New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1861-08-01
From the Seat Of Wan, in Virginia


From the Seat Of War in Virginia.
specraI to the New Orleans Crescent
MASlssAs JrSCT1oy July o, 1851.
M. Eot0r-A few hours having elapsed since
tie smoke Of tie two late desperate conflicts be-
tween deSpotism and liberty, cleared away will
endeayor to disrObe wild rlnor Of its eXaggera-
tons and give your readers as correct and intel
ligbe report Of the past few days in Eastern
Virginia as it is possible at present to communicate.
On Tuesday. the lGth inst, the entire corps d'ar-
mfe, constituting the column under the command
of BrigaderG General Mcdowell, left Arngt on
Heights, with tie intention of forcing its way
through to Richmond, via Fairfax and Manassas.
The advance was made by four different rontes
leading towards Fairfax Courthouse. and directly
to Centreville.
The right wing. composed of the first division.
four brigades, under Cen 7 er of Connecticut.
approached by the Georgetown turnpike. The
center, composed Of the second di7ision, two
Lrieades, Co.. Hunter, I. :. H. came by the Lees
posed Of the third division, three bricades, Col
HeIntZ2lman, I. S. s., and the fiih division. 1wo
breades, under Col. Miles, U.>. 4. Tie latter
approached by, the "oid RradGock road" and
the third By the Little liver Turnpike" The
fourth division under ten. Kuuyo1, Of New Jer.
sey constituted the reserve. In the whole column
there were sEty-tTo regiments bout S., ,h00Tnen.
Meeting with but little or no resistance, these
several divisions we're concentrated at Fairfax
Courthouse. where there was but about three
thousand men. under Gen. Bonhan.. OF South Caro-
lima. This position was surrendered by Gen. Bon
hams command which fell bach towards Centre
Vile and Blackbtrns I ord GU small creek
called Bulls Run, about four and half miles orth-
west from Manassas LunCti On Thursday, tie
18Th inst the center of this imposing army com
posed OF the second division. numbering rrwards Of
l2,Oly men, under tile immediate command of en-.
Mcdowell, were re- orted approaching blackbEYn's
Ford. This ford is about twenty-five teet in Width
and is approached b. al irregular ravine mace lrr
the spongy nature OF the soil The mort srn bank i
perpendic ar bItt o about thirty feet hch W. d.
sides c( rrecipitate character. The southern
bank is low and subject to overflow at hirl water
Cen, EeaureEard, hearing of the approach Of
Mcdowell to this forG, was on the alert, and in
few hours had concentrated about 5000 infantry
anG three pieces OF artillery Glaor WaIton'sl at
the ford. Mcdowell opened the ball v ith | Ilsic
from portion OF Shermans celebrated battery,
consisting cf six or seven assorted pieces, incud
ing the tam0ns eighteen FOUNDER. The first Jew
shots from this battery directed at the tepro-
rary headquarters OF Gen. Eeauregard situated
about half mile to tie rear of the ford, aud the
a!m OF the heaviest gun was directed at our hos
flag was flying. The Washington artillery, ta!..nc
position to draw the fire OF the enemy from the
hospital, responded and soon had the six pieces of
the enemy's battery in full play upon their own
disabled tie great eichteen.pounder of Boston,
and soon after the music of the enemy was less
deatening. Gen. beauregard. WHO command
ed in person, now ordered the Seventh Eegi-
and tie First. Eleventh and Twenty fourth
Regiments of Virginia. to take position n the
extreme southern Lank of tie ford, and pre-
pare to give warm reception to the enemy.
who were seen approaching the opposite BAN,
with their whole force of infan.-y. Gen. Ror-
ham, meanwhile, had stationed his cor mani,
of Irave orth CaroIiTians consisting Of several
thousand gallant troops and two batteries, few
miles above the ford, ut did not COZ. INTO action.
