Head Quarters 5^th Infantry

Camp Jackson, July 22, 1861.

 

General

                        In compliance with your order I respectfully submit the following report of the part taken by my command, the 5^th Regiment of Va Infantry, which formed a part of your Brigade, in the action of yesterday the 21^st instant.

 

                        About four o'clock a.m. I repaired as directed by you to the position occupied by Gen Longstreet, where I held my command for some considerable time in anticipation of an enemy advance of the enemy on that point, until it became manifest to you that the demonstration made was but a feint. Under your orders I then reunited with the rest of your Brigade, and moved to a position on the right of Genl Cocke's and in rear of Col Bartoe's command, where I remained about one hour. My Regiment was again reunited to the Brigade and advanced to a position to a position in rear of Genl Bee's Brigade. There I was ordered to advance to support of Capt [blank] Battery. a Battery then being brought into position on my left. My instructions were to hold the position until the enemy approached over the crest of the hill, which would bring them within about fifty yards, when I was to fire upon them and charge. This order I executed / in part, though subjected to an annoying fire of Artillery and musketry, sheltering my men as best I could in my position of inactivity. Very soon however the our forces in front began to give way and retreated in numbers by our my flanks and through our my files. Finding it impossible under such circumstances to execute your order, I concluded to advance my Regiment to the brow of the hill, to ascertain what I could there effect for the support of our friends. Seeing the enemy were not within five or six hundred yards of the line and that many of our troops were still in the front I determined to fall back to our upon my original position to avoid the danger of firing upon our friends which I did. There I halted the command in good order, but soon the increasing number of our retiring friends, who paid little regard to my lines induced me to make a second advance. On reaching the top of the hill however I found the enemy advancing from different points, and after a brief contest, I again retired to my first position, and subsequently fell back through the skirt of woods in my rear. Here I found Gen Bee actively engaged in an effort to rally the his scattered forces, in which he partially succeeded. I at once approached him and offered my cooperation. Very soon however Gen Beauregard appeared on the field, under whose orders I subsequently acted. We advanced at once upon the enemy / keeping up a brisk and effective fire which caused them to give way. After regaining the summit of the hill I ordered a charge to be made upon a battery of six pieces commanded by Capt Ricketts but such was the eagerness of the men in keeping up their fire upon the retiring foe, I could rally only a portion of the command to the work. At this juncture a considerable number of our troops of different commands had rallied on my left and formed perpendicularly to my line, who were seemingly inactive. I dispatched my adjutant to inform them of my purpose and invite their cooperation which was promptly given. My own men on the right being nearer to the battery reached it first driving the enemy (by their fire) in advancing upon the pieces. Two of my men were wounded at the guns. I immediately called upon my command to know whether any of them could manage them and receiving no response I advanced my Regiment to a hill on the right where Col Robert Preston's regiment was stationed. There being no enemy however in that direction against whom we could operate, orders were received from Gen Beauregard to move towards Centreville by way of the stone bridge. While passing by the battery I found it operating against the retiring enemy in the distance. This I am informed was done by order of Col James F. Preston of our Brigade who it appears had been cooperating with me with a portion of / his command. After passing beyond the stone bridge the troops were halted and held together until near sunset, when my command was marched back to Manassas Junction.

 

                        I have only to add the expression of my warm acknowledgements to Lieut Cols Harmon & Baylor for their earnest & hearty cooperation throughout the protracted conflict, as well as to the adjutant and officers and men generally of the command. The loss of my Regiment was six killed, forty seven wounded and thirteen missing.

 

With high respect

Your obt servant

Kenton Harper

  Col. 5^th Inftry

 

Gen T. J. Jackson                                                                                          

            Comg 1^st Va Brigade

 

 

 

[endorsement]

 

Col. Harper's Report

of the operations of

the 5^th Infantry in

the Battle of Ma

nassas. May 21, 1861.

SOURCES