Army of Northeastern Virginia

United States Corps Engineers

MAJOR J G BARNARD, chief engineer, Brigadier General I McDowell, Army of Northeastern Virginia.

Working party sappers & miners: CAPT. D P WOODBURY
Assignment: Second Division, Army of Northeastern Virginia.

The working party of sappers and miners was under the command of Second Lieutenant C E Cross on 2 July, 1861.

CAPT. H G Wright
Assignment: Third Division, Army of Northeastern Virginia.

Captain H G Wright, First Lieutenant G W Snyder and Brevet Second Lieutenant F U Farquhar were attached to the staff of Colonel S P Heintzelman.

Unlettered Company Pioneers & axemen: capt. B S ALEXANDER
Assignment: First Division, Army of Northeastern Virginia.

Captain B S Alexander and First Lieutenant L C Houston were assigned to a company of sixty pioneers and axemen from the regiments of the Second Brigade, First Division, Army of Northeastern Virginia, on 21 July, 1861.

Detachment pioneers: FIRST LT. F E PRIME
Assignment: Fifth Division, Army of Northeastern Virginia.

First Lieutenant F E Prime was assigned to the staff of Colonel D S Miles and had a supply of engineer tools and a detachment of pioneers from various regiments of the Fifth Division, Army of Northeastern Virginia, on 21 July, 1861. The detachment was ordered to construct an abatis and earthworks for the 2nd United States Artillery, Light Company M, under the command of Brevet Major H J Hunt, and the Second United States Artillery, Company G, under the command of First Lieutenant O D Greene, to protect the Centreville to Manassas Road, Virginia, during the first battle of Bull Run.

United States Corps Engineers, Company A: First Lt. J C duane
The United States Corps Engineers, Company A, and the 5th United States Artillery, Light Company D, were stationed at the West Point Military Academy, New York, and arrived at Washington D. C. on 18 January, 1861 (See the 5th United States Artillery, Light Company D). The United States Corps Engineers, Company A, was ordered to Fort Pickens, Florida, as part of a relief expedition on 2 April, 1861, and proceeded on board the steamer Atlantic on 17 June, 1861 (See the Fort Pickens relief expedition).

The Defenses of Washington D. C.

Chain bridge was guarded by three companies of 3rd District of Columbia Militia Battalion Infantry (See District of Columbia militia). The 3rd Michigan Infantry constructed earthworks opposite the north end of the bridge and on the top of the bluff. Three columbiads were mounted and below and on a line with the bridge were two brass 12 pounder howitzers (See the 3rd Michigan Infantry).

Fort Ellsworth was named in honour of Colonel E E Ellsworth, 11th New York Infantry, and was an isolated field fort on Shuter's Hill, Virginia, commanding the river port and railroad depot at Alexandria, Virginia. The 17th New York Infantry, except Company K, was on garrison duty at Fort Ellsworth on 21 July, 1861 (See the 17th New York Infantry). On the 29 July, 1861, Brevet Major H J Hunt, chief of artillery, reported the armament and garrison at Fort Ellsworth as follows:

Armament: twelve 8 inch seacoast howitzers; four 24 pounder siege pieces; one 24 pounder field howitzer; two 30 pounder and two 10 pounder Parrott rifles; and three 6 pounder pieces

Garrison: the 2nd United States Artillery, Light Company D; and the 17th New York Infantry.

Fort Runyon: Fort Runyon was named in honour of Brigadier General T Runyon and construction began in the morning on 24 May, 1861, under the supervision of Captain B S Alexander, United States Corps Engineers, by details of the 2nd New Jersey State Militia, the 3rd New Jersey State Militia, and the 4th New Jersey State Militia. Fort Runyon guarded the Long Bridge, Washington D. C. and the junction of the Washington, Alexandria and Columbia Turnpikes. On 25 May, 1861, Captain E Viele, commanding the 7th New York State Militia, Corps Engineers, ordered a detail of men with axes to level to the ground a peach orchard containing 300 trees (See the 7th New York State Militia). The 21st New York Infantry was assigned to garrison duty at Fort Runyon and Company E was stationed at Fort Jackson and Company K at a bastion on the Alexandria Road, Virginia. On the 29 July, 1861, Brevet Major H J Hunt, chief of artillery, reported the armament and garrison at Fort Runyon as follows:

