President Jefferson Davis to Brig. Gen. Samuel Cooper on Victory

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O. R. – Series I – VOLUME 2 [S #2] CHAPTER IX, p. 987

Manassas, July 21,1861.

General S. Cooper, Adjutant-General, Richmond:

Night has closed upon a hard-fought field. Our forces have won a glorious victory. The enemy was routed and fled precipitately, abandoning a very large amount of arms, munitions, knapsacks, and baggage. The ground was strewn for miles with those killed, and the farm-houses and the ground around were filled with his wounded. The pursuit was continued along several routes towards Leesburg and Centreville, until darkness covered the fugitives. We have captured several field batteries and regimental standards, and one U. S. flag. Many prisoners have been taken. Too high praise cannot be bestowed, whether for the skill of the principal officers or for the gallantry of all the troops. The battle was mainly fought on our left, several miles from our field works. Our force engaged them not exceeding fifteen thousand; that of the enemy estimated at thirty-five thousand.

JEFFERSON DAVIS.

Brig. Gen. Samuel Cooper to Maj. Thomas G. Rhett on Reinforcements and Supplies

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O. R. – Series I – VOLUME 2 [S #2] CHAPTER IX, p. 986

Richmond, July 21,1861.

Maj. Thos. G. Rhett, Manassas Junction, Va.:

Everything is being done that it is possible to do. Trains leave tonight and early to-morrow morning with troops, provisions, and all the ammunition that can be collected. Keep us advised.

S. COOPER,
Adjutant- General.

Maj. Thomas G. Rhett, AAG to Brig. Gen. Joseph E. Johnston, to Brig. Gen. Samuel Cooper on Battle in Progress

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O. R. – Series I – VOLUME 2 [S #2] CHAPTER IX, p. 986

Manassas, July 21,1861.

General S. Cooper, Adjutant-General C. S. Army:

President Davis directs me to say send forward instantly all the troops, ammunition of all kinds, and provisions; the troops and ammunition first. A terrible battle raging. Please answer.

THOS. G. RHETT,
Adjutant-General to General Johnston.

Brig. Gen. Samuel Cooper to Brig. Gen. P. G. T. Beauregard on Withdrawal and Reinforcements

CORRESPONDENCE, ORDERS, AND RETURNS RELATING TO OPERATIONS IN MARYLAND, PENNSYLVANIA, VIRGINIA, AND WEST VIRGINIA FROM APRIL 16 TO JULY 31, 1861

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O. R. – Series I – VOLUME 2 [S #2] CHAPTER IX, p. 983

Richmond, July 19,1861.

General G. T. Beauregard, Comdg., &c., Manassas Junction, Va.:

We have no intelligence from General Johnston. If the enemy in front of you have abandoned an immediate attack and General Johnston has not moved, you had better withdraw call upon him, so that he may be left to his full discretion. All the troops arriving at Lynchburg are ordered to join you. From this place we will send as fast as transportation permits. The enemy is advised at Washington of the projected movement of Generals Johnston and Holmes, and may vary his plans in conformity thereto.

S. COOPER,
Adjutant and Inspector General.

Brig. Gen. Joseph E. Johnston to Brig. Gen. Samuel Cooper on Intent to Move to Manassas

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O. R. – Series I – VOLUME 2 [S #2] CHAPTER IX, p. 982

Headquarters,
Winchester, July 18,1861.

General S. Cooper:

General : I have had the honor to receive your telegram of yesterday. General Patterson, who had been at Bunker Hill since Monday, seems to have moved yesterday to Charlestown, twenty-three miles to the east of Winchester.

Unless he prevents it, we shall move toward General Beauregard today. I am compelled to leave the sick and most of the baggage for want of means of transportation. There are wagons enough to carry but four days’ provisions, but the urgency of the case seems to me to justify a risk of hunger. I am delayed by provision for the care of the sick.

I leave General Carson here with two brigades of Virginia militia, with orders to fall back if the enemy should approach in force.

Respectfully, &c.,

J. E. JOHNSTON

Brig. Gen. P. G. T. Beauregard to Brig. Gen. Samuel Cooper, on Pending Attack of Enemy

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O. R. – Series I – VOLUME 2 [S #2] CHAPTER IX, p. 980

Manassas, July 17,1861.

