O.R.– SERIES I–VOLUME 2 [S# 2] — CHAPTER IX, pp. 419-420

HDQRS. THIRD REGIMENT MAINE VOLUNTEERS,

Clermont, Va., July 27, 1861

SIR: I have the honor to submit the following report of the operation of the regiment under my command, Third Maine Volunteers, at the battle at Bull Run, Sunday, July 21, 1861. My regiment left camp at Centreville at 2.30 o’clock on the morning of the 21st, with the Third Brigade, under your order. After a tedious march, we arrived at Bull Run, to within half a mile of the enemy’s battery. At 2 o’clock p.m. at this place the regiment was halted under cover of the woods in front, to recover from their fatigue. After remaining in this position some fifteen minutes we were ordered into line of battle, and proceeded to engage the enemy. They were marched to the top of the hill, one-fourth of a mile from their resting place, when the enemy’s battery opened upon us from the right with terrible effect. The men stood firm in their position, firing in volleys about twenty rounds with good effect, when they retired to the foot of the hill, reformed, and returned to the encounter. Finding we were wholly unsupported, there being none of our troops in sight and no batteries to assist us, we again retired, after a desperate struggle of about fifteen minutes, under a raking fire from the batteries of the enemy. My regiment retired from the field over the plain, in full-view of the enemy, in good order, but on reaching the woods became somewhat scattered. They soon rallied, however, and marched in retreat at route step to their camp at Centreville.

I would take this opportunity to mention the heroic conduct of several officers of the regiment, and particularly of Capt. E. Burt, of the brigade staff, who met me on the way and tendered his valuable services to act in capacity of adjutant. He deserves the hearty support and good-will of the entire regiment.

Captain Hesseltine, before leaving camp with his company, engaged in prayer, and was heard to say to his men, “Trust in God, stand by the flag, and you will know no fear.” They did stand by one and all, and the captain cared not for his own comfort, but ministered to the wants of the wounded, and conducted a part in safety to the camp.

Captains Sawyer, Heath, Lakeman, and Lieutenants Hatch, Hall, Wiggin, Colson, Johnson, Watson, Savage, and Harvey evinced true courage, kept their positions during the engagement till ordered to retire, and administered to the wants of the suffering.

The report of the killed, wounded, and missing, as far as can be ascertained, is as follows.(*)

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

It is reported that some of the missing have been seen in Washington.

With respect, I have the honor to be, yours,

HENRY G. STAPLES,

Major, Commanding Third Regiment Maine Volunteers

Col. O. O. HOWARD,

Commanding Third Brigade, Third Division, U.S. Army

(*) Embodied in division return, p. 405.

#51 – Col. Oliver O. Howard

Report of Col. Oliver O. Howard, Third Maine Infantry, Commanding Third Brigade, Third Division

O.R.– SERIES I–VOLUME 2 [S# 2] — CHAPTER IX, pp. 417-419

HEADQUARTERS THIRD BRIGADE, THIRD DIVISION,

Bush Hill, four miles from Alexandria, July 26, 1861

SIR: I have the honor to submit the following report of the march, battle, and its results, so far as concerned my brigade, on Sunday, the 21st instant:

The column was formed at 2.30 a.m. in rear of Colonel Willcox’s brigade, about a mile this side of Centreville. Here we waited till the sun was an hour high, when the rear of Colonel Willcox’s column began to move. We followed with the usual haltings along the Warrenton turnpike till we turned into the narrow road to the fight. Here we found General McDowell. As soon as my leading regiment had passed him he halted the brigade. We waited in this place till near noon, when the order to rejoin your division was received. We had marched near a mile, when Captain Whipple met us, and conducted us along the same road that you had passed. We turned to the left, and took a cross road before reaching the road you took.

When we came into the open plain we were met by my brigade quartermaster, Lieutenant Burt, who had preceded us on to the field of battle. He said, ” Colonel Heintzelman orders you to move at double-quick.” I gave the order, and we marched nearly a mile at this pace, when I found the men so much exhausted that they could march so no longer. The rear of the column, having lost distances, moved much of the time at double-quick. The last two miles the head of the column marched at quick time. Many dropped out and fainted from exhaustion.

As soon as we reached the second open space past the hospital for wounded men, your aide met me and ordered that I should move across the plain into the valley to our left, and there form line and march up through the thicket, to support a battery. Captain Fry also reiterated the same instructions. In the manner indicated, I formed the first line, composed of the Fourth Maine, Colonel Berry, and the Second Vermont, Colonel Whiting. This line I marched up the hill. When we cleared the thickets, we found one caisson, and Lieutenant Kirby, with his face covered with blood, on a horse that had been shot through the nose. My line passed this caisson, and just as the Vermont Second gained the crest of the hill the order to fire was given. The Fourth Maine, which was delayed a little by the thicket, then came up into line, and commenced firing. The enemy’s battery on the left, and the one on the right, that soon came into position, with the showers of musket balls from the front, made it rather warm work for new men; but they stood well, or rallied to fire between twenty and thirty rounds per man.

