The second battle of Bull Run, as connected with the Fitz-John Porter Case. A paper read before the Society of ex-army and navy officers of Cincinnati, February 28, 1882

Front matter

in 2011 witli funding from

THE

SECOND BATTLE

Table Of Contents

I. Introductory .....

II. March from Warrenton Junction .

III. Discrepancies in Testimony

I

Gexeral : Colonel Marshall reports that two batteries have come down in the woods on our right, toward the railroad, and two regiments of infantry on the road. If this be so, it will be hot here in the morning.

Geo. W. Morell, Major-General.

To General Porter.

(This was returned to Morell endorsed as follows:)

II

Move the infantry and everything behind the crest and conceal the guns. We must hold that place and make it too hot for them. Come the same game over them they do over us, and get your men out of sight.

F. J. Porter.

- CoL MarshaU's testimony on page 115 fixes the time of his information to Morell, which must have preceded all these, as between three and four p. m.

III. General Porter: I can move everything out of sight but

Hazlitt's battery. Griffin is supporting it, and is on its

right, principally in the pine bushes. The other batteries

and brigades are retired out of sight. Is this what you

mean by every thing?

Geo. W. Morell, Major-General.

(Indorsed as follows:)

IV

General Morell: I think you can move Hazlitt's battery, or the most of it, and post him in the bushes with the others, so as to deceive. I would get every thing, if pos-sible, in ambuscade. All goes well with the other troops.

F. J. P.

V

General Morell : Tell me what is passing, quickly. If the enemy is coming, hold to him, and I will come up. Post your men to repulse him.

F. J. Porter, Major-Genera!.

VI

General Morell: Push over to the aid of Sigel, and strike in his rear. If you reach a road up w^hich King is moving, and he has got ahead of you, let him pass; but see if you can not give help to Sigel. If you find him retiring move back toward Manassas, and should necessity require it, and you do not hear from me, push to Centerville. If you find the direct road filled, take the one via Union Mills, which is to the right as you return.

F. J. PORTER. Major-General.

Look to the points of the compass for Manassas.

VII

General Morell: Hold on, if you can, to your present place. What is passing? F. J. Porter.

VIII

General Porter: Colonel Marshall reports a movement in front of his left. I think we had better retire. No infantry in sight, and I am continuing the movement.

Stay where you are, to aid me if necessary. Morell.

IX

General Morell: I have all within reach of you. I wish you to give the enemy a good shelling without wasting ammunition, and push at the same time a party over to see what is going on. We can not retire while McDowell holds his own. F. J. P.

X

General Morell: I wish you to push up two regiments supported by others, preceded by skirmishers, the regiments at intervals of 200 yards, and attack the section of artillery opposed to you. The battle works well on our right, and the enemy are said to be retiring up the pike. Give the enemy a good shelling as our troops advance.

F. J. Porter, Major-General Commanding.

XL

General Morell: Put your men in position to remain during the night, and have out your pickets. Put them so that they will be in position to resist any thing. I am about a mile from you. McDowell says all goes well, and we are getting the best of the fight. I wish you would send me a dozen men from that cavalry.

F. J. Porter, Major-General.

Keep me informed. Troops are passing up to Gainesville, pushing the enemy. Ricketts' has gone, also King.^

5. REPORTS OF U. S. OFFICERS EXTRACTS.

Major-Genreal Heintzelman :

"At 10 A. M. I reached the field of battle, a mile from Stone Bridge on the Warrenton Turnpike. General Kearney's division had proceeded to the right and front. I learned that General Sigel was in command of the troops then engaged. At 11 a. m. the head of Hooker's division arrived. General Reno an hour later.

The firing continued some time after dark, and when it ceased, we remained in possession of the battle-field."

Brigadier-General Schenck. {He being disabled by a wound, his report was made by Colonel Cheesebrough, his

Adjutant- General. )

" It was at this time, one or two o'clock, that a line of skirmishers were observed approaching us from the rear, they proved to be of General Reynolds. We communicated with General Reynolds at once, who took his position on our left, and at General Schenck's suggestion he sent a battery to our right in the woods for the purpose of flanking the enemy. They secured a position, and were engaged with him about an hour, but with what result we were not informed. Gen-

-The order of these dispatches is that iu wliich they were arranged by General Morell iu his testimony. None of them have the hour noted upon theni.

eral Eeynolds now sent us word that lie had discovered the enemy bearing down upon his left in heavy columns, and that he intended to fall back to the first woods behind the cleared space, and had already put his troops in motion. We therefore accommodated ourselves to his movement."

