17th in a series.
Leaving ten men of each company in charge of camp the regiment joined the advance of the army towards Manassas Junction where the enemy were known to be in force. The movement was slow and stopped that night near Fairfax County House. The next day we reached Sangsters Station on the Orange and Alexander Railroad where we halted early in the afternoon. On July 9th our division, Hientzelman’s, marched to Centerville where the whole army were concentrated. On Sunday morning, July 21st, we were called up at 1:00 and an hour later marched to the top of the hill at Centerville where we were kept under arms until about 6:00 while other troops, batteries and wagons were passing up. About 6:00 we moved through Centerville and upon reaching Bull Run turned to the right and marched by a circuitous route that seemed many miles in the sweltering heat to Sudley Church where we got the first view of the battlefield. We passed almost a clear field in full view of their batteries, then turned to left flank and marched to the front into battle.