Tho bully Seventh of Louisiana. under tie nsn y.
ing con mand of " our Larry" charged tie ner
row l. order OF timber which slrted the run at ile
ford and with two of the tlTee irgniG regime euts
above mentionedin close order beside then, oreuet,
most murGeIoUs FIRE on tho thickets upon the
opposite b!n- Our -eveuth in t.s, its { rst en-
gaget ent proved an honog to the State which sent
it forth to battle for Southern independence
Hitherto untried and Inexperienced in tie arts o.
way both officers and men proved their metiie aud
efficiency. Col. Hays was not only theoretically
but practically the head and front OF his commari
rushing with heroic cooIess aud Ira cry into ii
thck though narrow cL&pparal G! undetgrow1.
winch sklrteG the bdnAs OF tue strea closel' fol
lowed ly his entire command. The Virginia leri.
nentS, coming i'll about the same tile, crew &
rakug ire from the en- MY on the butls almost
directly over our heads, the aim, however, being
fortunately y too high for effect. The Virginia Blues
under command of Capt. D. A. Wilson, .r., of New
Orleans, following their gallant leader, who sword
in hand. led his scarcely less heroic COMPANY down
to the very brink Of the stream, occupied the sout
eTn benz ct the ford, being in ihe absence OF Cart
Ierry's livingston Rifles. on tie extreme left ct
tie regiment. Tie cond3Ct Of Capt. " ilson and
ieuts. Il. c. Thompson and G. { BeItenEer of tie
| same company, is worthy of all praise but being
desrous Oh mentioning other na mes in 3nneCtiol
with heroism O.. this memorable day all com
PEELED to omit any detailed description o. thcir
acts. nCe1 one of the most pouring showers Of
leader hail ever witnessed, the Virginia Blues fol
lowed the lead OF the officers mentioned, almost to
the waters eGge, the other companies of the reg
ment following obo' ely on the right. Tie irst
Virginia heCirent having been the first to ente1
the woods, about quarter o. nile above the
foro was under most murGerols fire, when the
Seventh ] oU.siana entered. Encoura geo by the
reinforcement OF the latter, who went into the
thIc!fet with warwhoop which would have dons
credlt to band of Camanches, the Third wlicl
was beng slowly forced back from the water;
edge, returned to the charge with renewed yicor
and. sustained by the Third and Eleventh Of Nir
gna in the rear the First of Virginia Ind Seventh
| OF Louisiana stood their ground without finching
| receiving and returning the fire of the enemy fU
| eight or ten rounds, when the Yankees retreateG
| from the ford and scattered up and Gown the run
| Our own forces were also somewhat distributed
the Seventh aud First Regiments still holding thei
| position at the ford. Sherman's Battery nov
opened with renewed yigor, and the fight laste,
Tor two or three hours, when the little battery O
| CAPT. Escheman, of the Washington Artillery
proving too strong for the enemy the latter retired
| and the hard-tOught day ours. OF the conduc
| OF our officers, too much cannot be said in thei
| praise. From prisoners captured yesterday at the
| battle Of Stone Bridge, learn that the Seventh
| Regiment of Louisiana came in for more than i'll
| mere numerical proportion of credit in bringing
| about the result among the enemy. The idea OBJ
| tajned that the Seventh - was composed of New
Orleans thugs, murderers and Jail birds. la Billy
| Wilson'S I)us," and was known among the Fed
eralists as the ragged Seventh" Even this rathe
exceptional character is preferable to the treat
ment the Seventh received at the hands of the tee
graphic reporter, at this point, for the Richmon,
press, who, i'll his dispatches, perceive, entire
| ignored the fact of the presence Of the regimen
on the battlefield.
do not wish to appear partial or inyidious bu
| cannot fOrbear mentioning the names of a few G
the officers of the Seventh whose opportunities 70
| the exhibition of valornus conduct were perhap
better than their brOthers-in-arms. or the conduc
of Capt. D. A. Wilson, Jr., and Lieutcnants Be
lenger and Thompson, | have already spoken
Capt. Wilson, when til ,.dcr to charge was given
drew his sword, and waving it above his heaC
shouted at the top of his voice, g Come on, hlu
birds follow me-" And they did, through
shower of balls thicker than hail-stones follOwe
by the remaining companies of the regiment at il
regular intervals but a short distance behinC
Capt. s. Fl. Gilman of the Crescent Rifles, Con
pany G, ably and bravely supported by Lieutef
ants Driver and Dawson, was also conspicuous
the fight. Capt. W. 3. Ratifl, of the Irish Volu1
teers was remarkable for his close attention
duty and his cool courage. Lieutenants Hewi