Summary:
General Joseph E. Johnston commanded the Confederate Armies of the Shenandoah and
of the Potomac, which include the Fifth Virginia Infantry and the First Virginia
Cavalry. Gen. Johnston provides a general summary of the battle and the roles of
differen t officers and units. He is overall very complimentary, and
particularly commends Gens. Beauregard, Bee, E. K. Smith, and Jackson.
Sir
Fairfax Court-House
October 14, 1861
Sir:
I have the honor to submit to the honorable Secretary of War a report of the operations of the troops under my command, which terminated in the battle of Manassas.
I reached Manassas about noon on the 20th, preceded by the Seventh and Eighth Georgia Regiments and by Jackson's brigade, consisting of the Second, Fourth, Fifth, Twenty-seventh, and Thirty-third Virginia Regiments. I was accompanied by Gen. Bee, with the Fourth Alabama, the Second, and two companies of the Eleventh Mississippi. The president of the railroad company had assured me that the remaining troops should arrive during the day. I found Gen. Beauregard's position too extensive, and the ground to o densely wooded and intricate, to be learned in the brief time at my disposal and therefore determined to rely upon his knowledge of it and of the enemy's positions. This I did readily from full confidence in his capacity.
His troops were divided into eight brigades, occupying the defensive line of Bull Run. Brig.-Gen. Ewell's was posted at the Union Mills Ford; Brig. Gen. D. R. Jones' at McLean's Ford; Brig.-Gen. Longstreet's at Blackburn's Ford; Brig.-Gen. Bonham's at Mitchell's Ford; Col. Cocke's at Ball's Ford, some three miles above; and Col. Evans, with a regiment and battalion, formed the extreme left at the stone bridge. The brigades of Brig.-Gen. Holmes and Col. Eearly were in reserve in rear of the right. I regarded the arrival of the remainder of the Army of the Shenandoah during the night as certain, and Patterson's junction with the Grand Army on the 22d as probable.
During the evening it was determined, instead of remaining in the [1]defensive positions then occupied, to assume the offensive and attack the enemy before such a junction. Gen. Beauregard proposed a plan of battle, which I approved without hesitation. He drew up the necessary order during the night, which was approved formally by me at 4.30 o'clock on the morning of the 21st. The early movements of the enemy on that morning and the non-arrival of the expected troops prevented its execution. Gen. Beauregard afterwards proposed a modification of the abandoned plan, to attack with our right while the left stood on the defensive. This, too, became impracticable, and a battle ensued different in place and circumstances from any previous plan on our side.
Soon after sunrise on the morning of the 21st a light cannonade was opened upon Col. Evans' position. A similar demonstration was made against the center soon after, and strong forces were observed in front of it and of the right. About 8 o'clock Gen. Beauregard and I placed ourselves on a commanding hill in rear of Gen. Bonham's left. Near 9 o'clock the signal officer, Capt. Alexander, reported that a large body of troops was crossing the valley of Bull Run some two miles above the bridge. Gen. Bee, who had been placed near Col. Cocke's position, Col. Hampton, with his Legion, and Col. Jackson, from a point near Gen. Bonham's left, were ordered to hasten to the left flank. The signal officer soon called our attention to a heavy cloud of dust to the northwest and about ten miles off, such as the march of an army would raise. This excited apprehension of Gen. Patterson's approach.
The enemy, under cover of a strong demonstration on our right, made a long detour through the woods on his right, crossed Bull Run two miles above our left, and threw himself upon the flank and rear of our position. This movement was fortunately discovered by us in time to check its progress, and ultimately to form a new line of battle nearly at right angles with the defensive line of Bull Run.
On discovering that the enemy had crossed the stream above him, Col. Evans moved to his left with eleven companies and two field-pieces to oppose his advance, and disposed his little force under cover of the wood near the intersection of the Warrenton turnpike and the Sudley road. Here he was attacked by the enemy in immensely superior numbers, against which he maintained himself with skill and unshrinking courage. Gen. Bee moving towards the enemy, guided by the firing, had with a soldier's eye selected the position the Seventh and house, and formed his troops upon it. They were the Seventh and Eighth Georgia, Fourth Alabama, Second Mississippi, and two companies of the Eleventh Mississippi, with Imboden's battery. Being compelled, however, to sustain Col. Evans, he crossed the valley and formed on the right and somewhat in advance of his position. Here the joint force, little exceeding five regiments, with six field pieces, held the ground against about fifteen thousand United States troops for an hour, until, finding themselves outflanked by the continually arriving troops, of the enemy, they fell back to Gen. Bee's first position, upon the line of which Jackson, just arriving, formed his brigade and Stanard's battery. Col. Hampton, who had by this time advanced with his Legion as far as the turnpike, rendered efficient service in maintaining the orderly character of the retreat from that point; and here fell the gallant Lieut.-Col. Johnson, his second in command.
