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Warrenton pike at Fairfax , with two brigades, to ascertain if the enemy wasmaking any movement toward our right by that road. The enemy was foundmoving again slowly toward the right, heavy columns moving along theLittle River pike in the direction of Fairfax . This movement had becomeso developed by the afternoon of that day, and was so evidently directed toturn our right, that I made the necessary disposition of troops to fight a
battle between the Little Riverpike and the road from Fairfax toCentreville. General Hooker wassent early in the afternoon to Fair-fax Court House, and directed toconcentrate all the troops in thatvicinity and to push forward toGermantown with his advance.I instructed McDowell to movealong the road from Centrevilletoward Fairfax Court House, asfar as Difficult Creek, and to con-nect on his right with Hooker.Reno was directed to push for-ward north of the road to Cen-treville, and in the direction ofChantilly , toward the flank of the
enemy’s advance; Heintzelman’s corps to support Reno . Just before sunsetthe enemy attacked us toward our right, but was met by Hooker, McDowell,and Reno , and by Kearny’s division of Heintzelman’s corps. A very severeaction was fought in the midst of a terrific thunder-storm, and was onlyended by the darkness. The enemy was driven back entirely from our front,and did not again renew his attack upon us.
In this short but severe action the army lost two officers of the highestcapacity and distinction, whose death caused general lamentation in the armyand country. The first was Major-General Philip Kearny , killed in advanceof his division and while commanding it. There have been few such officers asKearny in our own or any other army. In war he was an enthusiast , and henever seemed so much at home and so cheerful and confident as in battle.Tall and lithe in figure, with a most expressive and mobile countenance, anda manner which inspired confidence and zeal in all under his command, noone could fail to admire his chivalric bearing and his supreme courage. Heseemed to think that it was his mission to make up the shortcomings ofothers, and in proportion as these shortcomings were made plain, his exertionsand exposure were multiplied. He was a great and most accomplished soldier ,and died as he would himself have wished to die, and as became his heroiccharacter, at the head of his troops and in the front of the battle.
General Isaac I. Stevens , who was killed at the same time and nearly onthe same ground, was an officer in many respects contrasted to Kearny. Hewas short and rather stout, with a swarthy complexion and very bright dark