Brigadiek-General Eeynolds. {Sujyplemental report referring to Colonel Ckeesebrour/h.)

" I sent no word to General Schenck of the kind indicated in this paper of the movement of the enemy at 'the time this change of position was made, nor at any time. There was a report came later in the evening that the enemy were moving over the pike, but I am not aware that I communicated it to General Schenck, as at that time I had no connection with him."

Colonel Cheesebrough. {Explanatory of foregoing.)

" General Reynolds did not communicate directly with General Schenck, as it would appear from my report, but the information was received through Colonel McLean who told General Schenck that General Eeynolds had informed him that 'the enemy was bearing down, etc., and that he (Eeynolds) intended to fall back, and has actually commenced the movement.' Colonel McLean wished to know if he should act accordingly. General Schenck directed him to accommodate himself to General Eeynolds' movements."

6. REPORTS OF CONFEDERATE OFFICERS EXTRACTS.

General E. E. Lee. Official Report.

" Longstreet entered the turnpike near Gainesville, and moving down toward Groveton, the head of his column came upon the field in rear of the enemy's left, which had already

APPENDIX. Sy

opened with artillery upon Jackson's right, as previously described. He immediately placed some of his batteries in position, but before he could complete dispositions to attack, the enemy withdrew; not, however, without loss from our artillery. Longstreet took position on the right of Jackson, Hood's two brigades, supported by Evans, being deployed across the turnpike, and at right angles to it. These troops were supported on the left by three brigades under General Wilcox, and by a like force on the right under General Kemper. D. R. Jones' division formed the extreme right of the line, resting on the Manasses Gap Railroad. The cavalry guarded our right and left flanks, that on the right being under General Stuart in person. After the arrival of Longstreet, the enemy changed his position, and began to concentrate opposite Jackson's left, opening a brisk artillery fire, which was responded to with effect by some of General A. P. Hill's batteries. Colonel Walton placed a part of his artillery upon a commanding position between Generals Jackson and Longstreet, by order of the latter, and engaged the enemy vigorously for several hours.

"Soon afterwards General Stuart reported the approach of a large force from the direction of Bristow Station, threatening Longstreet's right. The brigades under General Wilcox were sent to re-enforce General Jones, but no serious attack was made, and after firing a few shots the enemy withdrew. While this demonstration was being made on our right, a large force advanced to assail the left of Jackson's position, occupied by the division of General A. P. Hill. The attack was received by his troops with their accustomed steadiness, and the battle raged with great fury. .....

"While the battle was raging on Jackson's left. General Longstreet ordered Hood and Evans to advance, but before the order could be obeyed, Hood was himself attacked, and his command at once became warmly engaged. General Wilcox was recalled from the right and ordered to advance on Hood's left, and one of Kemper's brigades, under Colonel Hunton, moved forward on his right."

General James Lo^'GSTREET. Official Report.

" On approaching the field some of Brig.-Gen. Hood's batteries were ordered into position, and his division was deployed on the right and left of the turnpike, at right angles with it, and supported by Brig.-Gen. Evans' brigade. Before these batteries could open, the enemy discovered our movements, and withdrew his left. Another battery. Captain Stribling's, was placed upon a commanding position to my right, which played upon the rear of the enemy's left, and drove him entirely from that part of the field. He changed his front rapidly so as to meet the advance of Hood and Evans. Their brigades, under General Wilcox, were thrown forward to the support of the left, and three others, under General Kemper, to the support of the right of those commands. Gen. D. R. Jones' division was placed upon the Manassas Gap Eailroad to the right and in echelon with regard to the three last brigades. Colonel Walton placed his batteries in a commanding position between my line and that of General Jackson, and engaged the enemy for several hours in a severe and successful artillery duel. At a late hour in the day, Major-General Stuart reported the approach of the enemy in heavy columns against my extreme right. I withdrew General Wilcox with his three brigades, from the left, and placed his command in a position to support Jones in case of an attack against my right. After some few shots the enemy withdrew his forces, moving them around toward his front, and about four o'clock in the afternoon began to press forward against General Jackson's position. Wilcox's brigades were moved back to their former position, and Hood's two brigades, supported by Evans, were quickly pressed forward to the attack. At the same time Wilcox's three brigades made a like advance, as also Hunton's brigade of Kemper's command."