Armament: eight 8 inch seacoast howitzers; ten 32 pounder pieces; one 30 pounder Parrott rifle;and four 6 pounder pieces

Garrison: Captain T Seymour, 5th United States Artillery, artillery officer in charge and the 21st New York Infantry

Fort Albany was named in honour of the capital of New York and was constructed by details of the 71st New York State Militia, the 12th New York State Militia, and 25th New York State Militia, under the supervision of Captain B S Alexander, United States Corps Engineers, in May 1861. The fort commanded the Long Bridge, Washington D. C. On the 29 July, 1861, Brevet Major H J Hunt, Chief of Artillery, reported the armament and garrison at Fort Albany as follows:

Armament: eighteen pieces of various calibre including twelve 24 pounder pieces

Garrison: the 1st United States Artillery, Light Company G; the 5th United States Artillery, Light Company D; and the 1st Massachusetts Infantry

Fort Jackson was constructed at the Virginia end of the Long Bridge, Washington D. C., and was used as a control point for traffic. The 21st New York Infantry, Company E, was assigned to garrison duty at Fort Jackson on 21 July, 1861 (See the 21st New York Infantry).

Fort Corcoran was named in honour of Colonel M Corcoran and was constructed by the 69th New York State Militia in May 1861 (See the 69th New York State Militia). The fort with auxillary works Fort Bennett and Fort Haggerty was constructed to secure the Virginia end of the Aqueduct Bridge, Georgetown D. C. The 28th New York State Militia was assigned to garrison duty at Fort Corcoran and auxillary works Fort Bennett and Fort Haggerty on 21 July, 1861. On the 29 July, 1861, Brevet Major H J Hunt, chief of artillery, reported the armament and garrison at Fort Corcoran as follows:

Armament: twelve 8 inch seacost howitzers; seven 24 pounder barbette pieces; two 12 pounder field pieces; and two 24 pounder howitzers

Garrison: the 3rd United States Artillery, Light Company E; the 2nd United States Artillery, Light Company E; and the 41st New York Infantry

Fort Haggerty was named in honour of Captain J Haggerty, 69th New York State Militia, and was constructed in May, 1861, to protect the Aqueduct Bridge, Georgetown D. C., and to sweep the slope south of Fort Corcoran, Arlington Heights, Virginia (See the 69th New York State Militia). The 28th New York State Militia was assigned to garrison duty at Fort Corcoran, Arlington Heights, Virginia, and auxillary works Fort Bennett and Fort Haggerty on 21 July, 1861 (See the 28th New York State Militia).

Armament: four 24 pounder pieces

Fort Bennett was named in honour of Colonel M P Bennett, 28th New York State Militia, who supervised the fort's construction in May 1861. The fort served to support Fort Corcoran, Arlington Heights, Virginia, and to protect the Virginia end of the Aqueduct Bridge, Georgetown D. C., and the 28th New York State Militia was assigned to garrison duty at Fort Corcoran, Arlington Heights, Virginia, and auxillary works Fort Bennett and Fort Haggerty on 21 July, 1861 (See the 28th New York State Militia).

Armament: two 8 inch howitzers and three 24 pounder pieces

Sources

"While this was going on, Captain B S Alexander, of the Engineer Corps, brought up the company of pioneers and axmen, which, with its officers and sixty men, had been entirely detailed from the regiments of my brigade, to open a communication over the bridge and through the heavy abatis which obstructed the passage of troops on our front beyond the run."

Report of Brigadier General R C Schenck, U. S. Army, commanding Second Brigade, First Division

"At Alexandria, after a preliminary reconnaissance to select a proper site, a large bastioned work, called Fort Ellsworth, was laid out by captain Wright and commenced during the ensuing day."

A report on the defenses of Washington D. C. to the chief of engineers, U.S. Army, by Brevet Major General J G Barnard

"As it was, Capt. Alexander, with his Sappers and Miners, was ordered to cut through the abattis by the side of the mined bridge, in the valley directly before us, and lay pontoons across the stream. Carlisle's Artillery was detailed to protect the work, and the Ohio and Wisconsin reserve to support the artillery."

