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 are acknowledged, affirmed and commemorated.
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Posted on 01/03/2003 5:35:29 AM PST by SAMWolf
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are acknowledged, affirmed and commemorated.
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The South's First Victory The first major battle of the Civil War was fought in Virginia, near the Manassas, Virginia railway junction, after which the battle is called (or First Bull Run, named after the flowing stream on the battlefield, if of the Union persuasion). The armies in this first battle were not very large by later Civil War standards. The Federal forces under Brigadier General Irvin McDowell were organized into four divisions (five, if one includes Runyan's division), of about 30,000 men. These divisions were commanded by Tyler, Hunter, Heintzelman, (Runyan), and Miles. The Confederate command structure was somewhat more unwieldy, including two "armies", with no division structure and thirteen independent brigades under Bonham, Ewell, Jones, Longstreet, Cocke, Early, Holmes, Kershaw, Evans, Jackson, Bartow, Bee, Smith, and a cavalry brigade under Stuart. The Confederate Army of the Potomac was under the command of Brigadier General Pierre G. T. Beauregard, and the Army of the Shenandoah was commanded by Brigadier General Joseph E. Johnston. These two forces would equal McDowell's strength.  McDowell had planned to use Tyler's division as the diversionary attack at the Stone Bridge, while Davies' brigade did the same at Blackburn's Ford. At the same time, Hunter's and Heintzelman's divisions would cross Bull Run at Sudley Springs and attack from the north. McDowell's green troops involved in the flanking column, reached their jumping off positions two and a half hours behind schedule. Tyler's and Davies' attacks at the Stone Bridge and Blackburn's Ford were already well under way, and the Confederate high command was beginning to sense a ruse because the Union attacks were not pressed very hard. When Beauregard was notified that Federal troops were massing on his left flank, he realized that this must be the main attack so began to shift his own troop dispositions. The Federals had about 18,000 men in the main attack column and it was only thanks to the quick reactions of Colonel "Shank" Evans and his small brigade that Beauregard did not suffer a major disaster. He quickly moved his small force to Matthew's Hill to block the Federal move. Sounds of the fighting drew other brigade commanders to Evans' aid on their own initiative. Brigadier General Barnard Bee and Colonel Bartow joined Evans' defensive line and deployed their men to his right to extend and strengthen it. The Confederate position was still badly outnumbered however, and eventually the weight of those numbers began to be felt. With Tyler's division threatening the right flank and rear of the Confederate position after having forced a crossing at the Stone Bridge, and their left flank now being overlapped by Federal reinforcements, the three Confederate brigades broke to the rear, heading toward the cleared plateau of the Henry House Hill. Unfortunately for the Federals, they were slow to follow-up their success and allowed the Southern brigade commanders to rally the remnants of their units behind Jackson's brigade which had just arrived and formed a line of battle on the reverse slope of Henry House Hill.  In the meantime, McDowell ordered two artillery batteries to advance to silence the defensive fire. Rickett's Battery and Griffin's Battery advanced to well within musket range of the Confederate positions near the crest of the hill. These batteries were counterattacked by Confederate infantry and overrun and although it is still somewhat an open question, most historians give credit to the 33rd Virginia Infantry, although the 6th North Carolina State Troops, and elements of the 2nd Mississippi Infantry also claim credit for silencing Ricketts. This counterattack also routed the infantry supports to the guns -- a battalion of U. S. Marines and the 11th New York Infantry, the famed Fire Zouaves. The loss of the guns became a focal point for see-saw attacks and counterattacks by each side, with the possession of the guns changing hands several times. Finally having accumulated enough units to not only stabilize the Confederate lines, but also overlap the right flank of the Federal lines, the order was given for a general advance by Beauregard. This attack caved-in the Federal right and what began as a fairly orderly retreat turned into a disorganized rout. The equally tired and inexperienced Confederates however, were in no shape to conduct an effective pursuit, so the battle ended. The Federals lost about 3,000 casualties (killed, wounded, and captured or missing), and the Confederates suffered about 2,000.