General Cooper:

I believe this proposed movement of General Johnston is too late. Enemy will attack me in force to-morrow morning.

G. T. BEAUREGARD.

Brig. Gen. Samuel Cooper to Brig. Gen. P. G. T. Beauregard, Authorizing him to Appropriate the 11th [?] North Carolina Infantry

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O. R. – Series I – VOLUME 2 [S #2] CHAPTER IX, p. 980

Richmond, July 17, 1861.

General G. T. Beauregard, Manassas Junction, Va.:

You are authorized to appropriate the North Carolina regiment on its route to General Johnston. If possible, send to General Johnston to say he has been informed, via Staunton, that you were attacked, and that he will join you if practicable with his effective force, sending his sick and baggage to Culpeper Court-House by rail or through Warrenton.

S. COOPER,
Adjutant and Inspector General.

Brig. Gen. Samuel Cooper to Brig. Gen. Theophilus Holmes, Ordering him to Manassas

CORRESPONDENCE, ORDERS, AND RETURNS RELATING TO OPERATIONS IN MARYLAND, PENNSYLVANIA, VIRGINIA, AND WEST VIRGINIA FROM APRIL 16 TO JULY 31, 1861

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O. R. – Series I – VOLUME 2 [S #2] CHAPTER IX, p. 980

Richmond, July 17,1861.

General Holmes, Fredericksburg, Va.:

General Beauregard is attacked. Move with three regiments and a light battery to support him. Replace the troops you withdraw by the militia, leaving Colonel Ruggles in command of the district, directing him to hold his troops in readiness for any emergency.

S. COOPER,
Adjutant and Inspector General.

Brig. Gen. Joseph E. Johnston to Brig. Gen. Samuel Cooper on Enemy Advancing on his Front

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O. R. – Series I – VOLUME 2 [S #2] CHAPTER IX, p. 969

Headquarters,
Winchester, July 9,1861.

[General Cooper?]

General : I was so unwell yesterday as to be unable to write fully, and therefore trusted to the information contained in the note from Colonel Edmundson,* of the correctness of which, in the main, I have no doubt. Similar information from other sources gives me the impression that the re-enforcements arriving at Martinsburg amount to seven or eight thousand. I have estimated the enemy’s force hitherto, you may remember, at 18,000. Additional artillery has also been received. They were greatly superior to us in that arm before.

The object of re-enforcing General Patterson must be an advance upon this place. Fighting here against great odds seems to me more prudent than retreat.

I have not asked for re-enforcements, because I supposed that the War Department, informed of the state of affairs everywhere, could best judge where the troops at its disposal are most required. The arms ordered by Colonel Thomas for the militia are not here yet. The two generals expect some 2,200, but at present we cannot arm them all, and they have their own ammunition to fix, being furnished with powder and lead.

Most of the regiments which have joined since my arrival have incompetent officers, and are therefore still uninstructed.

Most respectfully, your obedient servant,

J. E. JOHNSTON,
Brigadier-General, &c.

*See p. 967 [same volume]

Brig. Gen. Joseph E. Johnston to Brig. Gen. Samuel Cooper on Enemy Advancing on his Front

CORRESPONDENCE, ORDERS, AND RETURNS RELATING TO OPERATIONS IN MARYLAND, PENNSYLVANIA, VIRGINIA, AND WEST VIRGINIA FROM APRIL 16 TO JULY 31, 1861

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O. R. – Series I – VOLUME 2 [S #2] CHAPTER IX, p. 969

Headquarters,
Winchester, July 9, 1861—7 p. m.

General S. Cooper, Adjutant and Inspector General:

General: I have just been informed by Lieutenant-Colonel Stuart, commanding our cavalry, that he has reason to believe that the enemy intends to advance upon us to-night (the distance is but twenty-two miles). The evidences are that it is the belief of the people living near the town, ascertained by his pickets, and that three days’ provisions were issued to-day, and that a United States lieutenant had mentioned it.

We are not prepared beyond the readiness of our men to fight. The field works have not been progressed with far enough to make them useful, and the militia is not provided with fixed ammunition, having received but powder and lead.

Most respectfully, &c.,

J. E. JOHNSTON.