2nd Manassas - August 28th - 30th 1862
As Stonewall Jackson withdrew from Manassas Junction, he placed his corps at a low ridge creased by an unfinished railroad-bed. Early’s brigade (incl. 13th Virginia) was placed on the left of the Confederate line. When a Union Division marched into view on the Warrenton Pike at sunset, unaware of the Confederate position, Jackson attacked with his brigades in the center and right and a fierce encourter broke out. Towards sunset Early’s brigade was ordered to the right, but baffled by the terrain and the darkness, the brigade halted, never directly engaging the enemy on August 28th.
On August 29th a Federal attack was expected and enemy movement from Manassas toward the Confederate right suggested the Federals might try to turn the Confederate right flank. Early’s brigade was ordered to the extreme right and guard against such a maneuver. The 13th and 31st Virginia Infantry Regiments was sent towards Manassas as a strong outpost. The enemy envelopment never materialized, however, and around 10.30 a.m. the two regiments became a welcoming party for the advance elements of Longstreet’s command under Brigadier General John B. Hood.
As soon as these reinforcements started to extend the Confederate line, Early’s brigade moved back to the Confederate center, which was under attack. Then the Union assault shifted to the Confederate left (A. P. Hill’s Division), and Early was ordered further left to back up Hill. Just as the sun was beginning to set, the Federals succeded in breaking the Confederate line between two of Hill’s brigades (Gregg’s and Thomas’) and forced the graycoats back 300 yards. Almost out of ammunition, ranks thinned, the exhausted soldiers prepared to fight with bayonets and rock. At this moment Early was summoned to rescue the Confederate line. In this moment of crisis, one of Gregg’s men recalled: "A shout behind us paralyzed us with dread and some turned their head expecting a Union attack from the rear. But the yell came from Early’s brigade and a regiment of Louisianians". The counterattack slammed the Federals back across the railroad and some hundred yards further. Early yelled at his officers to stop the men, but they kept on going and finally Early shouted: "Well, damn you, if you will go, go on". This counterattack came, according to A. P. Hill, at a most opportune moment and shut down the last Federal assault of the day. The men slept where they were and occupied the Confederate line as Hill’s men went to the rear to get ammunition.
On August 30th the Union started assaulting the Confederate center and left, then shifted to the left. Early suddenly realized that his brigade was the extreme left and that his flank was unprotected. Early had been given to understand that some of Hill’s brigade was still on his left (hidden by woods), but hadn’t been told, that they too had been ordered to the rear for ammunition and hadn’t been replaced. Federal sharpshooter started to harrass the brigade and Union skirmishers walked forward. Early sent word to Hill, , whose troops arrived and drove back the marksmen.
Even though the Federals kept up the assault on the Confederate line throughout the afternoon. Early’s men saw very little action. Some of the regiments included the 13th ended up in the reserve line. Late in the afternoon when Longstreet’s corps launched it’s attack on the Federal left flank, Jackson’s corps moved forward in their turn. The 13th was ordered to investigated reports of Union activity of the left, but no Federals was located. Thus ended the battle of the 2nd Manassas for the 13th Virginia Infantry Regiment. The records showed that the entire battle cost the Regiment a total of 2 killed and 29 wounded.
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Chantilly/Ox Hill - September 1, 1862
After the Confederate victory at 2nd Manassas the Confederates caught up with the Union Army on September 1st at Chantilly. Early’s brigade, which the 13th was a part of, was initially in reserve, but General Starke on the Confederate left, fearing a Federal assault, requested Early to move his brigade to the left. Early agreed and without informing Lawton (the Division commander) or Stonewall Jackson, and relying on the Louisiana Brigade that was in the front line to cover the position he was leaving, moved his brigade just as a violent thunderstorm started. On the way to the new position Early heard a racket of musketry that seemed to be coming from the position he’d just left. On arrival at the new position he discovered that the 13th, 25th and 31st Virginia were not with him.
Investigating what was going on he found the three missing regiments fighting off a Federal contingent, who had broken through the Louisianans in the front line. The Louisiana regiments ran back through the units of Early’s brigade that were about to march off to the left. The commanders of the three Virginia regiments stayed where they were, forming a barrier behind which the Louisiana men could rally. Once more the Union forces got the worst of it, being repulsed everywhere along the line and went into retreat as night fell. General Early was at his proudest of his men following this action. For the 13th the roster shrank with another 2 killed, 14 wounded, and 2 missing.
Official Record