Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1861-08-14
From the Richmond Dispatch. July %
A Rebel Account of the Battle at
TTanassas.


Although more than a week has passed stree
the great battle at Manassas, and the public has
daily been furnished with narratives of deeds done
on that bloody field, there yet remains much to
be told.
The following statement was prepared by
distinguished officer, who bore a conspicuous part
on the field of battle on the 2lst Of July
THE BATTLE OF MANASSAS.
RICHMOND July %, 1S61.-it may not be un-
| acceptable to your readers TO learn something
of the battle of Manassas from an eve witness,
who had better opportunities for observation, per
haps, than any one else The first gun bred by
the enemy was at five minutes past SIX O'Clock IN
the morning, batteries opening against our centre
n feint to conceal the movement against our
left A short time afterwards, Gen. Johnston
and Ges. Beauregard, with their staff, rode of
to the nearest point of elevation and observa-
ton convenient to the centre, and thus awaited
developments whilst the iron hail whistled around
! and over them. A singular misconception seems
to pervade the public mind which has not yet been
corrected that Cen Be0Ureqard fought the battle,
and that Cen Johnston yielded TO precOnceiued
plans. Whilst according to Gen. Beauregard all
the merit TO which he is entitled. and there does
not live more gallant gentleman and officer. nor
one for whom have higher regard as Gen
eral, it is due to Gen. Johnston TO say, that he
planned the battle Essentially man of judg
campaign any battle where our chances were not
good. Though our men murmured vastly when
ordered to go backward from Harper's Ferry,
| from Bunker's Hill, from Darksville, and from
Winchester no one can now dare to dispute the
/ saqacify tchich planned all the movements. To
have riSked battle by attacking superior mum
bers, entailing defeat upon US, would doubtless
have crushed our proud Republic in its inception.
When Gen. Johnston (who has always been in
frarit IN rarI
/ to the junction of the armies, and who Tor weeks
has also pointed out to the President the absolute
necessity of such movement), received orders
| to form the junction, it came at a fortunate mo-
ment when Patterson had moved to Charleston,
twenty four miles distant, and had placed it out of
his power to attck US in the Only ten thou
sand of our column arrived in time for the battle,
but they icere enough.
To the RETURN however, to the battle. Our
| line was extended over distance of eight miles,
in position nearly assimilating to semi-crce,
On Saturday night General Johnston assumed
command, and nearly the entire night was con-
sumed by the staff of both Generals in writing or
ders to the different brgades to prepare for for
ward movement in the morning General Beau
regards plans were to be carried out in great
measure and the rout of the enumv would have
signal, and doubtless Washington would now be
in our possession, ii our attack had not been con-
verted into u defense by the movements of the
enemy. We intended to move about o'clock,
and they commenced their attack before our
movement could be made. From letter written
by of the enemy, dated July %, p NJ. and
afterwards found 10y the writer, their position
was taken and movements commenced at that
hour.
To understand the battle, you must know that
our line was faced towards Bull Run, and imme
| ly back of it, defending the various fords Bv
turning our flank, the line of battle was changed
to direction perpendicular to the one which we
had assumed, and commencing at our left extend
ed back for mile and quarter. When the
musketry betrayed the "cat in the meal tub, -
away went the Generals and their staff, flying
upon the wings of the wind to reach the scene of
action, distant three miles. The country was a
rolling one, thickly interspersed with pine thick
cts, and the battle ground was open valley with
a hill upon each side, rising some one hundred
feet above tie low ground, and distant from each
other about 600 yards. The struggle an al
ternate movement of regiments. When the head
of McDowells column reached Sudleys spring, a
ford much higher than it anticipated they
would cross, as the Stone Bridge was the point
we were defending upon our extreme left. quietly
they sneaked along, getting in behind us, until
discovered believe by General Evans Brigade,
who opened fire upon them.
Then, in quick succession, the enemvs regi-
ments deplOye ed in line to their right, whilst ours
came up upon our left. The engagement grew
hot and heavy. Their column numbered % 600,
while we could only oppose them at the beginning
with about 5000 Slowly but surely the heavy
column kept on its march, pressing our line back
by the weight of numbers, and moving on in the
settled purpose of turning our flank and attack
ing us in the rear. Calamity, however, did our
army struggle for the right, and despite of odds,
regiment after regiment threw itself in the way,
disputing the ground inch by inch regardless Of
81.
ces or dispersed A battery harassing our lines,
the 9Th Georgia Regiment was ordered to take it,
and right well did they do so; but myriad of
Yankees seemed to rise up, who had been hith-
erto concealed, and pouring in their fire upon our
column, it seemed to melt away like snow be-
meath summers sun. Col. Gardner was here
shot down and was taken prisoner, but afterwards
retaken 10y our men later in the day.
The Sth, compelled to retreat with nearly half
its number wounded or killed, the attack of the
enemy met by the Brigade of Gen. Bee, com
posed of Mississippians and Alabamians, and one
regiment, / think, of Tennesseeans. Later in
the day, Col. Barlow was shot near this spot,
whilst leading on the 7th Georgia Regiment, COM
manded by Col. Gartrell. General Bees Brig
ade could not withstand the fierce tornado of shot
and shell sweeping through its ranks and slowly
retired, fighting bravely all the time. The 4th
Alabama Regiment suffered terribly all its field
officers being shot down, and two (Col. Jones
and Major Scott) left upon the field. Col. Jones
was captured, but afterwards retaken during the
rout. Falling back upon the position taken by
Hampton's Legion whose proves clearly be
shown by the heaps of dead in front of their line,
a momentary check was thrown on the enemy's
approach.
They had now retreated to the brow of the
hill, where the brigade of Gen. jackson was
lying perdu and this the most critical point
of the day. Fighting for hours under hot sun,
without drop OF water near, the conduct of our
men could not be exceled but human endurance
has its bounds, and all seemed about to be lost.
Our reserve were yet miles distant from the scene
Of action whilst the enemy's reserve kept press
ing on From the knoll near the Lewis House.
the two generals had remained anxious specta-
tors of the conflict; but the time had come for
action, and plunging their spurs into the quick
footed steeds, away went the generals and their
staff into the thickest of the fight. Coming up
first to the Alabanlians who were without field
officer, Gen. Johnston placed the color bearer by
his horses side and moved on-each and all the
staff, with the generals vieng with each other in
worvis OF encouragement to the men to come on.
And well timed this movement.
Already our lire upon the hill top giving
way, but melted to fresh deeds of heroism by the
appearance in their midst of our generals, appa-
rentlv bringing up reinforcements. they pitched
into the fray with redoubled ardor. and from that
tilne yietueu nOt All men OF ground. zen. beau
regard riding over to the lett took charge of ope-
rations there, displaying his reckless bravery by
riding everywhere in the face of the enemy's fire
and having his horse killed beneath him, fortu-
nately escaping uninjurei himself. The tide al
battle thus checked, away went Gen. Johnston's
staff to hurry up the reserves and assign them to
proper positions. The first were met two miles
back, covered with dust and coming at double
quick. On they went, plunging into the midst oil
the fray, aud the sunshine of certainty did not