A Thousand Words a Battle: Second Manassas

Battle of Second Manassas
August 28-30, 1862

Thirteen months following the early Confederate victory at Manassas along the banks of Bull Run, Union and Confederate forces again opposed one another on the plains of Manassas. On August 28 and 29, the Army of Virginia led by John Pope battled “Stonewall” Jackson’s Confederates while Robert E. Lee arrived with the rest of the army under James Longstreet. On the afternoon of August 30, Longstreet led 25,000 men in an attack against the weakened Federal left.

Initially, just two New York regiments under the command of Gouverneur K. Warren stood alone between Longstreet’s soldiers and the Union rear. Colonel Warren reported on the actions of his brigade:

The enemy advanced with rapidity upon my position. . . . The Tenth New York was compelled to fall back, scarcely arriving at the position held by the Fifth New York before the enemy, and in such a manner as to almost completely prevent the Fifth from firing upon them. While I was endeavoring to clear them from the front the enemy in force opened fire from the woods on the rear and left flank of the Fifth with most fearful effect. I then gave the order to face about and march down the hill, so as to bring the enemy all on our front, but in the roar of musketry I could only be heard a short distance. Captain Boyd, near me, repeated the command but his men only partially obeyed it. They were unwilling to make a backward movement. He was wounded while trying to execute it. Adjutant Sovereign carried the order along the line to Captain Winslow, commanding the regiment, and to the other captains, but was killed in the act. Captain Winslow’s horse was shot. Captain Lewis, acting field officer, was killed. Captain Hager was killed. Captains McConnell and Montgomery were down with wounds, and Lieutenants Raymond, Hoffman, Keyser, and Wright were wounded. Both color-bearers were shot down, and all but four of the sergeants were killed or wounded.

Before the colors and the remnant of the regiment could be extricated 298 men of the Fifth and 133 of the Tenth New York were killed or wounded.

In the Tenth New York Lieutenant Hedden was killed, and Captain Dimmick. Lieutenant Dewey? Lieutenant Mosscrop, and Lieutenant Cuilhane wounded. The colors of both regiments were brought off, and the batteries we were protecting were withdrawn.

We assisted from the field 77 wounded of the Fifth and 8 of the Tenth. The remainder fell into the hands of the enemy. Among these were Captains Boyd, McConnell, and Montgomery, and Lieutenants Wright and Raymond, of the Fifth, and Captain Dimmick, Lieutenants Moss-crop and Dewey, of the Tenth. Braver men than those who fought and fell that day could not be found. It was impossible for us to do more, and, as is well known, all the efforts of our army barely checked his advance.[1]

— Kevin Pawlak

Part of a series.

[1] OR, vol. 12, pt. 2, 504.