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led to their discharge in ninety days from the time of enrollment； whereas the muster…roll read ninety days from the date of muster…in。 One day； Colonel Corcoran explained this matter to me。 I advised him to reduce the facts to writing； and that I would submit it to the War Department for an authoritative decision。 He did so； and the War Department decided that the muster…roll was the only contract of service； that it would be construed literally； and that the regiment would be held till the expiration of three months from the date of muster…in； viz。； to about August 1； 1861。 General Scott at the same time wrote one of his characteristic letters to Corcoran； telling him that we were about to engage in battle； and he knew his Irish friends would not leave him in such a crisis。 Corcoran and the officers generally wanted to go to the expected battle； but a good many of the men were not so anxious。 In the Second Wisconsin； also； was developed a personal difficulty。 The actual colonel was S。 P。 Coon； a good…hearted gentleman； who knew no more of the military art than a child； whereas his lieutenant… colonel； Peck； had been to West Point； and knew the drill。 Preferring that the latter should remain in command of the regiment； I put Colonel Coon on my personal staff； which reconciled the difficulty。
In due season； about July 15th； our division moved forward leaving our camps standing； Keyes's brigade in the lead； then Schenck's； then mine； and Richardson's last。 We marched via Vienna； Germantown； and Centreville； where all the army； composed of five divisions； seemed to converge。 The march demonstrated little save the general laxity of discipline； for with all my personal efforts I could not prevent the men from straggling for water； blackberries； or any thing on the way they fancied。
At Centreville； on the 18th； Richardson's brigade was sent by General Tyler to reconnoitre Blackburn's Ford across Bull Run； and he found it strongly guarded。 From our camp； at Centreville； we heard the cannonading； and then a sharp musketry…fire。 I received orders from General Tyler to send forward Ayres's battery； and very soon after another order came for me to advance with my whole brigade。 We marched the three miles at the double…quick； arrived in time to relieve Richardson's brigade； which was just drawing back from the ford； worsted； and stood for half an hour or so under a fire of artillery； which killed four or five of my men。 General Tyler was there in person； giving directions； and soon after he ordered us all back to our camp in Centreville。 This reconnoissance had developed a strong force； and had been made without the orders of General McDowell； however； it satisfied us that the enemy was in force on the other side of Bull Run； and had no intention to leave without a serious battle。 We lay in camp at Centreville all of the 19th and 20th； and during that night began the movement which resulted in the battle of Bull Run； on July 21st。 Of this so much has been written that more would be superfluous； and the reports of the opposing commanders； McDowell and Johnston； are fair and correct。 It is now generally admitted that it was one of the best…planned battles of the war； but one of the worst…fought。 Our men had been told so often at home that all they had to do was to make a bold appearance； and the rebels would run； and nearly all of us for the first time then heard the sound of cannon and muskets in anger； and saw the bloody scenes common to all battles； with which we were soon to be familiar。 We had good organization； good men； but no cohesion； no real discipline； no respect for authority； no real knowledge of war。 Both armies were fairly defeated； and； whichever had stood fast； the other would have run。 Though the North was overwhelmed with mortification and shame； the South really had not much to boast of； for in the three or four hours of fighting their organization was so broken up that they did not and could not follow our army； when it was known to be in a state of disgraceful and causeless flight。 It is easy to criticise a battle after it is over； but all now admit that none others； equally raw in war； could have done better than we did at Bull Run； and the lesson of that battle should not be lost on a people like ours。
I insert my official report； as a condensed statement of my share in the battle：
HEADQUARTERS THIRD BRIGADE； FIRST DIVISION FORT CORCORAN； July 25； 1861
To Captain A。 BAIRD； Assistant Adjutant…General； First Division （General Tyler's）。
Sir： I have the honor to submit this my report of the operations of my brigade during the action of the 21st instant。 Th brigade is composed of the Thirteenth New York Volunteers； Colonel Quinby's Sixty…ninth New York； Colonel Corcoran； Seventy…ninth New York； Colonel Cameron； Second Wisconsin； Lieutenant…Colonel Peck； and Company E； Third Artillery； under command of Captain R。 B。 Ayres； Fifth Artillery。
We left our camp near Centreville； pursuant to orders； at half…past 2 A。 M。； taking place in your column； neat to the brigade of General Schenck； and proceeded as far as the halt； before the enemy's position； near the stone bridge across Bull Run。 Here the brigade was deployed in line along the skirt of timber to the right of the Warrenton road； and remained quietly in position till after 10 a。m。 The enemy remained very quiet； but about that time we saw a rebel regiment leave its cover in our front； and proceed in double…quick time on the road toward Sudley Springs； by which we knew the columns of Colonels Hunter and Heintzelman were approaching。 About the same time we observed in motion a large mass of the enemy； below and on the other side of the stone bridge。 I directed Captain Ayres to take position with his battery near our right； and to open fire on this mass； but you had previously detached the two rifle…guns belonging to this battery； and； finding that the smooth…bore guns did not reach the enemy's position； we ceased firing； and I sent a request that you would send to me the thirty…pounder rifle…gun attached to Captain Carlisle's battery。 At the same time I shifted the New York Sixty…ninth to the extreme right of the brigade。 Thus we remained till we heard the musketry… fire across Ball Run； showing that the head of Colonel Hunter's column was engaged。 This firing was brisk； and showed that Hunter was driving before him the enemy； till about noon； when it became certain the enemy had come to a stand； and that our forces on the other side of Ball Run were all engaged； artillery and infantry。
Here you sent me the order to cross over with the whole brigade； to the assistance of Colonel Hunter。 Early in the day； when reconnoitring the ground； I had seen a horseman descend from a bluff in our front； cross the stream； and show himself in the open field on this aide； and； inferring that we could cross over at the same point； I sent forward a company as skirmishers； and followed with the whole brigade； the New York Sixty…ninth leading。
We found no difficulty in crossing over； and met with no opposition in ascending the steep bluff opposite with our infantry； but it was impassable to the artillery； and I sent word back to Captain Ay