Thoroughfare Gap, and the Second Battle of Manasses
submitted by Neal Griffin

The first article is from Benjamin F. Abbot, 20th Georgia Infantry, Civil War Miscellany, Personal Papers. Drawer 283, Box 16, Georgia Archives (provenance of clipping is unknown-written ca. 1890). I have added items in ( ) for clarity. Punctuation, composition, spacing and/or spelling errors are left uncorrected. The composition of Anderson's Brigade at the time was: 1st Ga. Regulars, 7th Ga., 8th Ga., 9th Ga., and 11th Ga. Volunteer Infantry Regiments.

"Thoroughfare Gap, and the Second Battle of Manasses"

About 3 pm on the 28th of August (1862) the advance of the column reached the Gap, which is a narrow (defile??) in the Bull Run Mountains. The Manasses Gap Railroad, the turnpike and a small stream of water then passed through it. The mountain on either side of the Gap is steep and abrupt--covered with stones and tangled wildwood.

Brig. Gen. G.T. Anderson's command was marching in front of the column that day and Toomb's brigade, commanded by Col. Henry L. Benning was next. Gen. Rickett's (Union) Division of McDowell's corps was in possesion of the Gap when our force reached it.

The Ninth Georgia regiment was leading the advance, and on reaching the Gap, became hotly engaged. General Anderson, on hearing the firing, dashed forward to the front, followed by his brigade and Toombs'. The first named brigade and the 20th and 17th Georgia of the last named brigade formed the line of battle which cleared the Gap. The 20th and 17th Georgia being on the right of the railroad looking east.

Naturally the Gap was a very strong position ans a mere handful of men could have held it against the greatest odds, for a time sufficient at least to have enabled Pope to measure his full strength against Jackson. Our troops passed the Gap with but little loss but after a spirited engagement.

I am favored by Gen. Anderson with his account of the engagement (?unreadable) so specific I have copied the same.

"On the morning of August 28, 1862 I was at the head of Longstreet's Corps. On the march that morning my Brigade was in the following order. 9 Ga., 1 Ga. Regulars, 7 Ga., 8 Ga., and 11 Ga. Knowing that we were approaching the enemy I did not propose to be surprised, and to avoid this I ordered Col. Beck to place his Regiment the 9 Ga. 400 yards in front of thre Brigade, and his best officer with his company 200 yards in front of the Regiment, and to be very careful that we were not ambuscaded or surprised. Meeting Gen. Longstreet just after the column had moved, I reported to him the precaution I had taken which he heartily approved. The head of the column arriving at a hotel 300 or 400 yards from the Gap was ordered to halt for the accustomed rest. Col. Beck being in advance as directed was about the mouth of the Gap and not aware of the halt, continuing his march he first routed a cavalry picket and passed through the Gap and saw the Federal troops approaching. Forming his Regiment he fought until he was being flanked and fell back fighting. We had only dismounted a moment for rest when I heard Beck's muskets and remarked to Gen. Longstreet that my Regiment had found the enemy and I would go to him. Gen. Longstreet said to me go on, and I will follow with the rest of the command. Riding as rapidly as possible, my Brigade following also (at the) double quick. I met Col. Beck near the water tank, and he informed me of his situation, remarking with tears in his eyes that he could not fight a Division. I ordered Col. Beck to form his Regiment on the right of the R.R. in the small growth of bushes near the branch. By the time the Brigade was up and appreciating the fact that the hill on my left was the key to the Gap. I changed the direction of the column to the left, and so soon as the 1 Ga. Regulars had changed direction faced them to the front and hurried them up the steep face of the hill. As each Regiment passed in rear of the one preceeding it, it was also faced to the front and hurried into position. This hill was so steep that my men assisted themselves by (grabbing??) hold to the bushes on the hill. This then, was the order of the engagement: 9 Ga. to right of the R.R., 1 Ga. Regulars, 7 Ga., 8 Ga.,and 11 Ga. occupying the crest of the hill. The enemy reached a point about 40 yards from my line before we repulsed them, as many of their dead and wounded were about that distance from my position...."

On the 29th of August, Ricketts had fled toward Gaitsville and Longstreet with his 30,000 veterans moved on like a majestic stream to form a conjunction with Jackson onn the plains of Manassas, where, on the 30th of August, the Southern army gained one of the most brilliant victories of the war.

B.F. Abbott

I do not have a date for this second article but I assume that it was probably in late 1862 or early 1863. In this article, Gen. Anderson is attempting to set the record straight as to the Brigade's actions at 2nd Manassas, and to counteract an article written earlier by Gen. A.R. Wright.........

From the Constitutionalist

Headquarters Anderson's Brigade
Near Fredericksburg, Va.
December13, 1862

Messrs. Editors:
Sometimes since my attention was called to a letter written by Brig. Gen. A.R. Wright and published in the Constitutionalist, in which he asserted that at the battle of Manassas, August 30, General Toomb's and my Brigade was driven from the field, and that he charged the enemy with his little Brigade, and held the field under very many difficulties, and that him and Gen. Toombs slept together on the field & etc. I do not profess to know particularly what Gen. Wright and his Brigade did on that occasion, but when he asserted that my Brigade was driven from the field, or any other, he said that which is most undoubtedly incorrect and does gross injustice to the brave men of this Brigade who have yet to be driven by the enemy the first time. We went into the action about 3:30 P.M., and did not leave the field until after dark, and the enemy had been driven from before us. As to the tenacity with which my men held their ground, witness the casualties--seven out of eight field officers killed and wounded, and six hundred twenty-six company, officers, non-commissioned officers and privates. I am not acquainted with General Wright, and hope he wrote his letter under a misapprehension, and not with the intention of disparaging the merits of others to increase his own. As the Constitutionalist published General Wright's letter, I hope he will do us the justice to insert this.
Truly yours,

G.T. Anderson, Brig. Gen.

Hope all you guys enjoyed.................Neal