The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1861-08-08
The Battle as seen by an eye Witness.
From Wilkes Spirit Of The Times.

From Nllke SplTlt OF Inc l!mes.
WASHINGTON, Friday, July PC. 1861
The miuor action of the 18th, though
ending in serious repul.e, served but to
stimulate the ardor of our troops; and as
| walked on the following morning, a.
mony the swarUliDg battslious that rested
in the valley this side of Centreville, |
heard but Que with expressed, and that
we should again and st once noVe for
uard, and wipe out the disgrace of that
Temporary check before the exu,ting reb
els coDi take fresh heart by their sue
cess. 1t was soon plain, however, that
Gen. Mcdowell, warned by the unexPec-
ted evidence of strength which had been
developed from the treacberou> covert at
Bull Ran, had determined to reu ain for
time near Ceutre,ille, while he made
the minute reconnaissance which was ne
cessary before general attack. The
teams, therefore, were turned from the
army beeves, which were oar best camp
followers, were driven in and sla oghtered
by the Wholesale under so order for the
preparation OF three days rations. Grim
visaSed war geIiTeti his wriukled front, y
and COS, instead of prancing steeds and
regiments drawn up iu line. nothing could
be seen through tie entire valley but louu-
ging sEsrms surrounding stea@ kettles,
whose oder and wbo>e fuilDe>s brought
back the pictUre of the Wedding Of Ca
macho, Il was 10 the u.id.t Of this vast
picoic and these saTory stcams that the
Secretary of War paid visit to the scene
nnd impaired, ty the mere fact Of his
presence, 60 additional assurance that
we would not Gove that day. When be
left US in the afternoon, there were some
who belieVed we were on the brink Of ac
ton; but the majority were OF the opinion
that the general advance would not be
made till dag break Monday morning
This was the prevailing notion ln the
California caDp (whose headquarters l
had half adopted, in view of the impeDd
Ing departure of the Seventy frst, and,
must coufess. it was partly zine. | had,
howeser. at the same tine, an idea that
we light. perhup>, wait till Gen. Pater-
ROD could descend from HarPer's Ferry
sud CO operate upon our right.
The night wore quietly away, With the
exception of slight alarm at the distant
cottage where | slept, and which, though
moro than a aile from our lines, had
chosen for the convenience OF making up
my letters 1t two hours past 3Il ght. e.
three or four yolleys OF r.u~ketrJ frou
croge near By startled n,e awske, aud. IS
l rose upon my arm, could bear tie
teuad OF Geruans who were pcketed be-
meath the porch cautiously cock their
muskcts in expectation Of an attack. But
the 6riug soon ceased, aud dsybreak re-
veslei the fact that it proceeded from
newly arrived regiments which had SIT
tied themselves hard by. who had been
merely expelling stale charges froa. their
pieces ia anticipation OF important work.
Gen. mcdowell S PLAN.
Meanwhile, and all tne following day.
the atlest engineers of Con. MeDoWeil's
ttaf had been recoDpoitering for miles o.
round, and the fruit OF their labors was
report that the enc ny's position could not
be turned to the left Tor soutbward), by
reason Of the roug ghuess o! the roads; that
it was not advisable to renew the attack
Of the | Sth oD the battery Of Bull Run,
Jut that the road to the right, through
Ceutrcyi.le, was practicable avenue to
spother crossing, aud which was untcfcE-
dee, aud to which the artillery could cas-
ily be drawn. This was called the War
renton road, and at ne distance down,
it bad the further advantage of path
diverging from ii to the northward, by
which a circuit could be made to the
rear Of certoin heavy batteries; which
the course of the main road itself would
enable US to strike in front. TWAS there
fore decided By Gen. Mcdowell to send
merely one brigade to Bull Run to hold
that battery in cheek. ADD to make bis
grand attack by the Werrenton road, re-
lying ufou the column that was to pass
Of into the northward path to turn the
euemys position and throw it into confu-
siou while sssailed by us upon its face
This seemed to be very proper and con-
sistent plan. Undoubtedly the theory of
it was good plan (as theory, and it
might have been practically successful, ,
had it but fitted the proportions of the
enemy. Unfortunately, however, Gen.
McDowell had not taken the full measure
of bis foe, aud the circuit whicn be bad
decided upon. instead ofreachiDg the base
of the Rebels principal position, mere
ly plunged against the side of bis triangle,
where he was most fesrfully in strength,
and where tho most desperate vslor could
but serve to feed bis guns. The Confed.
crates, as be might have ascertaiDed
numbered, without Johnston and bis for.
Css, at least ~, 900 men; and be DOW pro
nose1 N AinU AGAINST this comnacf sy ASS