Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1861-08-15
Current Gopirs.
AbOal Manassas.

! Below will be found a very in
teresting letter, relative to the late
, glorious battle of Manassas. Its
, author is an intelligent and reliable
gentleman. The letter was ad
dressed to a gentleman who kindly
furnishes it to us for publication
THE BATTLE FIELD.
Il Dear Sir: Having Just returned
from Manassas Station, near where
the great battle was fought Oh
Sunday, the 21st inst, | have
concluded to give you the result
of my observations-though no
doubt you have seen the full re-
ports of the strife of that mem
orable day between our brave men
and Lincoln's hirelings, and per-
haps the official reports also, be-
fore this reaches you.
You will recollect Manassas Sta
ton as the place where I parted
with you and brother Fain, at the
close of your late visit to Virgin
la, and tour among our churches.
The first battle was fought some
what below the station, at Bull
Run, ON Thursday preceding, which
resulted in cur forces repulsing
the enemy three times, and finally
maintaining their position, though
outnumbered by the enemy per-
haps three to one. Our loss was
small compared to theirs. But on
Sunday they came forward in great
numbers-they had one hundred
and ten thousand in Virginia be-
tween there and Alexandria, it is
said-and commenced by feint of
firing cannon near where the bat
tie was fought on Thursday, in or
der to detain our army at that point,
while they moved the heavy col
umn of 80 or 60 thousand towards
bridge some five or six miles high
er up the Run, and commenced the
attack there when we had not more
than three Or four regiments in
position, but they kept them at
bay by that force-the feint, in the
meantime, being discovered-until
reiniorcements arrived. and after
about half days hard fighting the
Confederate troops were complete
ly victorious, and put them TO
the rout, the cavalry pursuing
them, and the flying artillery for a
short distance, when many more
were slain on the road and about
1000 captured. In their flight
towards Alexandra and Washing
ton, they threw down their arms,
and many of them Invested them
selves of everything that could in
the least impede their race, even
throwing off their coats, caps,
shoes, and boots, many of the latter
being ripped open, which was done
either to render them useless to
their pursuers or because they had
no time to unite them and take
them off in the ordinary way.
Their officers, such of them as
were not killed OF captured, lead
ing the way in the flight, and
reached Alexandria many hours
in advance Of their flying columns.
Many of them did not reach
Alexandria, which was about u
miles from the battle-ground, un-
til the next day, and then were
scarcely able to walk, having ran
much of the way bare-footed.-
They left on the field and on the
road for eight or ten miles every
piece of cannoh they brought with
them, some 20 pieces, among them
Shermans celebrated battery, with
cannon and ball necessary for a
long campaign, some ten or twelve
thousand stands of arms, ten or
fifteen thousand blankets, and
knapsacks, haversacks, swords,
belts and caps by the wagon load,
and about 100 baggage wagons
heavily laden with their camp
equipage and army stores; some
sixty carriages, somewhat in rock
away style; blacksmith shops com.
plete on wheels, ETC., embracing
many things too tedious to men
ton, except | may mention some
eight or. ten thousand of their car
casses and proportionate mum
ber wounded, for they had nt