The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1861-08-22
The Battle Field Near Manassas.
THE GRAVES OF THE SLAIN.
From the Richmond Enquirer.


the scene of the battle on the 2lst, near Bull
Run. 1t was gratifying to find, contrary to rumors
which have gained some circulation that the dead,
not only of our army, but the enemy, have all
been decently buried. In the whole area of that
terrible onset no human corpse, and no. even
manged limb was to be seen, the earth had re-
ceived them all, and, so far as the human CON-
batants were concerned, nothing emained to tell
of those who had fallen victims of the shock OF
battle save the mounds of fresh earth which show
ed where they had been laid away in their last
sleep. Many of these mounds gave evidence OF
the pious care of surviving comrades. Enclo-
sures were built around the graves, and branches
of evergreens cover the spot. Sometimes boards
marked at the head and foot, Oh which were car
we'd Or painted the name and fellowship of the de-
ceased. Sometimes boards nailed to o neighbor-
ing tree told that the ground adjacent contained
the fallen of a certain regiment or company.
Numerous dead horses scattered over the area,
showed where the bate ries of flying artillery
captured or disabled. or where some officer was
dismounted The PROSTATE fences, too, served to
mark the track of the battle. Where the infantry
u
might step over, and wide gaps showed where the
artillery carriages had Numbered slong. The
ground, too, tramped bv the feet of rushing men
and horces, evidenced where the struggle had been
fercest.
Of relics of the battle, already but few remain.
The field has been searched and cleaned by daily
crowds of visitors seeking for momentocs. A few
bullets that had run their errand, some fragments
of exploded bombs, hayersack, and few other
things, were all that an extensive ramble brought
under our view. Canes cut from the battle field
are also considerably in demand
The enemy's column of advance, as shown by
the battle ground, presented front of about one
mi.e. Their onward march from the point where
they encountered our advance bodies to the limits
where they met our full line, and the full battle
was joined and the fate of the day decided, was
about mile and half. Aparallelogram OF about
a mile by mile and half. therefore covers the
scene of the great Conflict.
In this area are included five dwelling houses
all of these which visited bore evidences of the
storm which ragged around them Many were
II
A bul ct hole in chamber door remains a mo-
mento of the battle. His family escaped just as
the battle joined.
But it was on the hill south of the turnpike road.
where the encmy's fartherest advance was check
ed, and where the fnal issue was fought, that the
enwrapped dwellings showed most plainly the fury
Of the fight.
A house here late the abode of n widow lady.
Mrs. Judith Henry, was riddej with cannon and
muskct shot. Kissing projectiles from the cannon
Of our enemies had passed through the walls and
roof, until the dwelling was q wreck. 1t is sad
story that tell. This estimabe lady, who had
spent here long life, illustrated by the graccs
that adorn the meek Christian, now bed ridden.
There she lay amid the horrid din, and no less
than three of the missiles Of death that secured
through her chamber inflicted their wounds upon
her. 1t seems strange dispensation of Provi-
dence that one whose life had heen so gentle and
secluded should have found her end amid such
storm of human passions and that the humble
abode which had witnessed her quiet pilgrimage
should have been shattered over her dying bed
Yet even amid such terrOrs, Heaven vindicate its
laws When the combatan.s had retired, the aged
sufferer still alive, and she lived long enough
to say that her mind was Tranquil. and that she
died in peacs peace that the of battle and
the presence of DEATH panoplied in all his ttrrors,
had not disturbed. Noble matron
hundred yards to the right of the house of
Mrs. Henry lay FIVE horses in heap. and near by
another heap of as many more. Here portion
of Sherman's battery made its last advance. Just
as it reached the top of the hill, rihemen APP
preaching in the direction. reached 1t too At
once they poured in fire which cut down horses
and men, and made the pieces unmanageabe.
The gallant boys followed the fire with a bayonct
charge, and the guns were AIKEN. 1t was here
that Lieut.. Ward FELL The cannon were taken
and taken several times in the furious fight but
the horses had been killed, and the cannon could
not be removed nor used. [Sherman's battery
was not lost /; some other battery is here alluded
to.1
| On the left of Mrs. Henry's, distant about
fourth OF mile, Is a neat house belonging to a
colored man named Robson. A cannon ball drove
through this also. Between these two is an or
chard of small tree. where Hamp.on's legion
fought and suffered SO severely. Their graves are
here. One of them which covers the remains OF
a near rel tive of Hon. S. l.. Orr, is marked by
broken musket placed as a head-stone.
| Away the extreme northern verge of the
battl. gronnd is the pine grove in which the Geor
gia regiment me. the cnemy's advance. The gal
liant band there With, TODD the enemy's columns
until nearly surrounded. They then retreated, not
from those in the front, but from those who were
closing around them. In this pine grove there
seemed scarce n tree that was not struck by the
enemy's balls. number Of Georgans fell here,
and their graves close by. In the grove was
pointed out the spot where Lamar fell. In the
rear was the dead charger of the Lamented Zen.
Barlow, killed under him, himself to fall soon
after. But the Georgians suffered not their heroes
to fall unavengsd. for they piled the g,ound before
them with the slain of the enemy
The Republican organ in Indiana, the Journal
at indianapolis, was an early aud persistent advo