After the first line had been formed, and was well at work, I returned and brought up the second line. A remnant of the Fifth Maine and the Third Maine composed this line. A part of the Fifth had retreated, as near as I can learn, they having been discomfited by our own cavalry and by a cannon ball striking their flank. Major Staples, with the Third Maine, replaced the Vermont Second; the Fourth Maine continued on the field, and the Fifth Maine (what was left–I should judge about the strength of four companies) took the extreme right. Soon this line began to break and fall back, an order for a wing to retire being understood for the whole. Major Nickerson I noticed then. He asked me if I had given the order to retire, and I shook my head. He aided me especially, as he always has done, in rallying the command. Colonel Dunnell said he was entirely exhausted and could hold out no longer. Many officers strove to reform ranks, but we could not under fire, so I gave the order to retire under cover and form. The order to retreat came to my ears before I left the field.

There was very little organization before we reached Centreville, where we halted for an hour. At Centreville I learned that you were to retreat. I marched at the head of my brigade in good order to Fairfax Court-House. Here we lay on our arms till morning, and not being able to ascertain what orders were intended for us from conflicting statements, I continued my march towards Alexandria, halted at Clermont, and were taken to Alexandria by cars sent out for the purpose.

As to conduct on the field, I myself noticed Colonel Berry, Lieutenant-Colonel Marshall, and Major Nickerson, whom I have already noticed; also Major Staples and my quartermaster, Lieutenant Burt, who had volunteered with the Third Maine. They were at their posts and doing their duty. Colonel Whiting was at his post when I left for the second line, and I refer to his report for notice of his field and other officers. They were not wanting. Colonel Dunnell I have previously mentioned. I noticed Major Hamilton trying to rally and encourage his men. I wish particularly to speak of the ready and fearless manner in which my aides, Lieutenants Buel and Mordecai, assisted me.

My brother, Charles H. Howard, gave no little assistance in the midst of danger, and my orderly, John Zantish, followed me closely, fearless of exposure. I shall trust to the commanders of regiments to do justice to the officers and soldiers of their commands. The fallen have given their lives, and deserve the highest praise for their good conduct, which is all we can send of comfort to their stricken families at home. The readiness of these soldiers to sacrifice themselves for their country deserved a better result. God grant it be different in the future.

Herewith please find a list of the killed, wounded, and missing.(*)

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

O. O. HOWARD,

Colonel, Commanding

P. S.–I wish to testify to one thing that I observed on that memorable day and have since ascertained to a greater extent: “The best men in camp are the best in the field.”

C. McKEEVER,

Captain and Assistant Adjutant-General, Washington, D.C.

(*) Embodied in Division Report, p. 405

#50 – Capt. Richard Arnold

Report of Capt. Richard Arnold, Fifth U. S. Artillery

O.R.– SERIES I–VOLUME 2 [S# 2] — CHAPTER IX, pp. 416-417

WASHINGTON, D.C., July 25, 1861

SIR: In compliance with your order, I have the honor to submit the following report of the operations of Light Company D, Second Artillery, in the battle of the 21st instant, at Bull Run:

The brigade to which my battery was attached halted, on arriving to the right and rear of the enemy to rest the men and prepare for action, and the battery was placed under cover in a ravine to await further orders. As soon as the brigades in advance became engaged, I was ordered to place my battery to the left and rear, to guard well that flank, and prevent its being turned and the enemy gaining our rear. Scarcely was this position reached when orders came to move forward as quickly as possible to the support of Captain Ricketts, then warmly engaged in front and in great peril. The pieces were immediately limbered, and the battery run up under whip and spur, and placed in position about eight hundred yards from the enemy’s lines, to support and give confidence to the volunteers. A rapid and incessant fire was kept up for one hour and a half, throwing at least four hundred rounds of shot, shell, spherical case, and some canister, and I was informed did good execution. Their loss from artillery must have been very heavy. During all this time the battery was exposed to a severe and most accurate artillery fire.

Owing to the great loss of horses, the exhaustion of the men, and the fear that I should not be able to bring my pieces off the field, the volunteers supporting me having left the position assigned them very soon after I commenced firing, I was induced, after consultation with my officers, to withdraw to the left and rear, when Lieutenant Barriger was dispatched to Colonel Heintzelman. He returned without finding him. I then, in the absence of any superior officers, moved to the right, where I thought I could be of great service, and at once received orders from Captain Fry to cover the retreat, as I was informed the order to retreat had been given.

