History of Pennsylvania volunteers, 1861-5; prepared in compliance with acts of the legislature, by Samuel P. Bates.

I_ FIFTY-FIRST REGIMENT. 1862
of Pope, and landed at Fredericksburg, whence he pushed forward two divisions
to Cedar Mountain, where they formed a junction with General M'Dowell. The
enemy had already made his appearance on the Rapidan, and Ferrero's Brigade,
under Colonel Hartranft, was sent to guard the fords from Mitchell's Station
to Raccoon Ford. Lee's columns soon after arrived in force on the opposite
bank, and began to press heavily to gain a crossing, when the brigade was
withdrawn, and returning through Stevensburg, re-crossed the Rappahannock
at Kelley's Ford. Four companies of the Fifty-first were detailed for the rear
guard, and held the enemy at bay until so far separated from the main body as
to excite serious apprehension for their safety; but they succeeded in bringing
in the gun with which they were entrusted, and crossed the river in safety,
losing only a few stragglers. Pope's army manoeuvring for several days, finally
formed in line on the old Bull Run battle-ground. Kearney held the right, with
Reno on his left. Several batteries were posted on a commanding ridge, and
away to the right was a wood in which the enemy was concentrated in heavy
force. The Fifty-first supported these batteries. On the afternoon of the first
day of the battle, the 29th, Lieutenant Colonel Bell, with a portion of the regiment, was detailed to advance to the picket line in Kearney's front, and remained in this position until the morning of the second day, when it re-joined the
regiment, which had been withdrawn during the night. Towards evening, our
forces having been driven back, began to move from the field. The line of retreat was along the Centreville road to the right of the position held by Graham's battery. This road was soon completely blocked with the artillery and
trains, and much confusion prevailed.
It was a critical moment. The enemy, exulting in his successes, was
pushing on to break in upon the column, while impeded by its trains, and to
crush it in its crippled condition by a single blow. Graham's pieces were admirably posted for its protection,.and were already dealing their death laden
volleys upon the advancing foe; but should his supports fail him, his guns would
be lost, and our whole left flank exposed. Ferrero saw the necessity of
holding these guns at all hazards, and of keeping them in full play. Undaunted
by the masses of the foe hurled against him, he clung to the ground, and poured
in double shotted canister and rapid rounds of musketry, until the enemy's
lines were broken and driven in confusion. Again and again they returned to
the contest with fresh troops, and with renewed zeal; but no valor could withstand the shock of Ferrero's column, and the enemy finally retired, leaving
our lines intact, and our trains safe. Ferrero, with the Twenty-first Massachusetts, now moved off, and had become separated from the rest of his brigade.
The command of the two remaining regiments devolved on Colonel Hartranft.
Retiring across Bull Run, the two regiments filed into the fields to the right
of the pike, and bivouacked for the night. In the morning they moved on
to Centreville, and re-joined the army. It was soon after discovered that
the rebels were in motion to strike the Union column by a movement upon its
right, and cut off its retreat. Reno's Corps was immediately put in motion
with the cavalry in advance, and was soon joined by Stevens and Kearney.
Hartranft had the rear of the column, and was moving with two batteries,
though under no orders to support them, when he suddenly found himself confronting the enemy. The two armies were moving en divergent roads, and
the lines were here first struck. Seeing that these batteries were in peril, he
instantly ordered them into a commanding position on the left of the road.