Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1861-08-02
SPEECH OF GEN. MCGOWAN.

OK 1nS1h OS YEN mcSOWhN.
We find the following in the Ceiumbia Caro-
H"iam Of Saturday.
Gen. Samuel McGowan arrived in this CITY
yesterday, from Virginia, en- route for his home
in Abbey lille, on n short leave of absence; The
people of Columbia, learning Of his presence,
determined TO hear an account Of the late plo-
r'ous victory from the lips of nu eyewitness,
and accordingly went to tho hotel last night
and called him out.
Gen. McGowan said he was member of the
army OF the Potomac, aud under an obligation
not to make known any militia ry movement, or
give any information which might interfere
with the proposed action of our leaders ye, lie
Considered the past as belonging to history and
WINS happy at being able to CRAFTY the natural
interest felt by the entire community in The
events Of last Sunday, which had rendered
Bulls Run and its vicinity SO famous, and had
given the first great check to an insolcnt foe
!. The speaker then proceeded to give detail.
ed accoun. of the relative position of our for.
ces on Wednesday, the nth inst, when tho
Federal forces advanced on ours at CentrevilIe
lie impressed on his hearers the fact that tho
retreat on the 18th, before the advancing forces
of Lincoln. was part of the plan Of our glo-
rious leader, Beaur egard, intended to draw on
the Northern troops to place where we could
engage them with good prospect of success
On Friday and Saturday, everything was ap-
parently quit, but We have since learned that
the time vas occupied by sending to Washing
ton for that arch enemy, the Lieutenant. G enc
of the Northern forces. He came to Centre
vile, spent time in planning the attack, and,
when finally determined on, he chose his great
day, Sunday, for its commencement Sunday
was the favorite day Of Gen. Scott for battles.
His great victories in Mexico were gained on
that day, and he chose this day to give tire
"rebcls" q thorough beating.
On Sunday morning., about o'clock, the
tramp of advancing columns was heard, and
the speaker was sent to reconnoitre. lie per.
formed this duty. and distinctly heard the move.
rnehtsof large body of men on the left Of our
forces. This was reported to Gems. Beau.e-
gard and Bonham, and everything was got in
readiness for action. Gen. MCGOWAN here gave
graphic description of the positions of the
different divisions OF tho army, and their alac.
rity in preparing for tho engagement, which
they had been expecting for the past three
weeks, during which time they had always
slept in their clothes, ready for Immediate &C.
tion,
At sun.rise the fight began. and as tile elo-
gent speaker described the varieu movements
OF the opposing forces, and the apparently ir-
resistible descent Of the solid column of 40. 900
Federal troops upon the little band who occu-
pied the left of our line, the breath1ess atten-
tion with which the large crowd listened to
the description showed the interest which the
graphic narrative had inspired in them. The
Federalists crossed Bulls Ruu and endeavored
to turn our left. The fight took place in an
old field. in which there W ere some small pines
The Federnlist had the advantage of choice of
position; aud the battle was thus "a fair pitched
battle, in which the advantage. if any there
was, on their side Notw outstanding this ad-
vantage, and The great preponderance of num-
bers, they having three to our one, we met
them and defeated them.
The speaker here gave very interesting
description of the position and action of the
South Carolina regm ents. all contributing to
the glorious result of the day. At the final
rout, when the disorganized mass of Tie Fcde
ralists filed the roads leading to Centrevile,
the pursures. were so close that 1t was hard to
tell where the line of the foe ended ..and ours
began. Col. Kershaw, while pursuing the fly.
ing foe. was hailed by Mr. Wiudham, one of
Lincoln's Adjutants, who demanded, with on
oath. why they ,;gere retreating Col. Ker-
shaw. replied to. this by telling the Yankee he
was aprisoner.
In .gcing into BATTLE the Northern troops
leftthcir over.coatsG knapsacks. baversscks &c.
in piles. so as not"to,be encumbered with them
while fighting. intending to take them up after
whipping the Southerners, on their way back.
When going back they neglected to take their
equipments. leaving not only these. but many
Others which they threw off in their haste, all
of which fell into our hands.
: Gen. MCGOWAN paid o high compliment to
the Georgia and Louisiana troops, who stood
the brunt of the battle nnd aided in gaining
tho glorious victory.
In conclusion, he spoke 10 fitting terms of
eulogy of the gallant sons Of Carolina, who
had offered up their lives as Ssesifces to their
country, and had sealed With their blood their
devotion to principle. -
- R
CHA5F6 REPORT.
The Northern Secretary of Treasury:s re-
port estimates the ordinary expenditures of the
fiscal year, which will end June 80 1862, at
$so,0o0,0Oo, and the extraordinary expendi-
lures, on the basis of present operations, at
s24o.ooo,0o0. Iftbe forces be increased, as
recommended in the Lincoln message, to four
hundred thousand men, the money granted
must be in the same ratio, and $leO, 900, 600
must needs be added to the two hundred and