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ry； could now go to work with some definite plans and ideas。
The appearance of the troops about Washington was good； but it was manifest they were far from being soldiers。 Their uniforms were as various as the States and cities from which they came； their arms were also of every pattern and calibre； and they were so loaded down with overcoats； haversacks； knapsacks； tents； and baggage； that it took from twenty…five to fifty wagons to move the camp of a regiment from one place to another； and some of the camps had bakeries and cooking establishments that would have done credit to Delmonico。
While I was on duty with General Scott； viz。； from June 20th to about June 30th； the general frequently communicated to those about him his opinions and proposed plans。 He seemed vexed with the clamors of the press for immediate action； and the continued interference in details by the President； Secretary of War； and Congress。 He spoke of organizing a grand army of invasion； of which the regulars were to constitute the 〃iron column；〃 and seemed to intimate that he himself would take the field in person； though he was at the time very old； very heavy； and very unwieldy。 His age must have been about seventy…five years。
At that date； July 4； 1861； the rebels had two armies in front of Washington； the one at Manassas Junction； commanded by General Beauregard； with his advance guard at Fairfax Court House； and indeed almost in sight of Washington。 The other； commanded by General Joe Johnston； was at Winchester； with its advance at Martinsburg and Harper's Ferry； but the advance had fallen back before Patterson； who then occupied Martinsburg and the line of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad。
The temper of Congress and the people would not permit the slow and methodical preparation desired by General Scott； and the cry of 〃On to Richmond！〃 which was shared by the volunteers； most of whom had only engaged for ninety days； forced General Scott to hasten his preparations； and to order a general advance about the middle of July。 McDowell was to move from the defenses of Washington； and Patterson from Martinsburg。 In the organization of McDowell's army into divisions and brigades； Colonel David Hunter was assigned to command the Second Division； and I was ordered to take command of his former brigade； which was composed of five regiments in position in and about Fort Corcoran； and on the ground opposite Georgetown。 I assumed command on the 30th of June； and proceeded at once to prepare it for the general advance。 My command constituted the Third Brigade of the First Division； which division was commanded by Brigadier…General Daniel Tyler； a graduate of West Point； but who had seen little or no actual service。 I applied to General McDowell for home staff…officers； and he gave me； as adjutant…general； Lieutenant Piper； of the Third Artillery； and； as aide…de…camp； Lieutenant McQuesten； a fine young cavalry…officer； fresh from West Point。
I selected for the field the Thirteenth New York； Colonel Qninby； the Sixty…ninth New York； Colonel Corcoran； the Seventy…ninth New York； Colonel Cameron； and the Second Wisconsin； Lieutenant Colonel Peck。 These were all good； strong； volunteer regiments； pretty well commanded； and I had reason to believe that I had one of the best brigades in the whole army。 Captain Ayres's battery of the Third Regular Artillery was also attached to my brigade。 The other regiment； the Twenty…ninth New York； Colonel Bennett； was destined to be left behind in charge of the forts and camps during our absence； which was expected to be short。 Soon after I had assumed the command； a difficulty arose in the Sixty…ninth； an Irish regiment。 This regiment had volunteered in New York； early in April； for ninety days； but； by reason of the difficulty of passing through Baltimore； they had come via Annapolis； had been held for duty on the railroad as a guard for nearly a month before they actually reached Washington； and were then mustered in about a month after enrollment。 Some of the men claimed that they were entitled to their discharge in ninety days from the time of enrollment； whereas the muster…roll read ninety days from the date of muster…in。 One day； Colonel Corcoran explained this matter to me。 I advised him to reduce the facts to writing； and that I would submit it to the War Department for an authoritative decision。 He did so； and the War Department decided that the muster…roll was the only contract of service； that it would be construed literally； and that the regiment would be held till the expiration of three months from the date of muster…in； viz。