"Longstreet's brigade played practically no part in the battle of Manassas. It sustained some desultory artillery fire, and there was a demonstration against it, but it amounted to nothing. Blackburn's Ford was on the right, where the attack was expected, but McDowell found his way to Beauregard's left and nearly smashed him until Johnston and Jackson came 'ventre a terre' and turned the doubtful tide of battle into a ruinous rout of the enemy.
"It was late in the afternoon, but we soon heard of it at our ford, and Longstreet, waiting for no man, was immediately in pursuit. He was halted first by Bonham, who ranked him, to permit his brigade to take the lead. Then resuming the march hot-footed, after the flying foe, we were again stopped, this time by Major Whitting, of Johnston's staff, with orders from Beauregard to attempt no pursuit. Painful was this order. We knew the Federals were in full flight, and we had only to show ourselves to bag the whole outfit.
Source: Recollections of a Confederate Staff Officer
Commentary
Moxley Sorrel's comments on Longstreet's role at Manassas are not, by his own admission, intended to be a complete description of the battle. Longstreet's brigade was involved in some hot fire while opposing the Federal forces under Richardson. In the grand scheme of the battle, however, Longstreet's brigade did play a relatively minor role since the main Union attack occurred on the left of the Confederate line.