Genrl. Longstreet was given three regiments during the forefront of the Battle of 1st Manassas. As Beuregard asked for help from Johnston in the valley, he also asked Longstreet to send his troops to defend a key position on the battlefiled, Blackfurn's Ford.
Longstreet writes in his OR:
"...I took my position at this ford (Blackburns) on the 17th instant, my brigade being composed of the First, Eleventh, and Seventeenth Regiments of Virginia Volunteers. My line of defense being quite extended, I threw out a line of skirmishers to the water's edge, covering my entire front, holding strong reserves in readiness to defend with the bayonet any point that might be violently attacked."
"He made an assault with a column of three or four thousand of his infantry, which, with a comparatively small force of fresh troops, was with some difficulty repelled."
Longstreet was referring to Early's men during the last sentence of that 1st excerpt. Beuregard had given Longstreet the discretion of using Early when his line began to break or waver a bit.
Longstreet held his line bravely with lightly-trained green troops. Genrl. Tyler threw much of Israel Richardson's command at Old Pete's position.
"The presence of these regiments probably intimidated the enemy as much as the fire of the troops that met him.", said Longstreet.
He added,
"A second and more determined attack was made after a few minutes, which was driven back by the skirmishers, and the companies of the reserve thrown in at the most threatened and weakest points. I then Sent a staff officer to Colonel Early for one of the reserve regiments of his brigade. Before the arrival of that regiment a third, though not so severe, attack was made and repulsed. Colonel Hays, Seventh Regiment Louisiana Volunteers, came in and promptly took position in time to assist in driving back the enemy the fourth time, when I ordered the advance, and called on Colonel Early for the balance of his brigade."
In my mind, if it wasn't for Longstreet's men who held the center of the confederate line against some early-war attacks, people such as "Stonewall" Jackson would have not been known for the BATTLE at all. This was some good fire on this part of the line. Casualties were not that high, but that is mainly due to the fact that either sides troops, Union or Confederate, were trained very well at this point. Untrained solders tended to shoot high.
I think Longstreet should be noticed during this battle, for his green troops fought well.
Few
Longstreet writes in his OR:
"...I took my position at this ford (Blackburns) on the 17th instant, my brigade being composed of the First, Eleventh, and Seventeenth Regiments of Virginia Volunteers. My line of defense being quite extended, I threw out a line of skirmishers to the water's edge, covering my entire front, holding strong reserves in readiness to defend with the bayonet any point that might be violently attacked."
"He made an assault with a column of three or four thousand of his infantry, which, with a comparatively small force of fresh troops, was with some difficulty repelled."
Longstreet was referring to Early's men during the last sentence of that 1st excerpt. Beuregard had given Longstreet the discretion of using Early when his line began to break or waver a bit.
Longstreet held his line bravely with lightly-trained green troops. Genrl. Tyler threw much of Israel Richardson's command at Old Pete's position.
"The presence of these regiments probably intimidated the enemy as much as the fire of the troops that met him.", said Longstreet.
He added,
"A second and more determined attack was made after a few minutes, which was driven back by the skirmishers, and the companies of the reserve thrown in at the most threatened and weakest points. I then Sent a staff officer to Colonel Early for one of the reserve regiments of his brigade. Before the arrival of that regiment a third, though not so severe, attack was made and repulsed. Colonel Hays, Seventh Regiment Louisiana Volunteers, came in and promptly took position in time to assist in driving back the enemy the fourth time, when I ordered the advance, and called on Colonel Early for the balance of his brigade."
In my mind, if it wasn't for Longstreet's men who held the center of the confederate line against some early-war attacks, people such as "Stonewall" Jackson would have not been known for the BATTLE at all. This was some good fire on this part of the line. Casualties were not that high, but that is mainly due to the fact that either sides troops, Union or Confederate, were trained very well at this point. Untrained solders tended to shoot high.
I think Longstreet should be noticed during this battle, for his green troops fought well.
Few
, was only a demonstration to engage the attention of the Confederates while McDowell reconnoitered to decide upon his plan of attack. Beauregard claims that his success in this first encounter was of especial advantage to his army of raw troops; that it made McDowell cautious and hesitating in forming his plans for a general engagement, and that it gave him time. then his greatest need, for the concentration of the three Confederate armies for the final struggle. "