During the rest of the day I commanded the left section and brought up the rear, the right section, under Lieutenant Barriger, being in advance of the regular cavalry. At one time a body of the enemy’s cavalry threatened our rear, but two rounds of canister dispersed them, and we were not again threatened until we arrived near Cub Run, when the battery was exposed to a severe flank and enfilading fire from artillery and infantry to a bridge across that stream, which had been destroyed or broken in by the advanced trains and artillery. Seeing at once that it was impossible to push forward or extricate the guns, I gave orders to spike them and clear as many horses as possible. Had my battery not been detailed in the rear, it might have been saved; but it was sacrificed to prevent a total rout and great loss, which would certainly have ensued had not the display of cavalry and artillery given the impression that the Army was retiring in good order.

Too much praise cannot be bestowed upon the officers of my company, Lieutenants Barriger and Throckmorton, for their gallantry and efficiency during the action. The non-commissioned officers and privates all to a man stood to their posts and performed their duties most gallantly.

From fifteen to twenty horses were killed and wounded on the battlefield and at Cub Run.

The following is a list of the killed, wounded, and missing.(*)

I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

RICHARD ARNOLD,

Captain, Fifth Artillery, Comdg. Light Co. D, Second Artillery

To the ACTING ASSISTANT ADJUTANT-GENERAL,

Second Brigade

(*) Embodied in division return, p. 405

#49 – Lieut. Col. Addison Farnsworth

Report of Lieut. Col. Addison Farnsworth, Thirty-eighth New York Infantry

O.R.– SERIES I–VOLUME 2 [S# 2] — CHAPTER IX, pp. 413-416

HDQRS THIRTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT, N. Y. V.,

(SECOND SCOTT LIFE GUARD),

Camp Scott, near Alexandria, Va., July 29, 1861

SIR: In compliance with my duty, I respectfully submit the following report of the operations of my regiment during the recent battle at or near Bull Run, on the 21st July, 1861:

On the morning of the 21st, in obedience to brigade orders, the regiment was formed, the men equipped in light marching order, and prepared to leave its bivouac at or near Centreville. The march, however, was not commenced until 6 o’clock a.m., when the regiment, with others constituting the brigade, advanced towards the scene of future operations.

After a fatiguing march over dusty roads, and at times through dense woods, the men suffering greatly from the intense heat and a great lack of water, and submitting to the same with a true soldierly spirit, the regiment, with others of the brigade, was halted in a field, in full view of the enemy, on the right of his line of intrenchments, and within range of his artillery. After a very brief rest the regiment was formed in line of battle, and ordered by Colonel Willcox, the commandant of the brigade, to advance to a slight eminence fronting the enemy’s batteries and about half a mile distant, to the support of Griffin’s battery, which was then prepared to take up a position at that point. This order was promptly executed, the men, led by yourself and encouraged by the gallantry of their officers, moving forward in gallant style in double-quick time, subjected a greater portion of the way to a terrible and deadly fire of grape and canister and round shot from the enemy’s works on our front and right flank. Arriving at the brow of the eminence in advance of the battery which it was intended to support the regiment was halted, and commenced, in fact, the attack of Colonel Heintzelman’s division on the right flank of the enemy, engaging a large force of his infantry, and by a well-directed fire completely routing an entire regiment that was advancing in good order and driving it into a dense woods in the distance.

After remaining in this position for some time, finding that the enemy’s artillery was telling with fearful effect upon our ranks, subjected as we were to a direct and flank fire from his batteries, the regiment was ordered to retire down a slight declivity, which was done in good order, affording it for a time partial protection from the enemy’s fire.

At this time Griffin’s battery was moving to a position on our right, and the regiment was ordered by Colonel Heintzelman, in person, to advance to its protection. Advancing by the flank under a galling fire, the regiment was halted within supporting distance of Griffin’s battery, which had now opened upon the enemy, and properly formed to resist a threatened attack from the enemy’s cavalry and infantry, which had shown themselves in large numbers on the borders of a grove to the right and front. In this position my regiment, under a spiteful and destructive fire from the enemy’s batteries, remained until forced to retire, and its presence not being deemed requisite because of the fact that Griffin’s battery had been compelled to leave the field. Retiring to a road about one hundred yards distant, my regiment was again formed in line of battle, and under the eye of the commander-in-chief, General McDowell, the men, inspired by his presence upon the field and led by yourself, it dashed gallantly up the hill towards a point where Ricketts’ battery had been abandoned, in consequence of its support, the First Fire Zouaves and First Michigan Regiment, having previously been compelled to retreat in the face of superior numbers and a great loss in their ranks.