Gexeral a. p. Hill. Official Report.

" Friday morning, in accordance with orders from General Jackson, I occupied the line of the unfinished railroad, my extreme left resting near Sudley's Ford; my right near the point w^here the road strikes the open field

"The evident intention of the enemy this day was to turn our left and overwhelm Jackson's corps before Longstreet came up ; and to accomplish this, the most persistent and furious onsets were made by column after column of infantry, accompanied by numerous batteries of artillery. Soon my reserves were all in, and up to six o'clock my division, assisted by the Louisiana brigade of General Hays, commanded by Colonel Forno, with an heroic courage and obstinacy almost beyond parallel, had met and repulsed six distinct and separate assaults, a portion of the time the majority of the men being without a cartridge."

Geneeal J. E. B. Stuart. Offi,cial Report.

"The next morning (29th) in pursuance of General Jack- .son's wishes, I «et out again to endeavor to establish communications with Longstreet, from whom he had received a favorable report the night before. Just after leaving the Sudley road, my party was fired on from the wood bordering the road, which was in rear of Jackson's lines, and which the enemy had penetrated with a small force, it was afterward ascertained, and captured some stragglers. They were between General Jackson and his baggage, at Sudley.

I met with the head of General Longstreets column between Havmarket and Gainesville, and then communicated to the Commanding General, General Jackson's position and the enemy's. I then passed the cavalry through the column so as to place it on Longstreet's right flank, and advanced directly toward Manassas, while the column kept directly down the pike to join General Jackson's right. I selected a fine position for a battery on the right, and one having been sent to me, I tired a few shots at the enemy's supposed position which induced him to shift his position.

General Kobertson, who, with his command, was sent to reconnoiter further down the road toward Manassas, reported the enemy in his front. Upon repairing to that front, I found that Rosser's regiment was engaged with the enemy to the left of the road, and Robertson's videttes had found the enemy approaching from the direction of Bristow station toward Sudley. The prolongation of his line of march would have passed through my position, which was a very fine one for artillery as well as observation, and .struck Longstreet in flank. I waited his approach long enough to ascertain that there was at least an army corps, at the same time keeping detachments of cavalry dragging brush down the road from the direction of Gainesville, so as to deceive the enemy (a ruse which Porter's report shows was successful), and notified the Commanding General, then opposite me on the turnpike, that Longstreet's flank and rear were seriously threatened, and of the importance to us of the ridge I then held. Immediately upon the receipt of that intelligence, Jenkins', Kemper's and D. R. Jones' brigades and several pieces of artillery were ordered to me by General Longstreet, and, being placed in position fronting Bristow, awaited the enemy's advance. After exchanging a few shots with rifled pieces, this corps withdrew toward Manassas, leaving artillery and supports to hold the position till night."

General J. E. B. .Stuakt. Memoranda made part of his report.

''Friday, August 29th. As General Stuart rode forward, toward Groveton, about ten o'clock a. m., he found the enemy's sharpshooters had penetrated the woods, going toward the ambulances and train, threatening to cut them off. He at once directed Captain Pelham, of the Stuart Horse Artillery, who was near by, to shell the woods, and gather up all the stragglers around the train and drive back the enemy, notifying General Jackson in the meantime of what was transpiring. .........

'' General Stuart also sent Colonel Baylor, who was near the railroad embankment, in command of the Stonewall brigade,

etc Having ordered Captain Pelham to

report to General Jackson, General Stuart went toward Haymarket to establish communication with Generals Lee and Longstreet, accompanied by Brigadier-General Robert.son, with a portion of his, and a portion of General F. Lee's cavalry."

