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JJDESIGNS NEWS UPDATE 27th JUNE 2022
THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR
THE FIRST BATTLE OF BULL RUN, 1861
THE UNION ARMY
5[SUP]th[/SUP] U.S. ARTILLERY
During the early action on Henry House Hill, two batteries were ordered to advance to a position near to the Henry House. These were batteries of the regular US army, efficient and well commanded.
Both these batteries had been actively engaged from the very beginning of the battle.
The batteries were commanded by Captain James Ricketts, and Captain Charles Griffin.
It is believed McDowell made a serious tactical error in giving the order for the batteries to advance up the hill. They were told that the 11[SUP]th[/SUP] New York Regiment were on their way to support the advance.
The southern cause was helped by a case of mistaken identity. Colonel Arthur C. Cummings’s 33[SUP]rd[/SUP] Virginia Regiment wore blue uniforms. The Colonel afraid his men would break and run if they were held in their position any longer, ordered them to advance towards the guns of Ricketts and Griffin.
Griffin saw them coming and swung two of his guns round and had them loaded with canister.
Just as he was about to fire, his superior officer, Major William F. Barry, shouted , “Captain, don’t fire there; those are your battery support.”
“They are Confederates” Griffin shouted back, as certain as the world, they are Confederates.”
But Barry insisted, and the guns were swung back to their original line of fire.
The Virginians, meanwhile marched ever closer, halted and fired a volley.
Griffin told a subsequent Board of Inquiry, “was the last of us, We were all cut down.”
Most of the horses and many of the gunners were killed.
Ricketts was severely wounded. Griffin struggled to save what he could, but Cummings and his Virginians were among them quickly to capture the guns and much ammunition.
McDowell was not prepared to lose his guns. Two regiments of Franklin’s Brigade, from Massachusetts were ordered to retake the guns, which they succeeded in achieving.
Jackson’s Virginians then drove back the Massachusetts regiments in a counter attack.
The battle for the guns continued as the 1[SUP]st[/SUP] Minnesota Regiment drove the Virginians back yet again.
After yet another charge by Jackson’s Virginians, the 1[SUP]st[/SUP] Michigan under the command of General Orlando Bolivar Willcox re-took the guns. The 1[SUP]st[/SUP] Michigan remained in the thick of the action, progressing further into the Confederate lines than any other Union regiment. Willcox himself was wounded, and then captured, as he ran towards a line of men in blue uniforms to tell them they were firing on friends, discovering too late that they were the enemy.
Best wishes and many thanks,
john jenkins
THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR
THE FIRST BATTLE OF BULL RUN, 1861
THE UNION ARMY
5[SUP]th[/SUP] U.S. ARTILLERY
During the early action on Henry House Hill, two batteries were ordered to advance to a position near to the Henry House. These were batteries of the regular US army, efficient and well commanded.
Both these batteries had been actively engaged from the very beginning of the battle.
The batteries were commanded by Captain James Ricketts, and Captain Charles Griffin.
It is believed McDowell made a serious tactical error in giving the order for the batteries to advance up the hill. They were told that the 11[SUP]th[/SUP] New York Regiment were on their way to support the advance.
The southern cause was helped by a case of mistaken identity. Colonel Arthur C. Cummings’s 33[SUP]rd[/SUP] Virginia Regiment wore blue uniforms. The Colonel afraid his men would break and run if they were held in their position any longer, ordered them to advance towards the guns of Ricketts and Griffin.
Griffin saw them coming and swung two of his guns round and had them loaded with canister.
Just as he was about to fire, his superior officer, Major William F. Barry, shouted , “Captain, don’t fire there; those are your battery support.”
“They are Confederates” Griffin shouted back, as certain as the world, they are Confederates.”
But Barry insisted, and the guns were swung back to their original line of fire.
The Virginians, meanwhile marched ever closer, halted and fired a volley.
Griffin told a subsequent Board of Inquiry, “was the last of us, We were all cut down.”
Most of the horses and many of the gunners were killed.
Ricketts was severely wounded. Griffin struggled to save what he could, but Cummings and his Virginians were among them quickly to capture the guns and much ammunition.
McDowell was not prepared to lose his guns. Two regiments of Franklin’s Brigade, from Massachusetts were ordered to retake the guns, which they succeeded in achieving.
Jackson’s Virginians then drove back the Massachusetts regiments in a counter attack.
The battle for the guns continued as the 1[SUP]st[/SUP] Minnesota Regiment drove the Virginians back yet again.
After yet another charge by Jackson’s Virginians, the 1[SUP]st[/SUP] Michigan under the command of General Orlando Bolivar Willcox re-took the guns. The 1[SUP]st[/SUP] Michigan remained in the thick of the action, progressing further into the Confederate lines than any other Union regiment. Willcox himself was wounded, and then captured, as he ran towards a line of men in blue uniforms to tell them they were firing on friends, discovering too late that they were the enemy.
Best wishes and many thanks,
john jenkins
