On July 16, Gen. McDowell order Gen. Tyler “to direct his march so as to intercept the enemy’s communication.” Once he reached Centreville Turnpike, one brigade was to march on Centreville, while the second brigade would march towards Fairfax Court-House. 1

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          Gen. Tyler chose to march toward Centreville with Gen. Richardson’s brigade. Upon reaching Centreville, Gen. Richardson found the town had been vacated the previous night. While Gen. Richardson’s brigade was obtaining water, Gen. Tyler took a squadron of light cavalry and two light companies toward Blackburn’s Ford on the stream Bull Run. 2

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          At 11:30am on July 18, Gens. Tyler and Richardson found themselves looking over a strong encampment of Gen. Longstreet. Gen. Tyler called two-rifled guns from Ayer’s Battery, which fired about a dozen shots. 3 The Confederate battery fired six shots in return and then quit firing. Gen. Longstreet pulled back the cannons as the enemy was out of range. 4

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          Meanwhile, Gen. Longstreet requested reinforcements from Gen. Beauregard. Gen. Beauregard had anticipated Gen. Longstreet’s request and had sent Col. Jubal Early forward to the front.

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          The Union infantry charged the Confederate position several times and were repulsed each time. At about 3:15pm that afternoon, Ayer’s Battery started firing on the Confederate position. The Confederate battery returned shot for shot. Each side shot their cannon 415 times in a 45 minute period.

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          At one time during the action, part of Gen. Longstreet’s men broke and ran. Determined to stop the break, Gen. Longstreet with sword in hand, rode on horseback urging his men back to the front. With the retreating Confederates now headed back to the front, it caught the Union troops by total surprise.

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          Later, Gen. Tyler felt his actions did significant amount of damage to the enemy. He watched ambulances “coming and going” from Manassas the next morning. However, Gen. McDowell was not satisfied and called Gen. Tyler’s actions irresponsible for attacking the enemy and disobeying his orders not to attack the enemy.

1. Irvin McDowell. Report of Brig. Gen. Irvin McDowell, commanding U. S. forces of operations from July 16 to 20, 1861, with order for movements and a return of troops. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies. OR Series 1, Volume 2, Chapter IX.

2. Daniel Tyler. Report of Brigadier General Daniel Tyler, Connecticut Militia, of action at Blackburn’s Ford. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies. OR Series 1, Volume 2, Chapter IX.

3. Ibid.

4. James Longstreet. From Manassas to Appomattox. Philadelphia: J.B. Lippincott, 1896. rpt. Da Capo Press, 1992. 38