In the mean time I waited with Gen. Beauregard near the center the full development of the enemy's designs. About 11 o'clock the violence of the firing on the left indicated a battle, and the march of a large body of troops from the enemy's center towards the conflict was shown by clouds of dust. I was thus convinced that is great effort was to be made with his right. I stated that conviction to Gen. Beauregard, and the absolutely necessity of immediately strengthening our left as much as possible. Orders were accordingly at once sent to Gen. Holmes and Col. Early to move with all speed to the sound of the firing, and to Gen. Bonham to send up two of his regiments and a battery. Gen. Beuregard and I then hurried at a rapid gallop to the scene of action, about four miles off. On the way I directed my chief of artillery, Col. Pendleton, to follow with his own and Alburtis' batteries.
We came not a moment too soon. The long contest against fivefold odds and heavy losses, especially of field officers, had greatly discouraged the troops of Gen. Bee and Col. Evans. Our presence with them under fire and some example had the happiest effect on the spirit of the troops. Orders was soon restored and the battle re-established, to which the firmness of Jackson's brigade greatly contributed. Then, in a brief and rapid conference, Gen. Beauregard was assigned to the command of the left, which, as the younger officer, he claimed, while I returned to that of the whole field. The aspect of affairs was critical, but I had full confidence in the skill and indomitable courage of Gen. Beauregard, the high soldierly qualities of Gens. Bee and Jackson and Col. Evans, and the devoted patriotism of their troops.
Orders were first dispatched to hasten the march of Gen. Holmes', Col. Early's, and Gen. Bonham's regiments. Gen. Ewell was also directed to follow with all speed. Many of the broken troops, fragments of companies, and individual stragglers were reformed and brought into action with the aid of my staff and a portion of Gen. Beauregard's. Col. (late Governor) Smith with his battalion and Col. Hunton with his regiment were ordered up to re-enforce the right. I have since learned that Gen. Beauregard had previously ordered them into the battle. They belonged to his corps. Col. Smith's cheerful courage had a fine influence, not only upon the spirit of his own men, but upon the stragglers of the troops engaged. The largest body of these, equal to about four companies, having no competent field officer, I placed under the command of one of my staff, Col. F. J. Thomas, who fell while gallantly leading it against the enemy. These re-enforcements were all sent to the right to re-establish more perfectly that part of our line. Having attended to these pressing duties at the immediate scene of conflict, my eye was next directed to Col. Cocke's brigade, the nearest at hand. Hastening to his position, I desired him to lead his troops into action. He informed me, however, that a large body of the enemy's troops beyond the stream and below the bridge threatened us from that quarter. He was therefore left in his position.
My headquarters were now established near the Lewis house. From this commanding elevation my view embraced the position of the enemy beyond the stream and the approaches to the stone bridge, a point of especial importance. I could also see the advances of our troops far down the valley in the direction of Manassas, and observe the progress of the action and the maneuvers of the enemy.
We had now sixteen guns and two hundred and sixty cavalry and a little above nine regiments of the Army of the Shenandoah and six guns, and less than the strength of three regiments of that of the Potomac, engaged with about thirty-five thousand United States troops, among whom were full three thousand of the old Regular Army. Yet this admirable artillery and brave infantry and cavalry lost no foot of ground. For nearly three hours they maintained their position, repelling five successive assaults by the heavy masses of the enemy, whose numbers enabled him continually to bring up fresh troops as their preceding columns were driven back. Col. Stuart contributed to one of these repulses by a well-timed and vigorous charge on the enemy's right flank with two companies of his cavalry.
