New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1861-07-29
The Great Victory at Manassas.
Fiji, PARTICULARS BY AN EYEWITNESS.

The correspondent Of the Richmond Dispatch,
in letter to that paper dated Manassas Junction,
July 22d, gives the following graphic aud complete
account of the great battle fought at Manassas on
the 2lst Though lengthy, yet the letter is so in
terestng we give it entire:
By Divine favor we are again victorious. To
God be the glory.
The armies Of the North and South yesterday
faced each other--the former not less than 10000
men, the latter not exceeding S0,000-and wrestled
together for six long hours, with that desperate
courage which Americans only can show.
lproceed to give you, as near as can, a full and
detailed history of that terrible battle, which will
through all time, make famous Bull Run and the
plains of Manassas.
On Friday, the 10th, Gen. Joseph E. Johnston,
wh5 had commanded the army of the Shenandoah,
posted at Winchester, arrived at Manassas junction
with four thousand Of his Division, to reinforce
Gen. Beauregard. The remainder of his army
with the exception of sufficient force 10 holo
Wnchester,) were intended to arrive on saturday,
the 2Oth but in consequence of some railroad
casualty, they did not reach the scene OF tonhct
| until Sunday, between the hours of and ) clock,
| when the battle raging at its height
Gen. Johnston, although perhaps entitled, by
| strict military rule, to the command, being the
| superior in rank of Beauregard, with the magnan-
| unity and chivaric courtesy for which that gal
liant soldier is distinguished, left the latter to exc
| cnte the plans which had all been matured, as
surfing Gen. Beauregard of his earnest cooperation
| towards their success. And nobly did Gen. john
| ston redeem his promise, contributing in no small
degree, to the victory which was achieved on the
ever-memorable 2lst, by his distinguished associate
| in
| The night before the battle, it was generally
| understood at Manassas junction the enemy We're
gathering in great force, and designed turning our
left flank, which rested g few miles above the
scene of Thursdays engagement, at a ford on
Bulls Run called Stone Bridge.
We retired to rest under the full conviction that
on the morrow the fortunes of our young nation
were to be staked on mighty contest and we
were not disappointed
There were not many spectators of the battle,
the General Commanding having, on Thursday
issued general order requcing ali civilians, with
the exception of residents before military opera
tons commenced, and those engaged necessarily
in business at Manassas junction, to leave the
camp and retire beyond distance of four miles.
The writer, however, with the following named
Confreres Of the press, were privileged to remain
to witness scene not often enacted and which
forms an Ella in their lives for all time to come,
scene of terrific grandeur and sublimity, which is
imprinted on their memories, with recollection
never to be etfaced.
at o'clock on Sunday morning our party, con-
sisting of Messrs. L. W. Spratt, of the Charleston
Mercury, F. G. de Fontaine, OF the Richmond En-
qurer and Charleston Courier, p W. Alexander,
OF the Savannah Republican, Shepardson, of the
Columbus (Ga.) Times and Montgomery (Ala)
Advertiser, and your correspondent, started from
Manassas Junction.
The distant cannon, at short intervals since day
break, had apprised US that the enemy We're in
motion, but in what direction could only
mise until reached point mile and half
from the breastworks at the northwest angle of
the Notifications of Manassas Junction.
Here we were Joined by an acquaintance of your
correspondent Colonel VIM. G. Bonner, formerly
State Engineer of Georgia. of the Nicksburg
and Shreveport Railroad, who was an old West
Pointer and class-mate of Gen. Johnston;s and
other distinguished officers now in the service.
So great was our excitement, we had left the
Junction entirely unprepared, either in the way of
the CoTnnissaiat with glasses to view the dis
tant field and had it not been for Col. Bonner's
forethought, in bringing a powerful opera glass,
our party had lost much which through his polite
mess permitted to see.
