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MCDOWELL’S ADVANCE TO BULL RUN.
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McDowell was compelled to wait at Centreville until his provision wagonsarrived and he could issue rations. His orders having carried his leadingdivision under Tyler no farther than Centreville, he wrote that officer at8:15 a. m. on the 18th, “ Observe well the roads to Bull Run and to Warren-ton. Do not bring on an engagement, but keep up the impression that weare moving on Manassas .” McDowell then went to the extreme left of hisline to examine the country with reference to a sudden movement of thearmy to turn the enemy’s right flank. The reconnoissance showed him thatthe country was unfavorable to the movement, and he abandoned it. Whilehe was gone to the left, Tyler, presumably to “ keep up the impression thatwe were moving on Manassas, ” went forward from Centreville with a squadronof cavalry and two companies of infantry for the purpose of making a recon-noissance of Mitchell’s and Blackburn’s fords along the direct road to Manas-sas . The force of the enemy at these fords has just been given. Reachingthe crest of the ridge overlooking the valley of Bull Run and a mile or sofrom the stream, the enemy was seen on the opposite bank, and Tylerbrought up Benjamin’s artillery, 2 20-pounder rifled guns, Ayres’s fieldbattery of 6 guns, and Richardson’s brigade of infantry. The 20-poundersopened from the ridge and a few shots were exchanged w'ith the enemy’sbatteries. Desiring more information than the long-range cannonade afforded,
whelming, I shall retire to Rappahannock railroadbridge, saving my command for defense there andfuture operations. Please inform Johnston of thisvia Staunton, and also Holmes. Send forward anyreenforcements at the earliest possible instant andby every possible means.” The alarm in this dis-patch and the apprehension it shows of McDowell’s
“overwhelming” strength are not in harmonywith the more recent assurance of the Confederatecommander, that through sources in Washingtontreasonable to the Union, and in other ways, he“was almost as well informed of the strengthof the hostile army in my [his] front as its com-mander.”—J. B. P.