Skirmish on the Cub Run July 18, 1861

Report from the Fredericksburg Monitor July 19 1861.

Blackburn's Ford July 19, 1861.  "The Federal 1^st Massachusetts, dressed in Grey uniforms left Centreville at 5am, marching into the woods.  The skirmishers advanced under Lieut.-Col. Wells, and encountered the enemy almost at once as they approached Blackburn Ford.  The Forces of the Confederacy opened a galling fire of musketry or rifles, but without attempting to advance, and seemed only inclined to dispute the passage of the Bull Run, which they evidently supposed the Union Forces intended to make at that point."

Skirmish on the Cub Run July 18, 1861

In the meantime a company had been advanced to take and hold the passage over the Cub Run, to defend the left flank of General Tyler`s advance.  These were of the 11^th Massachusetts, under Captain Floyd “Parson” Farthingdale.   The company calling themselves the “Parsons’s Flock” advanced over open ground to the ford. 

Lieutenant Winfield Armstrong Fluster was sent forward into the woods across the Cub Run leading the “Parson’s” skirmishers. 

Lieut Fluster discovered the enemy, as he supposed ; but having seen the grey of the 1st Massachusetts Regiment, and being a ditherer and a stutterer,  fearing to give the order to fire, lest he might shoot some of our own men, he ran forward, exclaiming, "Wwwho are yyyyou ? "

The Texican Sergeant, Jubal Krebbs a notoriously rough man called back almost the same question,  "So who the f*ck are you? "

When Lieut. Fluster  incautiously and with some pride responded, "We are Massachusetts men."  A great volley of musketry was immediately loosed by the Texans causing him to fall to the ground.  Here however the Gallant Lieutenant drew a formidable hand gun from his oversized holster, and loosed a shot in return, the recoil of which once again knocked him to his posterior.

Fluster’s men began to withdraw, firing as they did so, awaiting the rest of the Company’s arrival in support.

Hearing the shooting that had now commenced between Fluster’s Skirmishers and the Texicans the Parson ordered his men over the Cub Run along the road for the Island Ford over the Bull Run.  The terrain was difficult but he deployed into a loose Company line and made his way forward. 

A map of the action.

The 11th Massachusetts cross the Cub Run but are blocked by a ravine.  The Texas company of Cocke's Brigade use the ravine as cover and can volley three units to the single unit that the Union try to push forward.

After the Union company had gone some distance along the Island Ford Road they came across a gully, or dry ravine, which extended downwards in the direction of Bull Run.  Across the Gulley and using the terrain to advantage were the 2^nd Texas under Major Quincy Ewing Whitemoore. The Texas men were ordered to level their pieces and to take aim.

The Parson`s flock found themselves exposed to a murderous fire from the ravine.  Each man covered himself as well as possible, and sought for an opportunity to return the fire.  But at first the enemy were completely invisible.  They poured in volley after volley, managing to remain concealed themselves.

At this juncture the Parson shouted “Testify to the Lord Brothers,” and charged forward firing his .44 Navy Colt upon the several places where the Confederates lay concealed. This caused a severe fire to be concentrated upon the Parson.  

Sergeant Major McSinister was shot in the groin and carried from the field.  He did not live to see the other side of the Run.  The Parson himself was shot in the Bible, and he lost heart, leading his men in a rout back across the Cub Run, to the jeers of the Texas men.

Young Fluster was forced to cover the retreat with the remains of his skirmishers.  The exact circumstances are unknown, but it seems from eye witness accounts that Fluster led a gallant action, until he fired his over sized pistol at a Confederate Officer.  

Fluster was knocked to the ground amid clouds of powder smoke, and his men fled.  The Lieutenant, his face sooty, made his way back, having sustained a wound to his head that made him appear cross-eyed for the rest of his days.  Of course the way things are going the rest of his days may not take long!

Notes

The Battle of Blackburn's Ford took place on July 18, 1861 It was a precursor to 1st Bull Run, and occurred only as a result of a Union General exceeding his orders.  The Lieutenant declaring "We are Massachusetts Men," and the volley's from cover that decimated the Union, were taken from that fight, although it occurred at the next ford to the East, and not over the Cub Run.

My Officer casualties were extreme in this game, for the Union at least. Three Officers fell, with my later rolls determining that one was injured permanently and one merely stunned.  Losses among the troops was also disproportionate.  The Confederates lost only one man, to the Federals ten.   

The Parson must now rally his men, and prepare for 1st Bull Run two days after this battle, on 21st July.  

I may wait until I`ve painted more Confederates before attempting it!