General Ewell at First Manassas. 45
attack which, by his own figures, he should not have expected be- fore twelve.
It is not for me to reconcile these contradictions.
CAMPBELL BROWN,
Formerly Aide-de-camp and Assistant Adjutant- General on Gen- eral Ewell 's staff. SPRING HILL, TENN., December 29, 1884.
[ Correspondence^}
UNION MILLS, July 25, 1861. General Beauregard:
SIR, In a conversation with Major James, Louisiana Sixth Regiment, he has left the impression on my mind that you think some of your orders on the 2ist were either not carried out or not received by me.
My first order on that day was to hold myself in readiness to at- tack this at sunrise. About ten, General Jones sent a copy of an order received by him, in which it was stated that I had been or- dered to cross and attack, and on receipt of this I moved on until receiving the following:
10 & 1-2 A. M.
On account of the difficulties of the ground in our front, it is thought advisable to fall back to our former position.
(Addressed) General EWELL. (Signed) G. T. B.
If any other order was sent to me, I should like to have a copy of it, as well as the name of the courier who brought it.
Every movement I made was at once reported to you at the time, and this across Bull Run, as well as the advance in the afternoon, I thought were explained in my report sent in to-day.
If an order were sent earlier than the copy through General Jones, the courier should be held responsible, as neither General Holmes nor myself received it. I send the original of the order to fall back in the morning. The second advance in the afternoon and recall to Stone Bridge were in consequence of verbal orders.
My chief object in writing to you is to ask you to leave nothing doubtful in your report, both as regards my crossing in the morning and recall, and not to let it be inferred by any possibility that I
