The Battle of Bull Run: So it Begins

Following the initial call for 75,000 troops The First Light Battery of Rhode Island Light Artillery had spent over a month at Camp Sprague outside Washington D.C. The battery was attached to, Major General Robert Patterson who had been given the task of driving the Confederates under General Joseph E. Johnston, out of Harpers Ferry. Governor Sprague travel with the battery as far as Williamsport, Maryland. Johnson evacuation of Harpers Ferry had made any further advance pointless and Patterson and company return to Camp Sprague by June 20, 0861.

Patterson crossed the Potomac on July 2, at Williamsport and by July 15, was in the area of Charlestown. He then marched as far as Bunker Hill then back to Charlestown. Meanwhile Johnston had slipped away and met General P,G,T Beauregard at Manassas, Virginia. Patterson did not learn of the movement until July 20, leaving Paterson and his troop including the First Battery, to far to affect the outcome at Bull Run.

The memory of Patterson's campaign was not a happy one for the men of the First Battery, and would have happily changes the routine of marching and picket, for sharper service. When the First Battery moved from Harpers Ferry to Sandy Nook, It was relieved By Battery A First Rhode Island Light Artillery, Captain William A. Reynolds commanding. On July 31, the First Battery was returned to Providence and mustered out after 3 months service, Sixty Three of its men would re-enlist fro three years further service in the war.

Governor Sprague had continued recruiting in anticipation, after the First Battery left Providence. Camp for the Battery was set up at the Dexter Parade Grounds and named camp Burnside. The new battery under Captain Reynolds, was issued six, 10 pound James Rifles. Leaving Rhode Island on board the Steamers: State of Maine and Kill Von Kull , they arrived in Washington on the 22 nd of June. Going to Camp Sprague they became part of General Irwin McDowell's command.

On July 16, 1861 under pressure to put to use the army made up most of men of 3 months service, The first union offensive began. McDowell's 35,000 man force started moving on Manassas Junction an important rail center guarded by 20,000 men under Confederate General P.G.T. Beauregard. Having caught wind of the slow Union advance, Beauregard send word to Richmond and set up a seven mile long defensive line Bull Run.

Johnson came to his aid, by fooling Patterson. Marching over the mountains to the Manassas Gap Railroad, putting his men onto trains and then began moving them towards the Bull Run Battlefield.

The Battery left camp at 2::00 AM