The day was bright and beautiful-on the left
was the Blue Ridge, and in front were the slopes
on the North side OF Bull Run crowned with woods,
in which the enemy had early planted his batteries,
and all around us were eminences on which were
posted small but anxious knots Of spectators, form
ing the most magnificent panorama | ever beheld.
At about O'Clock we reached hill above Nit
chelfs Ford, almost entirely bare of trees, and suf
fcieritly high to afford unobstructed view of the
opposite heights After taking leisurly survey of
the beautiful landscape spread out before us in all
the loneliness and grandeur Of nature, and listen
ing with watchtul intent to the booming of the
heavy canon on our right, and anxiously examin-
ing the locations where the guns of the enemy on
the opposite hills were plainly to be seen with the
naked eye, and the heavy clouds of dust rising
above the woods in front aud on either side, indi-
eating the direction in which the heavy columns of
the enemy were marching, we each sought the
shade of tree, where drew forth our memo
randum books and pencils, to note down for the
information of the thousands who looked to us for
description Of The days occurrences the various.
shiitings of the scene which henceforth forms an
era i'll history Of our young Confederacy, and
grandly naugurates the march of glory on which
she has entered.
An interesting meeting here took place between
our party and the venerable Edmund Rutfin, who
had against the walls OF Fort Snmter fired the first
defiant gun at our nsolent and 'braggart foe. He
had come to this conflict, with his eighty odd
years weighing upon him, and his flowing white
locks, to take part in this fight, encouraging
young men by his presence and example. Agile
youth of l6, with rifle on his shoulder his eyes
glistened with excitement as he burned to engage
the Yankee invader.
Shortly afterwards, Generals Beauregard John
ston, and Bonham, accompanied by their aids.
came galloping up the hill, and dsrnounted on the
summit The Generals held an earnest conversa-
ton for few minutes, while taking survey of
the field, and watching the successive challenges
from the enemys batteries dire Cted against our
right and among the woods near MchelI's Ford,
where hospital was stationed and the yellow flag
flying. This was also the point where their fire of
Thursday was directed, and where the mark of
cannon ball is to in the kitchen and stable of
house in which Gen. Beauregard dined on that
day at the the time the ball struck the building.
Whether the enemy thought is was again his head
quarters, whether the fire was now playing tow
ard that point to draw out response from US, is
not known. 1t is more likely, however, it was a
mere teint--an impotent attempt to deceive our
shilltul and able commander to the point where
the enemy was most in force, for so our wise Gen
eral considered it, as he was seen to direct Gen.
Johnston's attention particularly with his hand
towards our extreme left, as if he knew the
struggle was to be made there.
l should here remark that it had been Gen.
BeanregardS purpose to make the attack, instead
OF waiting to receive it, hut from some cause, I'M
known TO me. he preferred at last to let the enemy
take the initiative; perhaps for the reason that
Gen. Johuston's division had been detained on the
railroad.
As have said, General Beauregard was not de-
ceived, for the immense clouds of dust appearing
above the woods Indicated beyond doubt The
Federal columns were moving III solid masses in
another direction, and which was unmistak-
able.
Just at this time, by the aid of our glass, we
could see their guns brought to bear on the hill
where stood, for in few moments the smoke
discovered Issuing from their batteries of riiled
cannon, and before scarcely q word could be said
the peculiar Whiz and Kissing Of the balls notified
us that their aim had been well taken. Several
balls fell iii field Immediately behind US, and not
a hundred yards from the spot where the Generals
stood. An officer of Gen. Beauregard's staff re-
quesad us TO leave the hill, and as we moved away
a shell burst not twenty feet off. Col. Bonner cal
culated with his watch the time taken by the balls
to pass US, and made the distance one and three
quarter miles from the enemys battery. The en-
envy no doubt discovered the horses of the Gen.
erals, and thought it good opportunity to display
their craftsmanship, and credit is due to them tor
the accuracy of their aim. Providence, however
who governs all things, covered the heads of our
Generals as with shield, and preserved them for