I forthwith ordered my brigade forward, but it did
not reach the top of the hill soon enough to do any damage to
the retiring regiment, which retreated precipitately down the
hill and across the Warrenton Pike. At that time there was very
little distinction between the dress of some of the Federal
regiments and some of ours. As soon as the misrepresentation in
regard to the character of the troops was corrected, my brigade
advanced to the top of the hill that had been occupied by the
enemy, and we ascertained that his troops had retired
precipitately, and a large body of them was discovered in the
fields in rear of Dogan's house, and north of the turnpike.
Colonel Cocke, with one of his regiments, now joined us, and our
pieces of artillery were advanced and fired upon the enemy's
columns with considerable effect, causing them to disperse, and
we soon discovered that they were in full retreat.... When my
column was seen by General Beauregard, he at first thought it
was a column of the enemy, having received erroneous information
that such a column was on the Manassas Gap Railroad. The enemy
took my troops, as they approached his right, for a large body
of our troops from the Valley; and as my men, moving by flank,
were stretched out at considerable length, from weariness, they
were greatly over-estimated.
Pages:
568
569
570
571
572
573
574
575
576
577
578
579
580
581
582
583
584
585
586
587
588
589
590
591
592