； to about August 1； 1861。 General Scott at the same time wrote one of his characteristic letters to Corcoran； telling him that we were about to engage in battle； and he knew his Irish friends would not leave him in such a crisis。 Corcoran and the officers generally wanted to go to the expected battle； but a good many of the men were not so anxious。 In the Second Wisconsin； also； was developed a personal difficulty。 The actual colonel was S。 P。 Coon； a good…hearted gentleman； who knew no more of the military art than a child； whereas his lieutenant… colonel； Peck； had been to West Point； and knew the drill。 Preferring that the latter should remain in command of the regiment； I put Colonel Coon on my personal staff； which reconciled the difficulty。
In due season； about July 15th； our division moved forward leaving our camps standing； Keyes's brigade in the lead； then Schenck's； then mine； and Richardson's last。 We marched via Vienna； Germantown； and Centreville； where all the army； composed of five divisions； seemed to converge。 The march demonstrated little save the general laxity of discipline； for with all my personal efforts I could not prevent the men from straggling for water； blackberries； or any thing on the way they fancied。
At Centreville； on the 18th； Richardson's brigade was sent by General Tyler to reconnoitre Blackburn's Ford across Bull Run； and he found it strongly guarded。 From our camp； at Centreville； we heard the cannonading； and then a sharp musketry…fire。 I received orders from General Tyler to send forward Ayres's battery； and very soon after another order came for me to advance with my whole brigade。 We marched the three miles at the double…quick； arrived in time to relieve Richardson's brigade； which was just drawing back from the ford； worsted； and stood for half an hour or so under a fire of artillery； which killed four or five of my men。 General Tyler was there in person； giving directions； and soon after he ordered us all back to our camp in Centreville。 This reconnoissance had developed a strong force； and had been made without the orders of General McDowell； however； it satisfied us that the enemy was in force on the other side of Bull Run； and had no intention to leave without a serious battle。 We lay in camp at Centreville all of the 19th and 20th； and during that night began the movement which resulted in the battle of Bull Run； on July 21st。 Of this so much has been written that more would be superfluous； and the reports of the opposing commanders； McDowell and Johnston； are fair and correct。 It is now generally admitted that it was one of the best…planned battles of the war； but one of the worst…fought。 Our men had been told so often at home that all they had to do was to make a bold appearance； and the rebels would run； and nearly all of us for the first time then heard the sound of cannon and muskets in anger； and saw the bloody scenes common to all battles； with which we were soon to be familiar。 We had good organization； good men； but no cohesion； no real discipline； no respect for authority； no real knowledge of war。 Both armies were fairly defeated； and； whichever had stood fast； the other would have run。 Though the North was overwhelmed with mortification and shame； the South really had not much to boast of； for in the three or four hours of fighting their organization was so broken up that they did not and could not follow our army； when it was known to be in a state of disgraceful and causeless flight。 It is easy to criticise a battle after it is over； but all now admit that none others； equally raw in war； could have done better than we did at Bull Run； and the lesson of that battle should not be lost on a people like ours。
I insert my official report； as a condensed statement of my share in the battle：
HEADQUARTERS THIRD BRIGADE； FIRST DIVISION FORT CORCORAN； July 25； 1861
To Captain A。 BAIRD； Assistant Adjutant…General； First Division （General Tyler's）。
Sir： I have the honor to submit this my report of the operations of my brigade during the action of the 21st instant。 Th brigade is composed of the Thirteenth New York Volunteers； Colonel Quinby's Sixty…ninth New York； Colonel Corcoran； Seventy…ninth New York； Colonel Cameron； Second Wisconsin； Lieutenant…Colonel Peck； and Company E； Third Artillery； under command of Captain R。 B。 Ayres； Fifth Artillery。
We left our camp near Centreville； pursuant to orders； at half…past 2 A。 M。； taking place in your column； neat to the brigade of General Schenck； and proceeded as far as the halt； before the enemy's position； near the stone bridge acros