Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-08-11
How the Battle OF Manassas was Fought.

Correspon2eLcs Of the Richmond ExEEiner.
ADVANCE FORCE, VIENNA, Va, Aug. 9, ls6l.-Du-
ring the three weeks just passed, / have had the
opportunity of witnessing the operations of war
on large scale, and bshOljing the personal su-
periority of Southern men over those from the
North. g-l afs-.
For more than a week before Fairfax Court
House was evacuated, il was knewn to the initiated
that the enemy was about to come in large force,
and that the command would retreat with all the
other Brgades to the line of Bull Run, and there
make the final stand sgainsf the invader. The sol
diers all expected and wanted TO fight at Fairfax
court House; but the wise Generals of the Con-
federate army had planned it differently six weeks
before. ..-.
By sunrise on the morning of the 18th July, the
advance column of MeDoWelPs army were seen
by the pckets and the preparations for retire at
were fully completed, the sklrmishers of the Bri-
gade could be seen mile two distant, firing up
on the more advanced forces of the enemy. The
merniBg was clear and beautiful. A fAirer day for
q conflict could not be imagined But the odds
were too great for US. The sixty thousand inVad-
ers were to be fought, not Wkere they wanted it,
but at our place.
And so our brigade retrested to Centreville in
good order carrying nearly the whole Of its bag
gage, cOmmisssry and quartermaster's stores, with
out haste or furry, or abandoning property on the
road. At Centreville, seven miles on from the
Court House. halt was made in the evening. The
baggage went on to Bulls Ran, and in the night the
troops were quietly moved to Bulls Run, the line
where the battle was TO be fought. y the morn Of
the 18th July, the troops of Gen. Beauregard were
posted all along the trenches, ready for the enemys
advance. About midday, the enemy made his ap-
pearance on the hills about q mile and q half IN
front Of Bulls Run the direct road leading from
Centreville to Manassas Junction. They planted
there two rifed cannon, which soon gave US full
proof of their activity and capacity by sending their
balls among Us.
The Run is well wooded. The troops were posted
upon line some one OF two hundred yards in rear
of the Run and it was difficult, if not impossible
for the enemy 10 make any reconnaissance Of our |
position. A little later, he pushed forward bedy
of troops. SONS four Regiments, was informed |
by an officer of the enemy subsequently captured
These were opposed by a Virginia force of one |
Regiment and four companies, and driven back with
shame.
A loudhurrah went upas the Yankees ran precip- |
itatly from the bsyOnet charge. Anlartiilery fire
between the enemies batteries and portion of /
the Washington Artillery succeeded. 1t lasted, |
suppose, an hour ard half. Every moment it was |
expected the attack would be made upon the cen
tire and all along the line General BeauFegard j
stood near the centre, in front of the line of his
troops, wearing the same calm, thoughtful mien
which characterizes him uuder all circumstances.
1t was a trying moment flor all Looking at him
and remembering the men he had to WELD, j could
not but feel great confidence in the result of the
fict. The great battle did net come of as we ex-
pected. More than an hour before EundoWn the
enemy ceased his fire. 1t was known, however,
all along the line that the wGtchwoRd was to fight /
then and there that there was to be no more re-
treating and more than all that in the partial trial
of strength already made, it had been abundzntly /
demonstrated that the Yankees could not stand the
cold steel.
/ retired esrly, expecting to be woke the next /
morning by the sound Of cannon ushering the grand
battle But this day passed and the next without
the expected attack. Meantime, reinforcements
from General Johnston began to pour in and take