Gexeral JuBAL A. Early (of Jackson's command). Official Report.

" Early next morning (August 29th), the division was formed on a ridge perpendicular to the railroad track, with the right resting on the Warrenton turnpike and facing toward Groveton. In a .short time thereafter, I received an order from General Jackson to move, with my own and Hays' brigade, to a ridge west of the turnpike and the railroad track, so as to prevent the enemy from flanking our forces on the right, a movement from the direction of Manassas indicating that purpose having been observed. When this corps (Longstreets) had advanced .sufficiently far to render it unnecessary for me to remain longer in my position, or for the Thirteenth and Thirtv-first reg-iments to remain where they were, I recalled them and moved to the left for the purpose of rejoining the rest of the division.

" I found General Lawton, with his brigade, in the woods, not far from the position at which I had been the evening before, but formed in line so as to be parallel to the railroad, Trimble's brigade being posted on the railroad cut, on the right of our line as thus contracted. I was ordered by General Lawton to form my brigade in line in rear of his brigade, and Colonel Forno was directed to form on my right.

" Shortly after this the enemy began his attempts to drive our troops from the line of the railroad, and about half-past three, P. M., Colonel Forno was ordered to advance to the frojit by General Jackson, to the support of one of General A. P. Hill's brigades."

Gexeral C. M. Wilcox. Official Report.

" Hopewell Gap is about three miles from Thoroughfare Gap, being connected with the latter on the east by two roads, one of which is impracticable for wagons. The enemy had been at this pass during the day, but retired before night, thus giving us a free passage. Early the following morning our march was resumed, and the command rejoined at half-past nine A. M., the remainder of the division at the intersection of the two roads leading from the gaps above mentioned.

Pursuing our line of march together with the division, we passed by Gainesville and, advancing some three miles beyond, my three brigades were formed in line of battle on the left and at right angles to the turnpike. Having advanced near three-quarters of a mile, we were then halted. The enemy was 'in our front and not far distant. Several of our batteries were placed in position on a commanding eminence to the left of the turnpike A cannonading ensued, and continned for an hour or two, to which the enemy's artiHory replied

" At half-past four or five p. m., the tliree brigades were moved across to the right of the turnpike, a mile or more, to the Manassas Gap Railroad. While here musketry was heard to our left, on the turnpike. This firing continued with more or less vivacity till sundown. Now the command was ordered back to the turnpike, and forward on this to the support of General Hood, who had become engaged with the enemy and had driven him back some distance, inflicting severe loss upon him, being checked in his successes by the darkness of the night."

Major S. H. Hairstox, (Stuart's cavalry). Official Report.

Gainesville, August 29, 1862, 8 p. m. *' To Colonel Chilton, Assistant Adjutant-General:

" In obedience to General Lee's order I started this morning at eight o'clock with one hundred and fifty cavalry to go to Warrenton, * to find out if any of the enemy's forces were still in the vicinity of that place.' I went from Thoroughfare to the right on a by-road, which took me into the Winchester road two miles below Warrenton, and came up to the rear of the town. I inquired of the citizens and persons I met on the way, but could not hear that any of their forces were in the vicinity of that place. They informed me that the last left yesterday in the direction of Gainesville and Warrenton Junction."

7. ORAL TESTIMONY.

PASSAGES REFERRED TO IN THE TEXT. EXTRACTS.

W. L. B. Wheeler (Citizen). Record, Vol 3, pp. 1109-11.

Q. Did Bethlehem church have a spire on it on the 29th

of August, 1862? A. It never has had since I have known it. Q. How long have you known it ? A. I suppose I have known it since I was eight years old. I went to school there

Q. Relative to Bethlehem church, when did the walls fall in of that structure ? A. 1 could not say when, because I did not see it until the spring of 1862. I did not even know that of my own knowledge, but I understood that the Southern soldiers had taken the inside woodwork in building their winter-quarters. Q. When did it fall in? A. During the winter. Q. During the winter of 1862 ? A. Yes. I can not say the exact month or week that they commenced taking timbers from the house. It was a very old frame building.

John" T. Leachmax (Citizen). Record, Vol. 3, j9jd. 1115-6.