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Although the total number of Union troops at Bull Run was about 35,000 and the Confederates had about 32,500 only about 18,000 men on each side were actually engaged in combat.
| 'There stands Jackson like a stone wall! Rally behind the Virginians!' --Brigadier General Barnard Bee, CSA |
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Charlie Company 1st Battalion 504th Parachute Infantry
 U.S. soldiers from Charlie company of the 1st battalion 504th parachute infantry walk out on a routine patrol mission around the perimeter of Fort Operating Base Solerno in Khost, central Afghanistan on Friday Jan. 3, 2003. Thousands of U.S. troops are deployed around Afghanistan to ensure security as part of the on going operation in the war against terrorism. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)  An unidentified U.S. soldier from the Charlie company of the 1st battalion 504th parachute infantry regimen helps out his fellow soldier going out on a routine patrol mission around the perimeter of Fort Operating Base Solerno in Khost, central Afghanistan on Friday Jan. 3, 2003.  An army officer of the Charlie company from the 1st battalion, 504th parachute infantry regiment, briefs his men before going out on a routine patrol mission around the perimeter of Fort Operating Base Solerno in Khost, central Afghanistan  U.S. soldiers from the Charlie company of the 1st battalion 504th parachute infantry regiment listen to a briefing before going out on a routine patrol mission around the perimeter of Fort Operating Base Solerno in Khost, Afghanistan
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| You Know The Drill Click the Pics J
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Coffee & Donuts J
The soldiers were wearing woolen uniforms with cotton longjohns. The opinion was that the breeze in the air would naturally wick away the heat. I was there. The air did not move and the even though I am used to being out in such weather, I was wearing shorts and a tee-shirt and didn't want to imagine having to wear wool on a day like that. I was glad when the speechifying from the guide was over so I could get back to the air-conditioned museum.
Most people don't realize that they fought the battle in hip-high grass. They had to manuever everything on a battlefield where they could not move around easily. It must've been an absolute hell.
And don't forget the fundraiser J
(BTW, I don't seem to be on your ping list anymore)
Oooops! My bad. I added you back on right now. Good morning and thanks for the coffee and the music! (I'm skipping the donuts...)
Just Ping-Pong-ing through....
It's getting interesting at work, will try to stop back in later!
Manassas and Sudley Hill...brings back memories of TDY trips to Vint Hill Farms.
David B. Woodbury (U.S., d. 1866 ): "Mrs. Henry's House at Bull Run"
Albumen print, 5.75 x 9 inches, 1861
Mrs. Henry was a widowed invalid who had the misfortune of living in the house that became the center of battle at Bull Run. This haunting image of the ruins of her home is one of the most eloquent commentaries ever made on the destruction of war.
A contemporary account describes the dramatic events of July 21, 1861:
Utterly unconscious that their home was to be the Theater of Battle, the Henry Family made no effort to escape until it was too late to do so. Among them was an aged mother, whom the son and daughter carried to a gully, and for the first charge, kept her out of the way of bullets. But when the fight pressed on, they brought her in again; and when it returned, they could not move her again. The house was literally riddled with bullets, and when the old lady was looked for, she had been sent to her long reward. Many bullets passed through her, and she was perfectly at rest.
David B. Woodbury was one of the most talented photographers working under the direction of Mathew B. Brady during the Civil War. He died of tuberculosis a year after the War ended. This image is from a group of original prints Woodbury sent home to his relatives. His diaries and letters, now in private hands, are the only such record of any Civil War photographer known to have survived. They have never been published.
If you're interested in Civil War photo's, here's a site I just stumbled across:
Yeah, they had to wear them so they could identify each other. They weren't able to run off to the visitor center and grab them a Coca-Cola and a moon pie like I did.
What! No RC Cola?
BTW - Coca-Cola is headquartered in Atlanta. :)
As an aside, I just came across an amusing clip on one of those email joke lists (which I usually detest) and thought you might enjoy it.
