.MTEyMA.MTcwMg

[Pg 13]

Lieut McDonald inclined me to suppose this must be one of our regiments also, but Colonel Stuart, who had moved forward on my left with his companies of cavalry and the battery of artillery, and established the battery on the ridge near Chinn’s house, opened a flank fire on the regiment I was observing. Thinking it was certainly one of our regiments, I started a message to Stuart with the information, but a second ball or shell from the battery, passing a few steps in front of me, caused the regiment to retire rapidly, when I saw the Federal flag unfold, and discovered my mistake. I immediately ordered my command forward and it advanced to the crest of the ridge. All this occurred in less time than it has taken me to tell it. On reaching the crest of the ridge, we came in view of the Warrenton Pike and the plains beyond, and now saw he enemy’s troops in retreat across, and beyond the pike.

    my troops were advancing to this ridge 

When Hays’ regiment was being formed, a company belonging to Kershaw’s or Cash’s regiment of Bonham’s brigade, which had been on picket when those two regiments moved to the battle field in advance of me, came up, having failed to find its proper regiment, and joined Hay’s regiment, continuing with it through the day.

When Hay’s and Kemper’s regiments advanced, Colonel Barksdale, under a misapprehension of my orders, had not at first moved, but he followed in the rear, and the whole brigade was [rest of line on scan cut off]

[Pg 14]

of the ridge. We were now on the extreme left of

            our

the whole of ^ infantry, and in advance of the main line. The only troops on our left, were Stuarts two companies

                                                                                                                             latter 

of cavalry and the battery of artillery with him, which ^ was under the command of Lieutenant Beckham. On my immediate right was Elzey’s brigade. My troops were now very much exhausted by their long march, especially Hays’ regiment which had been marching nearly all the morning, and it was necessary to give them a little time to breathe. Beck= ham’s guns had continued firing on the retreating enemy, and Stuart soon stared in pursuit followed by Beckham. Colonel Cocke with the 19th Va. regiment came up and joined me here. As soon as my men had rested a few moments, I ordered the brigade to advance in column of divisions in the direction we had seen the enemy retiring, and I sent information to the troops on my right of my purpose to move in their front, with the request not to fire on us. We moved forward followed by Colonel Cocke, crossing the Warrenton Pike to the

                                           small 

north side. When we got into the valley of a ^ stream before crossing the Pike, we lost sight of the enemy, and on ascending to the plains beyond we could see nothing of him. Passing to the North and west of the houses ^ of known as the Dogan House, the Stone Tavern, and the Carter or Pittsylvania house, and being guided by the abandoned haversacks, muskets, and

[Pg 15]

accoutrements, we moved over the ground on which the fight had begun with Evans in the morning, and con= tinued our march until we had cleared our right en= tirely. We had now got to a place where Bull Run makes a considerable bend to the north above stone bridge, and I halted as we had not observed any movement from the main line. Nothing could be seen of the enemy, and the country was entirely unknown to me. The enemy had scattered so much after leaving the field that it was impossible for me to tell which route he had taken. Col Cocke separated from my command and moved towards a ford above, and Stuart and Beckham also crossed above me.

While I was engaged making some observations and trying to find out what was going on, President Davis, accompanied by several gentlemen, rode to where my com= mand was. He addressed a few remarks to each regi= ment and was received with great enthusiasm. I then informed him of the state of things as far as I knew them, and asked him what I should do under the circumstances. He said he thought I had better form my command in line near where it was, and let the men rest until I received further orders. I requested him to inform Generals Johnston and Beau= regard of my position, and ask them to send me in= structions. While we were conversing, we observed some troops at a distance below, across Bull Run, moving [ portion of line cut off on scan] order. These troops

[Pg 16]

proved to be Kershaw’s and Cash’s regiments of Beckham’s brigade, which moved in pursuit of the enemy

    a short

for some distance. When the President left me, I moved my brigade further into the bend of the stream, and formed it in line across the bend with the flanks resting near the Run. In this position it remained during the night.

My men were considerably exhausted and had had nothing to eat since the early morning.

The troops immediately in my front near Chinn’s house, constituted the enemy’s extreme right, and were composed in part of the command of regulars attached to McDowell’s army. These latter were armed with long-range rifles or muskets, and were therefore enabled to inflict more loss on my command, which loss amounted to a little over 60 in killed and wounded, the greater part being in Kemper’s regiment. I am satisfied that little or no loss was inflicted on the enemy by my command, as our muskets were smooth-bore and short-range, and the enemy retired before we got in effective range.

As soon as it was night, I rode with my Adjutant General, Captain Gardner, to try and find the Lewis house, thinking probably that I would find General Beauregard’s head-quarters established at that place. Not knowing the woods, I had to take the circuitous route over which

[Pg 17]

we had marched during the battle and directly after, but I finally reached the Lewis house to find it a hospital.

Receiving no information of the information of the whereabouts of either General Beauregard or General Johnston, I concluded to ride to Manassas to advise the Generals of my position and receive instructions for the morning, but, after riding some distance in that direction, I met an officer coming from the Junction who stated that neither of the Generals was there, so I concluded to ride back and wait until morning. I then got back to the point at which I had left my brigade after 12 o’clock at night, and had to

     my

make ^ bed out of a bundle of wheat.

While engaged in the effort to find General Beauregard’s headquarters for the night, I discerned that there was very great confusion among our troops, that had been engaged in the fight. I found regiments sep= erated from their brigades, & companies from their regi= ments, while many squads and individuals were seeking their commands. It was very appa= rent that the victory had very considerably de= moralized our troops.

Very early the next morning, Capt Gardner rode to Manassas for instructions, and returned with directions from General Beauregard for me to remain where I was until further orders, and to make my men as comfortable as possible.

I [now?] rode over the battle field and to the