muster-in.  One day, Colonel Corcoran explained this matter to me.  I advised him to reduce the facts to writing, and that I would submit it to the War Department for an authoritative decision.  He did so, and the War Department decided that the muster-roll was the only contract of service, that it would be construed literally; and that the regiment would be held till the expiration of three months from the date of muster-in, viz., to about August 1, 1861.  General Scott at the same time wrote one of his characteristic letters to Corcoran, telling him that we were about to engage in battle, and he knew his Irish friends would not leave him in such a crisis.  Corcoran and the officers generally wanted to go to the expected battle, but a good many of the men were not so anxious.  In the Second Wisconsin, also, was developed a personal difficulty.  The actual colonel was S. P. Coon, a good-hearted gentleman, who knew no more of the military art than a child; whereas his lieutenant-colonel, Peck, had been to West Point, and knew the drill.  Preferring that the latter should remain in command of the regiment, I put Colonel Coon on my personal staff, which reconciled the difficulty.

In due season, about July 15th, our division moved forward leaving our camps standing; Keyes’s brigade in the lead, then Schenck’s, then mine, and Richardson’s last.  We marched via Vienna, Germantown, and Centreville, where all the army, composed of five divisions, seemed to converge.  The march demonstrated little save the general laxity of discipline; for with all my personal efforts I could not prevent the men from straggling for water, blackberries, or any thing on the way they fancied.

At Centreville, on the 18th, Richardson’s brigade was sent by General Tyler to reconnoitre Blackburn’s Ford across Bull Run, and he found it strongly guarded.  From our camp, at Centreville, we heard the cannonading, and then a sharp musketry-fire.  I received orders from General Tyler to send forward Ayres’s battery, and very soon after another order came for me to advance with my whole brigade.  We marched the three miles at the double-quick, arrived in time to relieve Richardson’s brigade, which was just drawing back from the ford, worsted, and stood for half an hour or so under a fire of artillery, which killed four or five of my men.  General Tyler was there in person, giving directions, and soon after he ordered us all back to our camp in Centreville.  This reconnoissance had developed a strong force, and had been made without the orders of General McDowell; however, it satisfied us that the enemy was in force on the other side of Bull Run, and had no intention to leave without a serious battle.  We lay in camp at Centreville all of the 19th and 20th, and during that night began the movement which resulted in the battle of Bull Run, on July 21st.  Of this so much has been written that more would be superfluous; and the reports of the opposing commanders, McDowell