Subject: A LETTER FROM A NEW MARINE
Dear Ma and Pa:
Am well. Hope you are. Tell Brother Walt and Brother Elmer the Marine Corps beats working for old man Minch by a mile. Tell them to join up quick before maybe all of the places are filled.
I was restless at first because you got to stay in bed till nearly 6 a.m., but am getting so I like to sleep late.
Tell Walt and Elmer all you do before breakfast is smooth your cot and shine some things. No hogs to slop, feed to pitch, mash to mix, wood to split, fire to lay. Practically nothing. Men got to shave but it is not so bad, they get warm water.
Breakfast is strong on trimmings like fruit juice, cereal, eggs, bacon,etc..., but kind of weak on chops, potatoes, ham, steak, fried eggplant, pie and other regular food. But tell Walt and Elmer you can always sit between two city boys that live on coffee. Their food plus yours holds you till noon, when you get fed again. It's no wonder these city boys can't walk much.
We go on "route" marches, which the Platoon Sergeant says are long walks to harden us. If he thinks so, it is not my place to tell him different. A "route march" is about as far as to our mailbox at home. Then the city guys gets sore feet and we all ride back in trucks. The country is nice, but awful flat.
The Sergeant is like a schoolteacher. He nags some. The Capt. is like the school board. Majors and Colonels just ride around and frown. They don't bother you none.
This next will kill Walt and Elmer with laughing. I keep getting medals for shooting. I don't know why. The bulls-eye is near as big as a chipmunk and don't move. And it ain't shooting at you, like the Higgett boys at home. All you got to do is lie there all comfortable and hit it. You don't even load your own cartridges. They come in boxes.
Be sure to tell Walt and Elmer to hurry and join before other fellers get into this setup and come stampeding in.
Your loving son,
Clem
P.S. Speaking of shooting, enclosed is $200 towards a new barn roof and ma's teeth. The city boys shoot craps, but not very good.
AMES, ADELBERT
Rank and organization: First Lieutenant, 5th U.S. Artillery. Place and date: At Bull Run, Va., 21 July 1861. Entered service at: Rockland, Maine. Birth: East Thomaston, Maine. Date of issue: 22 June 1894. Citation: remained upon the field in command of a section of Griffin's Battery, directing its fire after being severely wounded and refusing to leave the field until too weak to sit upon the caisson where he had been placed by men of his command.
BENJAMIN, SAMUEL N.
Rank and organization: First Lieutenant, 2d U.S. Artillery. Place and date: From Bull Run to Spotsylvania, Va., from July 1861 to May 1864. Entered service at: New York, N.Y. Birth: New York, N.Y. Date of issue: 11 June 1877. Citation: Particularly distinguished services as an artillery officer.
COOKE, WALTER H.
Rank and organization: Captain, Company K, 4th Pennsylvania Infantry Militia. Place and date. At Bull Run, Va., 21 July 1861. Entered service at:------. Birth: Norristown, Pa. Date of issue: 19 May 1887. Citation: Voluntarily served as an aide on the staff of Col. David Hunter and participated in the battle, his term of service having expired on the previous day.
HARTRANFT, JOHN F.
Rank and organization: Colonel, 4th Pennsylvania Militia. Place and date: At Bull Run, Va., 21 July 1861. Entered service at: Norristown, Pa. Born: 16 December 1830, New Hanover Township, Montgomery County, Pa. Date of issue: 26 August 1886. Citation: Voluntarily served as an aide and participated in the battle after expiration of his term of service, distinguishing himself in rallying several regiments which had been thrown into confusion.
KNOWLES, ABIATHER J.
Rank and organization: Private, Company D, 2d Maine Infantry. Place and date: At Bull Run, Va., 21 July 1861, Entered service at: ------. Born: 15 March 1830, LaGrange, Maine. Date of issue: 27 December 1894. Citation: Removed dead and wounded under heavy fire.