Q. I did not recollect whether you testified about Bethlehem church on your former examination? A. I did not; I do not think. Q. Did Bethlehem church ever have a spire to it ? A. No, sir. Q. Or a belfry ? A. No, sir. . . . , Q. Of what material was it? A. The house was built of brick

Q. What is that hill at ]\Ionroe's called? A. I never heard it called any thing but Monroe's hill, until since the war I have heard it called frequently Stuart's Hill. Q. How long after the war did you hear it called that ? A. Really, I could not say ; very frequently. I reckon that very soon after the war it was called Stuart's Hill. Q. Never heard a reason ascribed for it? A. Yes, I did. I heard that Stuart was on that hill during the 29th, and I think the family of Monroe, from that circumstance, called it Stuart's Hill. It is a short distance from Monroe's house."

GexePvAl Orlaxdo M. Poe (U. S. Engineers). Vol. 2, jjp. 579-80.

" We formed between the ^latthews house and the road — our left resting on the road — formed in line of battle and moved directly forward, our left touching the road, toward Bull Run, nearly due north. We continued that movement until we crossed Bull Run, or at least a portion of the brigade; two regiments did not cross; advanced some distance to the north of Bull Run, two or three hundred yards, perhaps ; and after perhaps an hour there, we were recalled. Or at least from the time that we got across untibwe got back, was perhaps an hour. . . Q. What was your

position at that time in reference to the rest of General Pope's army? A. The extreme right flank, so far as I know; the

right flank of the infantry, certainly Q. What

time do you fix it to have been in the morning that that artillery opened on you when in that advanced position? A. About eleven o'clock, I should think. I assume it at that ; I did not look at my watch. Q. Nearer ten or nearer twelve? A. I should say about eleven. That is an estimate I made some years ago and put in writing at that time. I see no reason to change it.

CtEXERAL Samuel P. Heixtzelman, Commanding Third Army Corps. Vol. 2,]). 604. ,

Q. Did you keep a diary of events that transpired? A. Yes, I carried a memorandum book in my pocket, and I made a note of every thing that was brought to me that I supposed would be of use to me in making my reports. Q. When did you make these notes? A. On the spot, during the day.

(Extracts from diary read) ... At ten a. m. reached the field, a mile from the Stone Bridge. Firing going on, and 1 called upon General Sigel. General Kearney was at the right. Part of General Hooker's division I sent to support some of Sigel's troops. General Hooker got up about

11 A. M. General Eeno nearly an hour later. Soon after General Pope arrived — about quarter to two. I rode to the old Bull Eun battle-field where my troops were. The enemy we drove back in the direction of Sudley Church, and they are now making another stand. We are hoping for McDowell and Porter."

Colonel Samuel N. Benjamin, Assistant Adjutant- General, United States Army. Vol. 2, pp. 606-608.

Q. What rank did you hold and command on the 29th of August, 1862? A. I was first lieutenant in the Second United States Artillery, in command of battery E. I got into action, as near as I can recollect, a little after twelve o'clock ; but 1 can not be very certain of the hour. Q. With what command were you on duty at that time? A. I went up there with Stevens' division,"^ and before I got into action I was ordered to report to Sigel ; I reported to General Schenck. I am not sure that I saw General Sigel at all. I went to my battery, and got it on the road, and brought it back and put it in position on the ridge, just this side of Groveton, about 200 yards from the house. . . Soon after that the enemy opened fire upon me ; they lay on a ridge. I did not see any of their men to the left of the pike, but on the right, according to my recollection, there w^ere eighteen guns, ranging from 1,000 to 1,100 yards, about 1,500 yards from me. . Q. About what time did

you take that position ? A. As near as I can recollect, half-past twelve. Q. At that time every thing was very still? A. Very still at the time I got up there. I had heard firing before. Q. How long did it remain still? A. About an hour or more, then I got engaged myself. Q. How long did

-Stevens' division was in Reno's ninth corps. ■* you remain at that point? A. I must have remained at that point over three hours; then I went on the road to near the Stone house. I had suffered very heavily in men and material, and I re-organized my battery.

