BULL RUN". 



77 



kept up. The howitzers then threw some grape 

 shot into the timber, when a terrific series of 

 volleys of musketry was discharged from the 

 woods upon the troops outside. At the same 

 time a battery opened from an elevation in the 

 rear, and poured a storm of grape and canister 

 at the Federal troops. Fortunately the fire was 

 aimed too high, and few outside the woods 

 wore hit. A retreat was now ordered, and the 

 whole brigade retired, and formed behind their 

 battery on the hill. In doing this, the Twelfth 

 !N*ew York and a portion of the First Massa- 

 chusetts broke ranks and scattered in different 

 directions for some distance on their retreat. 



At this time the third brigade, under Colo- 

 nel Sherman, came up, headed by the Sixty -ninth 

 New York. The fire was now reopened from the 

 battery, and continued about an hour, to which 

 the enemy's battery vigorously replied. Their 

 shot and shells struck the houses in front of the 

 battery, and raked the woods in the rear for a 

 considerable distance. A retreat was then or- 

 dered by General McDowell, who had come up, 

 and the" entire force fell back, having suffered a 

 loss of one hundred killed and wounded. 



This reconnoissance developed a degree of 

 strength and preparation on the part of the 

 enemy, greater than had been anticipated. 

 During the day the centre and left wings came 

 up. and the whole force was concentrated at 

 Centreville. 



The next two days were passed by the Fed- 

 eral force in strengthening its position. Mean- 

 time the Cominander-in-Chief was occupied in 

 obtaining mqre accurate knowledge of the posi- 

 tion and strength of the enemy, and arranging 

 his plans for an attack. The result of these re- 

 connoitrings is shown in the order of battle 

 subsequently issued. 



Meanwhile it would appear that an attack 

 upon the Federal forces was contemplated by 

 the Commander of the Confederate army. 

 Probably he was anticipated by the attack of 

 General McDowell. This appears from docu- 

 ments found in the camp at Manassas, after its 

 evacuation by the Confederate force early in 

 1862. One of these papers contains the plan 

 of battle, and shows by the details that the 

 Confederate force was not inferior to that of 

 the Federal army. It is as follows : 



[CONTIDESTIAL.] 



HEAXMJUAETEBS Asstr OF POTOMAC, ) 

 July 20, 1361. \ 



SPECIAL ORDER NO. . 



The following order is published for the information 

 of division andlmgade commanders : 



1. Brigadier-General Swell's brigade, supported by 

 General Holmes' brigade, will march via Union Mills 

 Ford and place itself m position of attack upon the ene- 

 my. It will be held in readiness either to support 

 the attack upon Centreville, or to move in the direction 

 of Santer's Cross Roads, according to circumstances. 

 The order to advance will be given by the Commander- 

 in-Chief. 



2. Brigadier-General Jones' brigade, supported by 

 Colonel Earl's brigade, will march via McLane's Ford 

 to place itself in position of attack upon the enemy on 

 or about the Union Mills and Centreville road." It 

 will be held in readiness either to support the attack 



on Centreville, or to move in the direction of Fairfax 

 Station, according to circumstances, with its right 

 flank towards the left of Swell's command, more or 

 less distant, according to the nature of the country and 

 attack. The order to advance will be given by the 

 Commander-in -Chief. 



3. Brigadier-General Longstreet's brigade, supported 

 bv Brigadier-General Jackson's brigade, will march 

 via McLane's Ford to place itself in position of attack 

 upon the enemy on or about the Union Mills and Cen- 

 treville roads. It will be held in readiness either to 

 support the attack on Centreville or to move in the di- 

 rection of Fairfax Court House, according to circum- 

 stances, with its right flank towards the left of Jones' 

 command, more or less distant, according to the nature 

 of the country. The order to advance will be given by 

 the Commander-in-Chief. 



4. Brigadier-General Bonham's brigade, supported 

 by Colonel Bartow's brigade, will march via Mitchell's 

 Ford to the attack of Centreville. The right wing to 

 the left of the third division, more or less distant, ac- 

 cordinw to the nature of the countrv and of the attack. 

 The order to advance will be given by the Commander- 

 in-Chief. 



5. Colonel Cooke's brigade, supported by Colonel 

 Elzy's brigade, will march, via Stone Bridge and the 

 fords on the right thereof, to the attack of Centre- 

 ville. The right wing to the left of the fourth divi- 

 sion, more or less distant, according to the nature of 

 the country and of the attack. The order to advance 

 will be given by the Commmnder-in-Chief. 



6. Brigadier-General Bee's brigade, supported by 

 Colonel Wilcox's brigade, Colonel Stuart's regiment 

 of cavalry, and the whole of "Walton's battery, will 

 form the reserve, and will march via Mitchell's Ford, 

 to be used according to circumstances. 



The light batteries will be distributed as follows : 



1. To Brigadier-General EwelFs command Captain 

 Walker, six~pieces. 



2. To Brigadier-General Jones' Captains Albertis 

 and Stanwood's batteries, eight pieces. 



3. To Brigadier-General Lonsretreet's Colonel Pen- 

 dleton's and Captain Imboden's batteries, eight pieces. 



4. To Brigadier-General Bonham's Captains Kem- 

 per's and Shields' batteries, eight pieces. 



5. To Colonel Cooke's Colonel Hemton's and Cap- 

 tains Latham's and Beckwith's batteries, twelve pieces. 



Colonel Radford, commanding cavalry, will detail to 

 report immediately, as follows : 



To Brigadier-General Ewell, two companies cavalry. 



To Brigadier-General Jones, two companies cavalry. 



To Brigadier-General Longstreet, two companies 

 cavalry. 



To Brigadier-General Bonham, three companies car- 

 airy. 



To Colonel Cooke, the remaining companies of cav- 

 alry, except those in special service. 



9. The fourth and fifth divisions, after the fall of 

 Centreville, will advance to the attack of Fairfax 

 Court House via the Braddock and Turnpike roads, to 

 the north of the latter. The first, second, and tltird 

 divisions will, if necessary, support the fourth and 

 fifth divisions. 



10. In this movement the first, second, and third 

 divisions will form the command of Brigadier-General 

 Holmes. The fourth and fifth divisions, that of the 

 second hi command. 



The reserve will move upon the plains between 

 Mitchell's Ford and Stone Bridge, and, together with 

 the fourth and fifth divisions, will be under the im- 

 mediate direction of General Beauresard. 



By command of General BEAUREGARD. 



THOMAS JORDAN, A. A. Adjutant-General. 



SPECIAL ORDER NO. . 



HEAD-QCAETEES ARMY OF THK POTOMAC, (. 

 July 20, 1S61. ) 



The plan of attack given by Brigadier-General Beau- 

 regard, in the above order, "is approved, and will be 

 executed accordingly. 



J. E. JOHNSTON, General C. S. A. 