The efficiency of our infantry and cavalry might have been expected from a patriotic people accustomed like ours to the management of arms and horses, but that of the artillery was little less than wonderful. They were opposed to batteries far superior in the number, range, and equipment of their guns, with educated officers and thoroughly instructed soldiers. We had but one educated artillerist, Col. Pendleton, that model of a Christian soldier, yet they exhibited as much superiority to the enemy in skill as in courage. Their fire was superior both in rapidity and precision.
About 2 o'clock an officer of Gen. Beauregard's adjutant-general's office galloped from Manassas to report to me that a United States army had reached the line of Manassas Gap Railroad, was marching towards us, and then but three or four miles from out left flank. The expected re-enforcements appeared soon after. Col. Cocke was then desired to lead his brigade into action to support the right of the troops engaged, which he did with alacrity and effect. Within a half hour the two regiments of Gen. Bonham's brigade (Cash's and Kershaw's) came up, and were directed against the enemy's right, which he seemed to be strengthening. Fisher's North Carolina regiment was soon after sent in the same direction. About 3 o'clock, while the enemy seemed to be striving to outflank and drive back our left, and thus separate us from Manassas, Gen. E. K. Smith arrived with three regiments of Elzey's brigade. He was instructed to attack the right flank of the enemy, now exposed to us. Before the movement was completed he fell, severely wounded. Col. Elzey, at once taking command, executed it with great promptitude and vigor. Gen. Beauregard rapidly seized the opportunity thus afforded him, and threw forward his whole line. The enemy was driven back from the long contested hill, and victory was no longer doubtful.
He made yet another attempt to retrieve the day. He again extended his right with a still wider sweep to turn our left. Just as he reformed to renew the battle Col. Early's three regiments came upon the field. The enemy's new formation exposed his right flank more even than the previous one. Col. Early was therefore ordered to throw himself directly upon it, supported by Col. Stuart's Cavalry and Beckham's battery. He executed this attack bravely and well, while a simultaneous charge was made by Gen. Beauregard in front. The enemy was broken by this combined attack. He lost all the artillery which he had advanced to the scene of the conflict. He had no more fresh troops to rally on, and a general rout ensued.
Instructions were instantly sent to Gen. Bonham to march by the quickest route to the turnpike to intercept the fugitives, and to Gen. Longstreet to follow as closely as possible upon the right. Their progress was checked by the enemy's reserve and by night at Centreville. Schenck's brigade made a slight demonstration towards Lewis' Ford, which was quickly checked by Holmes' brigade, which had just arrived from the right. His artillery, under Capt. Walker, was used with great skill. Col. Stuart pressed the pursuit on the enemy's principal line of retreat, the Sudley road. Four companies of cavalry, under Col. Radford and Lieut.-Col. Munford, which I had held in reserve, were ordered to cross the stream at Ball's Ford to reach the turnpike, the line of retreat of the enemy's left. Our cavalry found the roads encumbered with dead and wounded (many of whom seemed to have been thrown from wagons), arms, accouterments, and clothing.
A report came to me from the right that a strong body of U. S. troops was advancing upon Manassas. Gen. Holmes, who had just reached the field, and Gen. Ewell, on his way to it, were ordered to meet this unexpected attack. They found no foe, however.
Our victory was as complete as one gained by infantry and artillery can be. An adequate force of cavalry would have made it decisive. It is due, under Almighty God, to the skill and resolution of Gen. Beauregard, the admirable conduct of Gens. Bee, E. K. Smith, and Jackson, and of Cols. (commanding brigades) Evans, Cocke, Early, and Elzey, and the courage and unyielding firmness of our patriotic volunteers. The admirable character of our troops is incontestably proved by the result of this battle, especially when it is remembered that little more than six thousand men of the Army of the Shenandoah with sixteen guns, and lees than two thousand of that of the Potomac with six guns, for full five hours successfully resisted thirty-five thousand U. S. troops with a powerful artillery and superior force of regular cavalry. Our forces engaged gradually increasing during the remainder of the contest, amounted to but--met at the close of the battle. The brunt of this hard-fought engagement fell upon the troops who held their ground so long with such heroic resolution. The unfading honor which they won was dearly bought with the blood of many of our best and bravest. Their loss was far heavier in proportion than that of the troops coming later into action.