General Egbert C. Schenck, Commanding Division SigeVs Corps. Vol. 3, pp. 1008, 1012.

Q. Where was that (your) division early on the morning of that day, August 29th. A. We were upon the hills below Bull Run, up in the neighborhood of Young's Creek. Q. What formation was your division in 1 A. 1 had Stahel's brigade upon the right, and McLean's brigade to the left, moving along south of and parallel to the turnpike. Q. At what time of day did you reach your farthest point in advance? A. I think it must have been somewhere about the middle of the day, perhaps a little earlier than the middle of the day. Q. Did you see General Reynolds' division during that day ? A. No, but I understood he was off on my left. Q. Did you see General Reynolds himself during the morning or afternoon? J.. No, I think not; I don't recollect. Q. How far did you get beyond the Gibbon woods, in which the wounded of the night before were? A. I don't know that we got beyond the Gibbon woods. My remembrance is that the farthest point we reached was somewhere about the west edge of the Gibbon wood — that is, the wood in which Gibbon's troops were engaged the night before. W(^ found there his wounded, and the evidence of the battle that had taken place. . , . Q. At what time did you

quit, with your division, this Gibbon wood? A. I should think, to the best of my recollection, somewhere between one and three o'clock. I don't think I can be more positive than that. My recollection is that it was sometime after noon. Q. To what point did you then go with your division? 7

A. In consequence of reports made to me in reference to the movements of General Reynolds, I thought it best for me to fall back, and I came into a strip of woods which I suppose to be these. (South of the 'ville' in 'Gainesville' on Warren's map.) I formed in line of battle near the west edge of that woods. There we lay most of the afternoon. Q. With reference to your advanced point, where were you at the time Benjamin was placed where his batteries were? A. That I can not tell. Q. Have you any recollection as to whether you were then in Gibbon's wood? A. I do not recollect. My impression, rather, is that I was not at that time in Gibbon's wood. Q. How long after Benjamin being placed in that position do you think that you reached Gibbon's wood? ^. I can not tell you. Q. How long after that opening fire began with such severity upon Benjamin? A. After he was placed there. Q. Yes? A. I. think he had occupied the position for some little time. Perhaps half an hour or more. He was firing an occasional shot before the enemy seemed to discover his range and position, and concentrated their fire upon him.

General N. C. McLean, Colonel Commanding Brigade SchencFs Division. Vol. 2, pp. 883, 884.

Q. Where were you on that morning (29th) ? A. On the battle-field of Bull Run. Q. What time did you go into action? A. We were ordered quite early in the day, as I supposed at the time on the extreme left of our troops ; we advanced toward the position of the enemy in line of battle, with a very heavy line of skirmishers, the skirmishers engaged more or less as we advanced, sometimes severely, sometimes very lightly, but the opposition to us was not so heavy as to prevent our advance. We advanced slowly and regularly; that was the condition of affairs. We halted at times to examine the position, and then went on again until the afternoon. Quite late in the afternoon we were ordered back into camp. During the day, exactly at what portion of the day I can not now state, General Meade came to me, and said he was ordered to take position on our left ; he was in General Eeynolds' division. General Meade was commanding the brigade. Q. George D. Meade? A. Yes; afterward Commander of the Army of the Potomac. I halted and he came up with his troops; we then went on, and he took position on our left. Some time afterward — the intervals of time I can not give you at all, regulated more by events than time then — General Meade came back with his brigade, saying to me that he had placed a battery, and he had been shelled out of his position by the rebel batteries, and had got into a hornet's nest of batteries; he was then coming back and advised me to do the same. I reported to General Schenck, my division commander, the facts, and in a short time we were ordered back a little distance, and remained there until night-fall. . . Q. How far do you suppose you advanced forward? A. I can not give you an estimate; we were in line of battle the whole time, from the time we moved early in the morning. We moved along for some time before we found any reply to our skirmishers; then it was continuous dropping fire; sometimes it was very severe, and sometimes not severe. We kept advancing very slowly ; occasionally we would halt and skirmish along to find out where we were, and what the enemy were doing, and then advance again. That was kept up all the day until in the afternoon, when General Meade came back ; we did not advance any more after that.