The following is the report on the action of 1st Battalion Birney's Division at Manassas, VA July 22 thru July 24.
22 July:
After setting up camp in a stiffling heat on the night prior, woke up to the sounds of the army arriving at our camp site. By the end of the day Union infantry numbers were at about 3500 soldiers, under the overall command of Gen. Tony Daniels. Our brigade would consist of Birney's Division, FVB, and the National Regiment, under Gen. Ron Palase. The men rested throughout the day trying to stay out of the heat as best as possible and bedded down for the night early.
23 July:
Reveille was at 6:00 AM and after compiling the company reports our strength was at 95 soldiers, officers included. Battalion was on line for battle at 8:45 AM and moved out in lead of the brigade at 9:00 AM. After being held in reserve for a small time, the battalion was ordered forward through the main line of artillery in the center of the Union line. After engaging a larger Rebel battalion to our front and pushing them back to a line of trees, the 1st wave of rebel infantry was pushed off the field behind their guns. Orders were to hold at the tree line to wait for further orders. COL Rohrbaugh then took a 3 company wing and was attached to the National Regiment, while CPT Murphy took a 3 company wing to be assigned in a reserve position on the the left of the FVB. COL Rohrbaugh's wing was ordered forward with the 11th NY to retake a battery of artillery taken by the rebel advance. Chanting "HI, HI, HI" the whole way forward they took and held the guns for a short time before being pushed back. CPT Murphy's wing as well as the FVB were ordered to move forward. As a Battalion of US Marines were pushed out CPT Murphy took his wing forward, companies with him were 1st Company commanded by 1LT Guilliams, 2nd Company under CPT Baltzer and 3rd Company under CPT Van Meter. After plugging the whole left by the Marines and consoilidating the line, the brigade held the line as long as possible before overwhelming odds forced to line to fall back. The NR with COL Rohrbaugh's wing was forced back first, then the FVB, and finally with their flanks exposed CPT Murphy's wing fell back to the tree line and back past the waiting reserves commander by COL Childs. The brigade was ordered back to a tree line about 200 yards back in reserve and was not ordered forward. The battle ceased and the army was forced to leave the field in the control of the rebels. The men returned to camp disheartened by the turn events on the field and wanting to get revenge on the rebel traitors. The men relaxed for the rest of the day and tattoo was sounded at about 11:00 PM.
24 July:
Reveille again was at 6:00 and morning reports showed lil loss in numbers for the battalion, final report was 86 with 5 total companies; 1st Company under CPT Taylor, 2nd Company under CPT MacGregor, 3rd Company Under CPT Baltzer, 4th Company under CPT Van Meter and a 5th Company was assigned to us consisting of the 39th NYVI; in line at morning dress parade at 8:00. To the shigrin of the brigade commander the entire NR was not on the field for the next days action dropping the brigade numbers to roughly 130. The battalion was 2nd in the brigade line of march and was ordered into the immediate reserve when actions commensed. The battalion got orders to repulse a rebel battalion trying to take our main line of guns and with the FVB in support pushed the rebels back pass the line of trees in the center of the field. The battalion was in the center as the 1st wave again was repulsed in support of a battery of artillery. Orders came down to reconsolidate with the FVB on the Union right with the combined force command given to COL Rohrbaugh. Portraying the 11th NY, the red shirts moved forward to retake a battery of union guns. After stubborn resistance and hot crisp firings the battalion was eventually pushed back under overwhelming odds and the lack of ammunition. After giving ground slowly and stubbornly the battalion was forced back into a reserve position until the battle ceased.
At this time I would like to thank the company commanders: CPT MacGregor, CPT Taylor, CPT Van Meter, and 1LT Guilliams. As well as the Staff MAJ Doyle, SGM Hicks, and MAJ Guilliams (man of many ranks…haha) for their extremely hard work in making sure that things went off without a hitch at our level. I would also like to thank COL Rohrbaugh for giving the opportunity of commanding the wing or reserves on the 23rd. I would also like the thank the Brigade staff, especially COL Steve Reinke and his courriers for their excellent job in making sure the battalion got the proper orders and put in the right positions all weekend.
Respectfully,
M. Murphy
CPT, Adjutant, Birney's Division
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