1862 August 30 near Manassas, Va.

[from the diary of Ephraim A. Wood, Co. C, 13th Massachusetts]



     Saturday  Aug 30th/62

   Our rations were out yesterday
and for Breakfast I had to put up
with a mug of Coffee and two or
three crumbs of hard cracker.
About nine Oclock, we were ordered
to the front, being considered as
fresh troops.  The Col is sick and
has not been with us since leaving
the Gap.  The Major is in command
of the Regt.  He thought after our
hardships of the past week that
we were very fresh troops, very
few of us having had any
breakfast.  The advance skirmisher
were firing nearly all day, but
no engagement took place till
about three oclock in the afternoon.
This Brigade changed their position
several times during the day.
About two Oclock we we [sic] ordered
towards the left, and haulted
in a field near the road.  Shortly
after this the Fight became general
on the right and Centre and was
working round towards the left.
McDowell came along, and ordered
us toward the Centre.  We went double
quick up a hill and on right
by file into line of Battle before
we were aware that we were so
near them (the Rebels)  The Rebels
were in the hollow beyond the
hill as thick as they could
be, it seemed impossible to fire
without hitting some of them they
were so thick.  Our position was as
near as I can judge, on the right
of the left wing,  If  we had have
stayed in our position on the road I think
we should have been of some service
then where we were placed for the Rebels
came round to the left and flanked
us whereas if we had been on the
road they could not have done it
so easily.  We were exposed to a severe
cross fire, which mowed us down
like very rapidly.  Our moving
on to the hill placed us in front
of our Artillery which of course
had to stop firing.  One Battery
came up on the hill and opened
upon the Rebels with Canister and
Grape.  Our Regt had the order to
fix Bayonets.  And we thought it
was [-] for a charge and we
started and went several rods
yelling as loud as we could, when
we were ordered to stop.  A line of
Rebels happen to be coming up the
hill at the same time.  What
little charge we did make was
enough to break there line
and they run back to the main
body as fas as they could go.
They was so much noise that it
was impossible to hear any orders.
The left wing had orders to pull
back.  I did not hear it, and
seeing no one around me [-] turned
round and saw them some ways
in the rear. I has turned to join
them and keep in line as much
as possible.  The Rebels made a charge
up the hill and captured a Piece
of Artilery.  I was within fifty
feet of them.  The Officers that
led them on the charge and the
color bearer was shot dead the moment
they reached the Gun.  The color bearer
jumped upon the Gun and waved
his flag when he fell.  By this time
our Brigade, and got all mixed
up.  It was impossible to find
my place.  The Regt I since learned
was ordered to the left into the
woods, but I guess they were very
fef few to go .  I got into a little
ravine and behind a tree, and
began the Bushwhacking style,
could not have gone any farther.
I was so tired, I sat down in the ravine
 and drank some water, and then
commenced to load and fire.  I
took good aim, and it seemed
impossible for my ball to miss
them they were so thick.
In the front rank I saw
three fall that I fired at, either
from my ball or some one else that
might have fired at the same
man at the same time.
I fired till my Gun became
foul and I could not fire it.
I was so buisy firing that I
did not notice that the line
of Battle had fallen back
and was much supprised
 to find that I was about
half way between the two
armies and in danger of being
shot by my own men.  I carried
my Gun at right shoulder
shift and Squat as low as
possible and made as straight
a line to our line of Battle
as possible.  I was not long
going over the ground I can
tell you.  The balls and shells
whistled around me like bees
One ball hit my Gun barrel,
and, but for my Gun I should
have had a ball in my brain.
I met the Major going off of the
field and he said he was
going to try and form the
Regt. in the rear.  We went back
to a house some ways in the
rear, where we found about twenty
belonging to the 12 and 13 Mas.
We stoped here till dark.  When
we were ordered to cross the the run.
All the forces are falling back.
About two miles from the run
we haulted for the night
Gen Duryea with part of his
Brigade was with us, he was
slightly wounded in the hand.


[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 12021