McGOUGH, OWEN
Rank and organization: Corporal, Battery D, 5th U.S. Artillery. Place and date: At Bull Run, Va., 21 July 1861. Entered service at:------. Birth: Ireland. Date of issue: 28 August 1897. Citation: Through his personal exertions under a heavy fire, one of the guns of his battery was brought off the field; all the other guns were lost.
MERRITT, JOHN G.
Rank and organization: Sergeant, Company K, 1st Minnesota Infantry. Place and date: At Bull Run, Va., 21 July 1861. Entered service at: ------. Birth: New York. Date of issue: 1 April 1880. Citation: Gallantry in action; was wounded while capturing flag in advance of his regiment.
MURPHY, CHARLES J.
Rank and organization: First Lieutenant and Quartermaster, 38th New York Infantry. Place and date: At Bull Run, Va., 21 July 1861. Entered service at:------. Birth: England. Date of issue: 5 April 1898. Citation: Took a rifle and voluntarily fought with his regiment in the ranks; when the regiment was forced back, voluntarily remained on the field caring for the wounded, and was there taken prisoner.
WALKER, DR. MARY E.
Rank and organization: Contract Acting Assistant Surgeon (civilian), U. S. Army. Places and dates: Battle of Bull Run, July 21, 1861; Patent Office Hospital, Washington, D.C., October 1861; Chattanooga, Tenn., following Battle of Chickomauga, September 1863; Prisoner of War, April 10, 1864-August 12, 1864, Richmond, Va.; Battle of Atlanta, September 1864. Entered service at: Louisville, Ky. Born: 26 November 1832, Oswego County, N.Y. Citation: Whereas it appears from official reports that Dr. Mary E. Walker, a graduate of medicine, "has rendered valuable service to the Government, and her efforts have been earnest and untiring in a variety of ways," and that she was assigned to duty and served as an assistant surgeon in charge of female prisoners at Louisville, Ky., upon the recommendation of Major-Generals Sherman and Thomas, and faithfully served as contract surgeon in the service of the United States, and has devoted herself with much patriotic zeal to the sick and wounded soliders, both in the field and hospitals, to the detriment of her own health, and has also endured hardships as a prisoner of war four months in a Southern prison while acting as contract surgeon; and Whereas by reason of her not being a commissioned officer in the military service, a brevet or honorary rank cannot, under existing laws, be conferred upon her; and
Whereas in the opinion of the President an honorable recognition of her services and sufferings should be made:
It is ordered, That a testimonial thereof shall be hereby made and given to the said Dr. Mary E. Walker, and that the usual medal of honor for meritorious services be given her.
Given under my hand in the city of Washington, D.C., this 11th day of November, A.D. 1865.
(Medal rescinded 1917 along with 910 others, restored by President Carter 10 June 1977.)
WHEELER, HENRY W.
Rank and organization: Private, Company A, 2d Maine Infantry. Place and date: At Bull Run, Va., 21 July 1861. Entered service at: Bangor, Maine. Born: 1842, Fort Smith, Ark. Date of issue: 5 April 1898. Citation: Voluntarily accompanied his commanding officer and assisted in removing the dead and wounded from the field under a heavy fire of artillery and musketry.
WILLCOX, ORLANDO B.
Rank and organization: Colonel, 1st Michigan Infantry. Place and date: At Bull Run, Va., 21 July 1861. Entered service at: Detroit, Mich. Birth: Detroit, Mich. Date of issue: 2 March 1895. Citation: Led repeated charges until wounded and taken prisoner.
WITHINGTON, WILLIAM H.
Rank and organization: Captain, Company B, 1st Michigan Infantry. Place and date: At Bull Run, Va., 21 July 1861._ Entered service at: Jackson, Mich. Born: 1 February 1835, Dorchester, Mass. Date of issue: 7 January 1895. Citation: Remained on the field under heavy fire to succor his superior officer.
And sit back in glorious expectation of a genuine junk food high!
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