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Account of the Battle of Bull Run, 1861
1861-Battle of Bull Run-Page 23.
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12 Gen. Beauregards report. This force was posted in the belt of woods which skirted the plateau southwardly and lying in the angle fenced in that direction between the Warrenton and Sudley roads, about a mile from the Warrenton road, and with its left resting on the Brentsville and Sudley roads. Ricketts' battery had crossed the Sudley road from its post near Dogan's House, and was within musket-range of the woods which stretched from that road around, from his right towards his front, and forming a pocket which almost enveloped the battery with its support. The enemy was first discovered by Col. Heintzelman lining the woods in our front. He ordered up the Zouaves, commanded by Col. Farnham. The ground was slightly rising before us, and the enemy opened a heavy, but not destructive fire as we reached the crest. The Zouaves returned the fire, but immediately fell back, bewildered and broken. Stuart's cavalry charged upon them from the woods on the right, but were scattered by a fire from the two reserve (Zouave & [WPA?]) companies, with a loss (as ascertained from the Southern papers) of twenty-nine killed and wounded. Meantime Rickett's cannonneers were being picked off. With Col. Heintzelmans approval and a promise of reinforcements, I collected some one hundred Zouaves, and with Capt. Downey, and others of their officers, made a dash into the woods, on our right, and killed, wounded, and captured about thirty of the enemy. Returning in a few minutes, I found the field cleared of both friend and foe except the killed and wounded. The horses, men and two officers, (Capt. Jas. B. Ricketts was seriously wounded and captured, and Lieut. Ramsey killed. [WPA editor]-of Rickett's Battery lay stretched upon the ground, but the enemy had not yet seized it. Recrossing the Sudley road I met the First Michigan, Mayor Bidwell, commanding, and marching back with this Regiment, we found the
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12 Gen. Beauregards report. This force was posted in the belt of woods which skirted the plateau southwardly and lying in the angle fenced in that direction between the Warrenton and Sudley roads, about a mile from the Warrenton road, and with its left resting on the Brentsville and Sudley roads. Ricketts' battery had crossed the Sudley road from its post near Dogan's House, and was within musket-range of the woods which stretched from that road around, from his right towards his front, and forming a pocket which almost enveloped the battery with its support. The enemy was first discovered by Col. Heintzelman lining the woods in our front. He ordered up the Zouaves, commanded by Col. Farnham. The ground was slightly rising before us, and the enemy opened a heavy, but not destructive fire as we reached the crest. The Zouaves returned the fire, but immediately fell back, bewildered and broken. Stuart's cavalry charged upon them from the woods on the right, but were scattered by a fire from the two reserve (Zouave & [WPA?]) companies, with a loss (as ascertained from the Southern papers) of twenty-nine killed and wounded. Meantime Rickett's cannonneers were being picked off. With Col. Heintzelmans approval and a promise of reinforcements, I collected some one hundred Zouaves, and with Capt. Downey, and others of their officers, made a dash into the woods, on our right, and killed, wounded, and captured about thirty of the enemy. Returning in a few minutes, I found the field cleared of both friend and foe except the killed and wounded. The horses, men and two officers, (Capt. Jas. B. Ricketts was seriously wounded and captured, and Lieut. Ramsey killed. [WPA editor]-of Rickett's Battery lay stretched upon the ground, but the enemy had not yet seized it. Recrossing the Sudley road I met the First Michigan, Mayor Bidwell, commanding, and marching back with this Regiment, we found the
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