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Schenck； and proceeded as far as the halt； before the enemy's position； near the stone bridge across Bull Run。 Here the brigade was deployed in line along the skirt of timber to the right of the Warrenton road； and remained quietly in position till after 10 a。m。 The enemy remained very quiet； but about that time we saw a rebel regiment leave its cover in our front； and proceed in double…quick time on the road toward Sudley Springs； by which we knew the columns of Colonels Hunter and Heintzelman were approaching。 About the same time we observed in motion a large mass of the enemy； below and on the other side of the stone bridge。 I directed Captain Ayres to take position with his battery near our right； and to open fire on this mass； but you had previously detached the two rifle…guns belonging to this battery； and； finding that the smooth…bore guns did not reach the enemy's position； we ceased firing； and I sent a request that you would send to me the thirty…pounder rifle…gun attached to Captain Carlisle's battery。 At the same time I shifted the New York Sixty…ninth to the extreme right of the brigade。 Thus we remained till we heard the musketry… fire across Ball Run； showing that the head of Colonel Hunter's column was engaged。 This firing was brisk； and showed that Hunter was driving before him the enemy； till about noon； when it became certain the enemy had come to a stand； and that our forces on the other side of Ball Run were all engaged； artillery and infantry。
Here you sent me the order to cross over with the whole brigade； to the assistance of Colonel Hunter。 Early in the day； when reconnoitring the ground； I had seen a horseman descend from a bluff in our front； cross the stream； and show himself in the open field on this aide； and； inferring that we could cross over at the same point； I sent forward a company as skirmishers； and followed with the whole brigade； the New York Sixty…ninth leading。
We found no difficulty in crossing over； and met with no opposition in ascending the steep bluff opposite with our infantry； but it was impassable to the artillery； and I sent word back to Captain Ayres to follow if possible； otherwise to use his discretion。 Captain Ayres did not cross Bull Run； but remained on that side； with the rest of your division。 His report herewith describes his operations during the remainder of the day。 Advancing slowly and cautiously with the head of the column； to give time for the regiments in succession to close up their ranks； we first encountered a party of the enemy retreating along a cluster of pines； Lieutenant…Colonel Haggerty； of the Sixty…ninth； without orders； rode out alone； and endeavored to intercept their retreat。 One of the enemy； in full view； at short range； shot Haggerty； and he fell dead from his horse。 The Sixty…ninth opened fire on this party； which was returned； but； determined to effect our junction with Hunter's division； I ordered this fire to cease； and we proceeded with caution toward the field where we then plainly saw our forces engaged。 Displaying our colors conspicuously at the head of our column； we succeeded in attracting the attention of our friends； and soon formed the brigade in rear of Colonel Porter's。 Here I learned that Colonel Hunter was disabled by a severe wound； and that General McDowell was on the field。 I sought him out； and received his orders to join in pursuit of the enemy； who was falling back to the left of the road by which the army had approached from Sndley Springs。 Placing Colonel Quinby's regiment of rifles in front； in column； by division； I directed the other regiments to follow in line of battle； in the order of the Wisconsin Second； New York Seventy…ninth； and New York Sixty…ninth。 Quinby's regiment advanced steadily down the hill and up the ridge； from which he opened fire upon the enemy； who had made another stand on ground very favorable to him； and the regiment continued advancing as the enemy gave way； till the head of the column reached the point near which Rickett's battery was so severely cut up。 The other regiments descended the hill in line of battle； under a severe cannonade； and； the ground affording comparative shelter from the enemy's artillery； they changed direction； by the right flank； and followed the road before mentioned。 At the point where this road crosses the ridge to our left front； the ground was swept by a most severe fire of artillery； rifles； and musketry； and we saw； in succession； several regiments driven from it； among them the Zouaves and battalion of marines。 Before reaching the crest of this hill； the roadway was worn deep enough to afford shelter； and I kept the several regiments in it as long as possible； but when the Wisconsin Second was abreast of the enemy； by order of Major Wadsworth； of General McDowell's staff； I ordered it to leave the roadway； by the left flank； and to attack the enemy。
This regiment ascended to the brow of the hill steadily； received the severe fire of the enemy； returned it with spirit； and advanced； delivering its fire。 This regiment is uniformed in gray cloth； almost identical with that of the great bulk of the secession army； and； when the regiment fell into confusion and retreated toward the road； there was a universal cry that they were being fired on by our own men。 The regiment rallied again； passed the brow of the hill a second time； but was again repulsed in disorder。 By this time the New York Seventy…ninth had closed up； and in like manner it was ordered to cross the brow of； the hill； and drive the enemy from cover。 It was impossible to get a good view of this ground。 In it there was one battery of artillery； which poured an incessant fire upon our advancing column； and the ground was very irregular with small clusters of pines； affording shelter； of which the enemy took good advantage。 The fire of rifles and musketry was very severe。 The Seventy…ninth； headed by its colonel； Cameron； charged across the hill； and for a short time the contest was severe； they rallied several times under fire； but finally broke； and gained the cover of the hill。
This left the field open to the New York Sixty…ninth； Colonel Corcoran； who； in his turn； led his regiment over the crest； and had in full； open view the ground so severely contested； the fire was very severe； and the roar of cannon； musketry； and rifles； incessant； it was manifest the enemy was here in great force； far superior to us at that point。 The Sixty…ninth held the ground for some time； but finally fell back in disorder。
All this time Quinby's regiment occupied another ridge； to our left； overlooking the same field of action； and similarly engaged。 Here； about half…past 3 p。m。； began the scene of confusion and disorder that characterized the remainder of the day。 Up to that time； all had kept their places； and seemed perfectly cool； and used to the shell and shot that fell； comparatively harmless； all around us； but the short exposure to an intense fire of small…arms； at close range； had killed many； wounded more； and had produced disorder in all of the battalions that had attempted to encounter it。 Men fell away from their ranks； talking； and in great confusion。 Colonel Cameron had been mortally wounded； was carried to an ambulance； and reported dying。 Many other officers were reported dead or missing； and many of the wounded were making their way； with more or less assistance； to the buildings used as hospitals； on the ridge to the west。 We succeeded in partially reforming the regiments； but it was manifest that they would not stand； and I directed Colonel Corcoran to move along the ridge to the rear； near the position where we had first formed the brigade。 General McDowell was there in person； and need all possible efforts to reassure the men。 By the active exertions of Colonel Corcoran； we formed an irregular square against the cavalry which were then seen to issue from the position from which we had been driven； and we began our retreat toward the same ford of Bull Run by which we had approached the field of battle。 There was no positive order to retreat； although for an hour it had been going on by the operation of the men themselves。 The ranks were thin and irregular； and we found a stream of people strung from the hospital across Bull Run； and far toward Centreville。 After putting in motion the irregular square in person； I pushed forward to find Captain Ayres's battery at the crossing of Bull Run。 I sought it at its last position； before the brigade had crossed over； but it was not there； then passing through the woods； where； in the morning； we had first formed line； we approached the blacksmith's shop； but there found a detachment of the secession cavalry and thence made a circuit； avoiding Cub Run Bridge； into Centreville； where I found General McDowell； and from him understood that it was his purpose to rally the forces； and make a stand at Centreville。
But； about nine o'clock at night； I received from General Tyler； in person； the order to continue the retreat to the Potomac。 This retreat was by night； and disorderly in the extreme。 The men of different regiments mingled together； and some reached the river at Arlington； some at Long Bridge； and the greater part r