Bull Run Remembers, by Joseph M Hanson

"Fort Albany was constructed by New York troops who named it to honor the capital of their state. The fort was built on the land owned by James Roach, and work was begun on the fort during the end of May 1861. Construction was supervised by Captain Barton S Alexander of the Army Corps of Engineers, and the fort was completed in about seven weeks."

"The fort was named in honor Brigadier General Theodore Runyon, whose New Jersey Brigade helped build the forts. Fort Runyon was the largest fort in the Defenses of Washington D. C., covering twelve acres of land with a perimeter of 1484 yards. It was built on the land of James Roach. Construction of the fort began on the morning of 24 May, 1861, under the supervision of Captain Barton S Alexander and was completed in about seven weeks. Fort Runyon guarded Long Bridge and the important junction of the Washington-Alexandria and Columbia turnpikes."

Mr Lincoln's forts: A guide to the Civil War defenses of Washington D. C., New Edition, by Benjamin F Cooling II and Walton H Owen II

"On the day of the battle, Major Barnard Supervised Federal engineer and pioneer troops as they entrenched on the northern banks at Blackburn's Ford as part of a holding-flanking movement. Entrenchments and a battery were dug either side of the road. Barnard described the battery as having a log revetment for the interior slope, and some ten or twelve feet of dirt in front. This battery was occupied by Co. G, 2nd US Artillery, commanded by Lieutenant O D Greene, and consisted of four guns placed with two either side of the road."

"Farther back along the same road, Lieutenant Frederick E Prime, US Engineers, oversaw the pioneers of the Garibaldi Guard, or 39th New York Infantry, as they constructed a redoubt with two embrasures. According to Prime, this work would sweep the Old Braddock road, and resist any attempt to outflank us from the left, by Union Mills road or road from Gaines' Ford."

American Civil War fortifications No.2: Land and field fortifications, byRon Field and illustrated by Peter Dennis

Notes

The United States Corps Engineers, Company A, under the command of First Lieutenant J C Duane, was stationed at the West Point Military Academy, New York, and arrived at Washington D. C. on 18 January, 1861. The company was ordered to Fort Pickens, Florida, as part of a relief expedition on 2 April, 1861, and proceeded on board the steamer Atlantic on 7 April, 1861 (See the Fort Pickens relief expedition). The United States Corps Engineers, Company A, arrived at Fort Pickens, Florida, on 17 April, 1861, and was did not present at the first battle of Bull Run. Eleven United States Corps Engineers officers were assigned to the Army of Northeastern Virginia, under the command of Brigadier General I McDowell on 21 July, 1861. Captain A W Whipple, First Lieutenant H L Abbot, and Second Lieutenant H S Putnam, United States Corps Topographical Engineers, were assigned to the Army of Northeastern Virginia during the Manassa Campaign (See the United States Corps Topographical Engineers, Balloon detachment). On 24 May, 1861, three columns, under the command of Major General C W Sandford, were ordered across the Potomac River and Captain D P Woodbury, assisted by Second Lieutenant O E Cross, were assigned to the right column, under the command of Captain W H Wood; Captain B S Alexander, assisted by First Lieutenant F E Prime, were assigned to the centre column, under the command of Major S P Heintzelman; and Captain H G Wright was assigned as a volunteer to Major S P Heintzelman and laid out the trace at Fort Ellsworth, Shuter's Hill, Virginia, on 25 May, 1861 (See Occupation of Arlington Heights and Alexandria).

OFFICIAL REPORT NO.7: SERIES I, VOLUME 2 (S# 2), CHAPTER IX, pp. 328–333
Major J G Barnard, United States Corps of Engineers

OFFICIAL REPORT NO.8: SERIES I, VOLUME 2 (S# 2), CHAPTER IX, pp. 233–234
Captain D P Woodbury, United States Corps of Engineers

OFFICIAL REPORT NO.9: SERIES I, VOLUME 2 (S# 2), CHAPTER IX, pp. 234–236
First Lieutenant F E Prime, United States Corps of Engineers

Orders of Battle

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The above painting, 'New York's Bravest', is by Don Troiani, modern America's finest historial artist.