Before arriving at the brow of the hill we met the enemy in large force; one of his infantry regiments, apparently fresh upon the field, advancing steadily towards us in line of battle. A large number of the men of this regiment had advanced in front of their line, and had taken possession of Ricketts’ battery, and were endeavoring to turn the guns upon us. A well-directed and destructive fire was immediately opened upon the enemy by my regiment and a portion of another that had rallied on our left (I think the Fourteenth New York State Militia), and after a sharp conflict he was’ forced to retreat in disorder and with great loss, seeking shelter in the woods from whence he had previously emerged.

The enemy not succeeding in taking with him Ricketts’ battery, which seemed to have been the chief object of his attack, it fell into the hands of my regiment, by whom three of its guns were dragged a distance of three hundred yards, and left in a road, apparently out of the reach of the enemy. Another rally was then again made by my regiment, the gallant men readily responding to the orders of their officers. Advancing in double-quick time to the right and front towards a dense woods, in which the enemy had been concealed in large force during the day, and from which evidences of a retreat were now visible, my regiment, with detached portions of others of our force, became engaged in a sharp and spirited skirmish with the enemy’s infantry and cavalry, and we appeared for a time to have complete possession of the field.

This was the last rally made by my regiment. Suddenly and unexpectedly, the enemy, re-enforced by fresh troops, literally swarming the woods, poured in upon us a perfect shower of lead from his musketry; his batteries reopened upon us with terrible effect, and a panic at this moment seeming to have taken possession of our troops generally, a retreat was ordered, and my regiment in comparatively good order commenced its march towards Centreville, where a greater portion of it arrived about 9 o’clock that night. Here, on the same ground that we had bivouacked previous to the battle, the regiment was halted. After a rest of about two hours it again resumed its march, joining in the general movement made by the Army towards this place. After a forced and wearisome march of seven hours, the men suffering from the great fatigue of the previous fifteen hours, without food for that length of time, with scarcely water enough to moisten their parched tongues, many of them wounded, sick, and otherwise disabled, my regiment, with the exception of about fifty who had straggled from their respective companies and joined the mass that were thronging to the capital, halted at its original camp-ground near Alexandria, the only regiment of the brigade that did so–the only regiment, in fact, that was under fire during the previous day that returned to and occupied their old camp-grounds previous to their advance towards the field of battle. It is with great pride, sir, that I mention this fact, evincing, as it emphatically does, a degree of subordination commendable in any regiment, and reflecting great credit upon the gallant officers and men of my own, particularly under the extraordinary circumstances connected with the occasion.

From the time my regiment was ordered in the field until forced to retire therefrom – a period of four hours – it was almost constantly under fire from the enemy’s batteries and engaged with the infantry; and to your coolness and courage alone during that time, your frequent orders for the men to lie down when the enemy’s fire was the hottest, and your constant efforts to protect them as far as possible at all times, was the regiment saved from presenting a larger number of casualties than its large list now shows.

Of the courage displayed by the men generally on the field during the entire day; of the readiness of the gallant fellows to obey at all times all orders, I cannot speak in too high terms or express in words my admiration. During all my experience in a former campaign and presence on many a battle-field, I have never witnessed greater bravery or moral soldierly requisites than were displayed by the men of my own regiment during the entire battle.

The conduct of the officers generally I cannot speak too highly of. Always at their posts cheering on their men by their soldierly examples, and displaying marked gallantry under the trying circumstances, I acknowledge my inability to do them justice in words. Major Potter was disabled during the early part of the engagement while gallantly performing his duty, and subsequently fell into the hands of the enemy. The brave Captain McQuaide, while cheering on his men, fell from a severe wound in the leg. Lieut. Thomas S. Hamblin, a gallant young officer, also received a wound in his leg while discharging his duty, and he, with the former officer, subsequently fell into the hands of the enemy. Captains McGrath and Allason both received injuries during the engagement, the former by being run down by the enemy’s cavalry (from the effects of which he is now suffering) and the latter by a slight musket-shot. Lieut. John Brady, jr., while bravely participating in the fight, was severely wounded in the arm. Asst. Surg. Stephen Griswold was on the field and under a heavy fire, at all times humanely and fearlessly discharging his duties to the wounded. He and Quartermaster Charles J. Murphy, who was assisting the wounded, were also taken prisoners.

In conclusion, I again assert my inability to do justice to the gallant conduct of the officers generally, and while it would afford me great pleasure to mention the names of many whose conduct fell under my personal observation, I must refrain from doing so, lest by omitting others I should do injustice to many equally as meritorious. Annexed is a list of the casualties in my regiment.(*)

Respectfully submitted.

ADDISON FARNSWORTH,

Lieut. Col., Commanding Thirty-eighth Regiment,

Second Scott Life Guard

Col. J. H. H. WARD,

Comdg. Second Brigade, Third Division, Volunteers

(*) Embodied in division return, p. 405.