but skill and tact. After the main
body of my corps had left camp on its march towards Bristoe, and
soon after daylight, the head of Lieutenant-General A. P. Hill's
corps appeared from the direction of Warrenton. I displayed my
troops with as much show of strength as possible, and with a few
shots from the battery forced the enemy to halt his head of column
and form line of battle. I thereupon retired by column quickly,
and resumed the march until the enemy again pushed forward by the
flank too near for my safety, when, in a chosen position, my troops
were again speedily brought into line and a fire opened, which
necessarily compelled him to halt and again make disposition for
battle. This movement was frequently repeated. At each such halt
the enemy necessarily consumed much time, thus giving the main body
of the corps ample opportunity to proceed leisurely towards its
destination. The weak or broken-down men of the rear-guard were
not required to halt and fight, but were allowed to make such speed
as they could. The day was almost spent when a courier reached me
from French with the information that the corps had passed Bristoe
Station, and was on the north side of Broad Run. Having now no
further responsibility than for the safety of my own command, I
moved more rapidly, and by 4 P.M. I had safely passed Bristoe
Station to the high ground north of Broad Run, from whence I could,
from a distance of less than a mile, see Bristoe, and, for a
considerable distance, the line of railroad running, in general
direction, north and south. The Third Corps had moved on out of
sight towards the heights at Manassas. My command was much wearied,
and I halted it for a short rest, but I soon ordered it forward
where it took position in obedience to an order of General Meade
to cover a blind road over which he feared the enemy might march
to seize the heights.

General A. P. Hill, in his report of the day, says:

"From this point (Greenwich) to Bristoe we followed close upon the
rear of the Third Corps, picking up about 150 [?] stragglers. Upon
reaching the hills this side of Broad Run, and overlooking the
plain on the north side, the Third Corps was discovered resting,
a portion of it just commencing the march toward Manassas. I
determined that no time must be lost, and hurried up Heth's division,
forming it in line of battle along the crest of the hills and
parallel to Broad Run. Poague's battalion was brought to th