Every regiment and battery engaged performed its part well. The commanders of brigades have been already mentioned. I refer you to Gen. Beauregard's report for the names of the officers of the Army of the Potomac who distinguished themselves most. I cannot enumerate all of the Army of the Shenandoah who deserve distinction, and will confine myself to those of high rank: Cols. Bartow and Fisher (killed); Jones (mortally wounded); Harper, J. F. Preston, Cummings, Falkner, Gartrell, and Vaughan; J. E. B. Stuart, of the cavalry, and Pendleton, of the artillery; Lieut.-Cols. Echols, Lightfoot, Lackland, G. H. Steuart, and Gardner. The last-named gallant officer was severely wounded.
The loss of the Army of the Potomac was 108 killed, 510 wounded, and 12 missing. That of the Army of the Shenandoah was 270 killed, 979 wounded, and 18 missing. Total killed, 378; wounded, 1,489; missing, 30. That of the enemy could not be ascertained. It must have been four or five thousand.
Twenty-eight pieces of artillery, about five thousand muskets, and nearly five hundred thousand cartridges, a garrison flag, and ten colors were captured on the field or in the pursuit. Besides these we captured sixty-four artillery horses, with their harness, twenty-six wagons, and much camp equipage, clothing, and other property abandoned in their flight.
The officers of my staff deserve high commendation for their efficient and gallant services during the day and the campaign, and I beg leave to call the attention of the Government to their merits. Maj. W. H. C. Whiting, chief engineer, was invaluable to me for his signal ability in his profession and for his indefatigable activity before and in the battle. Maj. McLean, chief quartermaster, and Maj. Kearsley, chief commissary, conducted their respective departments with skill and energy. Maj. Rhett, assistant adjutant-general, who joined me only the day before, was of great service. I left him at Manassas, and to his experience and energy I intrusted the care of ordering my troops to the field of battle as they should arrive, and forwarding ammunition for the artillery during the action. Capts. C. M. Fauntleroy, C. S. Navy, T. L. Preston, assistant adjutant-general, and Lieut. J. B. Washington, aide-de-camp, conveyed my orders bravely and well on this their first field, as did several gallant gentlemen who volunteered their services--Col. Cole, of Florida; Maj. Deas, of Alabama; Col. Duncan, of Kentucky. Lieut. Beverly Randolph, C. S. Army, aided Col. F. J. Thomas in the command of the body of troops he led into action and fought with gallantry. With these was my gallant friend Capt. Barfought with gallantry. With these was my gallant friend Capt. Barlow Mason, who was mortally wounded. I have already mentioned the brave death of my ordnance officer, Col. F. J. Thomas. I was much indebted also to Cols. J. S. Preston, Manning, Miles, and Chisolm, and Capt. Stevens, of the Engineer Corps, members of Gen. Beauregard's staff, who kindly proffered their services and rendered efficient and valuable aid at different times during the day. Col. G. W. Lay, of Gen. Bonham's staff, delivered the instructions to the troops sent in pursuit and to intercept the enemy, with much intelligence and courage.
It will be remarked that the three brigadier-generals of the Army of the Shenandoah were all wounded. I have already mentioned the wound of Gen. Smith. Gen. Jackson, though painfully wounded early in the day, commanded his brigade until the close of the action. Gen. Bee, after great exposure at the commencement of the engagement, was mortally wounded just as our re-enforcements were coming up.
The apparent firmness of the U. S. troops at Centreville, who had not been engaged, which checked our pursuit; the strong forces occupying the works near Georgetown, Arlington, and Alexandria; the certainty, too, that Gen. Patterson, if needed, would reach Washington with his army of thirty thousand men sooner than we could, and the condition and inadequate means of the Army of advancing against the capital. It is certain that the fresh troops within the works were in number quite sufficient for their defense. If not, Gen. Patterson's army would certainly re-enforce them soon enough.
This report will be presented to you by my aide-de-camp, Lieut. J. B. Washington, by whom, and by Gen. Beauregard's aide, Lieut. Ferguson, the captured colors are transmitted to the War Department.
Most respectfully, your obedient servant,
J. E. JOHNSTON,
Gen.
Bibliographic Information : Letter Reproduced from The War of The Rebellion: Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I. Vol. 2. Serial No. 2., Pages 471-472, Broadfoot Publishing Company, , .
