The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1861-08-14
VIRGINIA CORRESPONDENTS.
FOR THE LASCAsrKR LEDGER.
MANASSAS BATTLE GROUND, July .

mANAssAs DATTLE uRoUfD, July Is.
DEAR EDITOR We have fought the grea
fight and the day is ours. One of the fier
cest battes in the annals of American His
tory has been fought and u signal victor,
gained; and now while | write, the deat
and wounded and dying are being born.
from the held-taken up from among the
bushes, from the open field, and from
among the corners of the fence, where the
poor fellows have crnwed to avoid being
oyerrldden by the cavalry and artillery
What terrible illustration Of the horrors
OF war what heart sick ening evidence OF
che folly and wickedness of the enemy who
Aeek our subjugation!
will not attempt to give you all the de
tails of the battle, for after dividing and
sub dividing for exageration and msrepre,
sentation, it would be hard TO elicit from
the net work Of rumors such a fabric OF
truth as would be proper and reusonab BILE,
Bull Run is North Of Manassas Junction
The nearest point is Mitchel's Ford-dis
tance about three miles. the place where, il
you remember, we built breastworks in
June. The creek runs due east. Some five
or six miles in n North westerly direction
from :he Ford and along it is the buttle
ground of the alst.
The battle of Sunday commenced at the
ford by heavy cannonade from battery
OF rif1ed cannon E Founders and one 81
FOUNDER. These opened at o'clock in the
morning and played necessarily on for three
hours, the object being if possible. to draw
us f'om our position and show our force,
and TO divert our attention from the left wing
of our army that Scott might be the better
able to execute his we'll concocted plan
The enemy were in line OF battle along the
Run from Stone Bridge to Union Mlis-a
distance of eight or ten miles. Their ar.
my was supported by heavy artillery. Our
forces were stationed in the same manner
along the creek, supported by artillery. The
main attack commenced on the left about
10 O'Clock a. m, by an advance of Gen
Jackson. Our brave fellows fought gal
lantly. They maintained their ground ior
hours against force Of five to one but at
last being overpowered and worn out with
fatigue. they were compelled to fall back
on our own side of the creek, where they
again made bold stand, but were COMPEL
ed to retreat again and this time left the
field entirely. Not however, until Coils
Kershaw and Cash. Kemper's Battery and
Prestot's Virginia Regiment came to their
relief Without doubt, when we arrived
on the field the day was lost Three r.gi-
ments we met rctreating in confusion.
These fa;ts, together with having to march
five miles and great part Of it double. q uick
to get to the battle ground, are the discour
agements under which we went into BATH.
do not know as | can describe our fight
exactly, as it wis not very ssasonabls time
TO make observations. We were first drawn
up in line Of battle along the brow of a
hill. where we stood u CALLING fire from the
nal xaA q h..n
advance and with a stern resolve to do or
die, every man marched promptly forward
We met the foe in n narrow strip Of woods;
they were concealed behind the trees, brush
and fence. We charged them from the
woods, but some Of the Williams fooled US in
one particular, by falling down upon their
backs, beg US for drink Of water as we
passed (Which We gave them) and after We
had passed, they would rise up shoot US and
run. We were engaged about 30 min utes
in sort Of hand to hand fight | had AL
most forgotten 10 tell you that those feI
lows we caught in the woods were old Abe's
''Pet Lambs But | have not forgotten
that according to their own statement, only
200 out Of 1900 are left TO clOths his Males.
ty next winter. When those cut.thrOats
were stationed Mt Falls Church. they would
send word to the % (kershaw's) Regiment.
particularly the Palmetto Guards, that we
were the boys they wished to get hold Of
Now they have met us, and we are waiting
patiently 10 hear their report.
We next met the Regulars at distance
Of five or ak hundred yards further on
Our Col. formed his regiment in an old road
which proved to be the very place for us.
as We could lie down and load, rise an fire.
only being exposed long enough to get a
good shot Things went ON in this manner
for about an hour and n half, when We were
prAered to cease firing and remain lying, 30
chat the Artillery could play on them from
our rear. A few rounds of grape and can.
lister from Capt. Kemper's well directed
guns completely routed them. Then we
pursued, playing on them with cannon at
every opportunity. Such human destruc-
ton never before witnessed /; at every dis.
charge Of the cannon whole ranks would
Tumble to the ground. The pursuit lasted
for three miles when we wsre drawn bask
20 rest for the night, ssd that WAS my last
sight Of the enemy. | heard they went in.
TO Alexandria In the greatest confusion,
their officers could not command them ~
When they were ordered ~ 20 into tbs
trenches and fight, they refused, saying, "it
10 no use to fight the rebels, they never pap
nor never will be conquered"
Between Stone Bridge and Csntrsvills, {, a
distance Of three miles, tbs sceae presented
10 Undesirable. Your correspondent saw
scattered every article that could enter into
the composition of we'll equipped army.
Cannon, baggage wagons, ammunition wag-
ons. nmbuIances, blankets, shoes, haver.
sacks, knapsacks, muskets, cartridge boxes,
msdicine chests, and several thouoncd hand
cuffs, intended to bs nsed upon their pris
onsrs Ons Of the vaiuabIe articles captur'
cd was batch OF papcr. evidently the pro-
perry Of q Gcnrral officer. IL tcsniained the
rhoirxni11 - - caupaign--ststsd that