Following the Flag, from August 1861 to November 1862, with the Army of the PotomacCoffin, Charles Carleton
History
Following the Flag, from August 1861 to November 1862, with the Army of the Potomac
Coffin, Charles Carleton
United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Campaigns
The morning of the 29th dawned calm, clear, and beautiful. Sigel obeyed
orders. He was on the northwest corner of the old battle-field, near
Dogan's house. Jackson was north of the turnpike, his right resting
on Bull Run, at Sudley Springs, and his left on the turnpike near
Groveton, along the line of an unfinished railway.
Schurz was on the right in Sigel's corps, Milroy in the center, Schenck
on the left, with Steinwehr in reserve. For an hour there was the deep
roll of artillery.
Then the line advanced. There was a sharp contest,--Sigel occupying
the ground which Jackson held in the first fight on that memorable
field, and Jackson upon the ground, where Burnside, Howard, and Hunter
formed their lines. Milroy was driven, but Schurz and Schenck held
their position. Hooker and Kearny were astir at daylight. They crossed
the stream at the Stone Bridge, swung out into the fields, and moved
north towards Sudley Springs, forcing Jackson back on Longstreet, who
was resting after his hard march, his men eating a hearty meal from the
stores captured at Manassas. He was in no condition to fight at that
early hour.
Time slipped away--precious hours! McDowell had not come. Porter had
not been heard from. "Longstreet is getting ready," was the report from
the scouts.
Noon passed. One o'clock came round. "Longstreet is joining Jackson,"
was the word from the pickets. The attack must be made at once if ever.
It began at two o'clock by Hooker and Kearny on the right, pushing
through the woods and across the fields between Dogan's house and
Sudley Church.[50]
[Footnote 50: See "My Days and Nights on the Battle-Field."]
The veterans of the Peninsula move upon an enemy whom they have met
before. Jackson has made the line of a half-finished railroad his
defense, and his men are behind the embankments and in the excavations.
It is a long, desperate conflict. There are charges upon the enemy's
lines and repulses. Three,--four,--five o'clock, and Porter has not
come. McDowell, who should have marched northwest to Groveton to meet
Longstreet, has, through some mistake, marched east of that place, and
joined the line where Kearny and Hooker are driving Jackson.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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