The Courier's Bulletin -- #02 -- the Battle of Beverly, VA (Adcock's Farm)

 Courier's Bulletin -- #02

- Following the Union withdrawal from Virginia after the skirmish on the 17th, Joseph E. Johnston raced south with his command to Staunton, VA following reports that the Confederate forces in West Virginia had been dislodged.  Indeed, the men under General Garnett had been forced to retire towards Staunton under pressure from General George B. McClellan's advancing Army of Occupation (N). Just outside of Beverly, VA, Johnston's command made contact with Garnett's delaying force, and together countermarched on McClellan on the 22nd of July.

Strength Report:

The Union Army of Occupation (McClellan):

Men: 6,784

Cavalry: 0

Guns: 14

The Confederate Army of the Shenandoah (Johnston):

Men: 9,689

Cavalry: 258

Guns: 20

The Confederate Army of the Northwest (Garnett):

Men: 1,286

Cavalry: 0

Guns: 8

Fig. 1: The Battle of Adcock's Farm

 

Telegram(s):

- Generals Garnett and Johnston located the Union Army of Occupation just outside of Beverly, VA. Positioned along the stream east of Adcock's farm, the Union line ran North-South, anticipating Garnett's advance from the East. Stuart's cavalry had located the Union army undetected ahead of Johnston's column approaching from the South West, near Warren House. 

- Deploying undetected in the wooded heights west of Adcock's farm, the Confederate Army of the Shenandoah advanced into the open and occupied the picket line on the edge of Adcock's farm. McClellan ordered a sudden about-face as the Johnston appeared in his rear, the Union artillery initiating the battle. With the Union flank turned, Garnett advanced from the East. 

- General Pegram's Brigade (Garnett's Command) advanced on the rear of the Union line, forcing the Union battery to waver. At this moment, Johnston sent his brigades headlong for the Union along the southern half of the stream, pressing McClellan from both flanks. Generals Bartow and Bee led the charge, followed by Jackson and EK Smith. The Union guns were shortly overwhelmed, and as soon as the nearest Union brigade was routed following fierce hand-to-hand combat with Bartow, McClellan's whole line began to buckle. 

- From South to North, each of McClellan's brigades broke and fled north, parallel to the road back to Beverly. 

Bulletin #02:

Casualty Report:

Union Casualties: 1,400 Men (175 killed)* 

Confederate Casualties: 211 Men (31 killed)

* The Union Battery of the Army of Occupation has been wiped out; all guns captured by the Army of the Shenandoah.

- Garnett's vastly smaller West Virginia force is reportedly pursuing McClellan back towards Beverly as Johnston heads back towards Harper's Ferry on the border with Maryland.