Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1861-08-09
SOUTHERN ACCOUNTS OF THE
BATTLE,

The Southern accounts Of the Battle Of
Bull Run, fully confirm the Northern state
ments Of the bravery of the northern troops,
and the fact that the Southern army was in
fact defeated, when the arrival of Johnston's s
column restored the day to them.
[Erom the Mobile Register and AivsItiscr.I
The battle ragged Tor four hours, and the
fire on both sides was never fought better.
The enemy having largely the advantage
in numbers and artillery, aud constantly
leading fresh columns to the attack, between
and / o'clock in the afternoon. our brave
men. exhausted by the toll of the fray. and
much reduced by the casualties OF the battle,
seemed scarcely able longer to continue the
conflict; the result hung in the balance.
Reinforcements Of the Confederates having
come UP at the critical moment. the tide OF
battle began to turn in our favor, the enemy
falling back, though in good order.
(Flom the correspondence Of Louisville Courier.)
The battle opened on Sunday morning,
/ about five o clock, near Bull run, some four
| miles from Manassas Junction, the iederals
advancing with an immense column, fifty
! four thousand strong, under Gen. Mcdowell.
| The engagement was not general, the artil-
lerv only playing ut intervals, until seven
| o clock, when the firing of cannon and mus
kerry became very hot and the action was
fairly opened.
Here an unfortunate mistake for a time
! threw our line into confusion. The Yankees,
! Infamous IN their tricks of war as well as
trade. advanced large column headed by
| the Confederate flag, and when within fifty
wards opened deadly fire upon the Fourth
! Alabama regiment. This caused a retreat,
which the South CarOliniaus observing, they
opcned upon the Alablmians, thinking them
| en- mics, and nearly decinated their ranks.
About the same time Gen. Beauregard
| heard heavy firing several miles to the
rlrht. and Immediately went with the main
BODY to the scene Of the supposed conflict.
! But this was another decOy. The Yankees
had sent large quantities Of ordnance with
only men sufficient to face the guns, 50 as to
attract the attention Of our forces from the
main point of attack. Quickly discovering
the rnse, Beaure, ard double-quicked his
troops to the former battle field, from which
We had been driven back some two miles.
Now came the tug of war
Some of our best officers had been slain,
and the flower of our army lay strewn upon
the field, ghastly in death, OF gaping with
| wounds. At noon the cannonadlng IS de-
soribed as terrific. 1t was an incess SAINT roar
for more than two hours, the havoc and de-
yastion at this time being fearful. Mellow
ell, with the aid of Patterson's division oi
twenty thousand, had very nearly Outtiank-
cd us. and were Just in the act of possessing
Themselves of the railways to Richmond
Then all would have been lost. But mosl
opportunely, | may say prcvidentlally, at
this iuncture, Gen. Johnston with the renl'
nant of his division-our army, as we iondiy
call it, for we have been friends and brothers
in camp and field for three months-reap
peared and made one other desperate struS
gle to obtain the vantage ground. Elsey
brigade Of Marylanders and Virginians lee
the charge. and right maufully did they ex
ecute the work. Gen. Johnston himself lee
the advance, and, wild with delirium, hi
ten thousand advanced in hot haste upol
three times their number. Twice was Sher
mans battery, that all day long had proven
; 50 destructive, charged and taken, and on
men driven back. The third time
Virginians, Carolinians, Mississippians
, and Louisianians, captured the grea
guns, and maintained their position
About the pieces the dead and wounded la
five deep, SO protracted and deadly had bee
the struggle. Now hope again dawned upo
us, and just as the tide seemed turning
u our favor, another good omen illumined th
fortunes of the day that at times seemed
;, ill-starred Riding in half column aloni
0 our lines was single horseman with hat l
=, hand, waving to the men, and speakin
brief words OF couragement. By intuit!o
all knew that this was President Davis, an
y such shout as made the welkin rin
/ arose--a shout of JOY and defiance. III
i President had just arrived by special ira
n from Richmond, and Providence appeared
). be with us again. The contest was no long
doubtful. As | heard one of the ofhce
say, our men could have whipped legions
e devils. The wori 90 Onward ~ was give
Davis, bareheaded, in the van. No mo
lingering or dallying. 1t was grand al
sublime onset of few determined sons
Il liberty against the legions of despotisI
The lines Of the enemy were broken, the
a columns put to fight, and until after da
o the pursuit was continued. The rout W
!. complete. Of seampered the Yanket