Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1861-07-24


killed and U0unded!
BEAUREeARp IN CoMMAND-THE FIELD woN-THE EN-
ENVY REFUSED THREE TINES, AND PUT TO FLIGHT!
For more than week the commanding General
of the Confederate forces at Manassas has been an
ticipating an advance of the enemy and has so ar
ranged his troops as to be prepared at all points,
At Fairfax Court House, Gen. Bonham was station
ed, with six regiments ofnfantry, composed OF lour
from South Carolina, (Kershaws, Cash, Williams
and Bacon) and two from Virginia preston and
Withers,) with two batteries Of Light Artillery,
Shields Howitzers and Kempars company and
about five hundred cavalry, under command OF Col.
Radford, of Virginia
At Fairfax Station, about four miles distant from
the Court House. and on line with it, Gen. Eweli,
of Virginia, posted with three regiments of in
fantry two from Alabama, (SebleS' and Rhodes)
and one from Louisiana, (Seymours) These regi-
ments were stationed at intervals of mile from each
other-Rhode's 9th Alabama Regiment guarding
the Braddock road approach from Alexandra, which
nterSects the country road between the Court house
and the Station. At both places infantry works
had been thrown up for the protection of the troops
and at the Court House. particularly extended lines
obedience, including two or three masked batteries
had been constructed.
At Centreve, a commanding eminence on the
turnpike road between Fairfax Court House and
Bull Run, Col Cooke was stationed with his regi
ment ard Lathams Light Battery. The object of
these preparations to resist the ncurSion of any
thing short of large army into the interior, and in
the event of the approach of force under twenty
thousand men, to give battle and drive them back
At the same time orders had been issued in of
an overwhelming demonstration of the enemy, to
fall back on Bull Run, the selected battle-ground
To provide for this contingency, the troops, for
more than week past have been trimmed of all
superhuous baggage, and been under orders to keep
on hand constantly three days provision in ad-
eaIce QuartermaSter and CommiSSary supplies
have been kept in limited amounts, and the wagons
held in constant readiness TO move of with camp
equipage, &c, &c.
We are particular in stating these minute details
to give the reader an idea of what anticipated
by the commanding General, and of his arrange
ments to Iceet the contemplated contingency.
On Thursday, the enemy felt his way cautiously
up from Alexandria and Washington, in three sep
arate columns, of probably fifteen thousand each
one down the railroad another the Braddock road
and the third from the direction of Falls Church.
Our pickets were driven in about two o'clock, and
our troops, after firing several hundred rounds
Withdrew in order before the advancing foe. and fell
back on the banks of - Bull Rum" stream about
four miles from Manassas, and eight from the Court
House.
The run" is about sixty feet wide ana easily
forded for infantry at this of the year; but
its points of defence against an adversary attempt
ing to cross inviting to the military eye. Here
the retiring forces were met by Gen. Longstreets
Brigade, consisting OF the 11th 18th, and 1st Va
Regiments, under the command respectively, Of Col
ones Garland, Corse and Moore together with the
tillery from New Orleans Our troops bivouacked
for the night in expectation of the fight opening at
daybreak. But the enemy approached cautiously,
beating the roads and woods in advance Of them
with skirmishers, until about four o'clock in the af
ternoon, when their main body arrived within half
Sc. Ill aol do alofta to
advance on it, and each time were repulsed with
great slaughter.
The reports of the loss Of the enemy conflict
ing varying it from five to fifteen hundred. Ger
tain it is, their retreat had every appearance of
signal rout leaving, they did, their dead behind
them, and losing six pieces of their artillery. Two
of the Virginia Regiments pursued them for some
distance, and captured quite number of prisoners
The Confederate loss is estimated at about hun
dred, killed, wounded and missing. 1t is said the
enemy, in their several advances, behaved at first
with much spirit, quickly raying and closing up
their moved columns, but finally broke and gave
way under the murdcrous execution of our musket-
~ and artillery.
On Wednesday afternoon, dispatches were sent to
Gen. Johnston to repair with portion of his COM
mand to reinforce Gen. Beauregard at Manassas
Gen. Johnston has his entertainments at Winchester
strongly fortified and defended with heavy artillery
so be able to spare half his command without any
risk The propriety of these instructions is vndi-
Gated bY the dispatch in another column announcing
that Patterson has left Martinsburg, and is on his
way across the Potomac. Johnston by this time is
at Manassas, prepared to take part in the fight to-
day, should it occur
The enemy as they advanced, displayed their &C.
customed Vandalism, burning and destroying as
they went The villages of Fairfax Court House,
Germantown and Centerville were reduced to ashes
and men and women were fleeing in every direction
Such the well authenticated accounts of passen-
gers by the Central train of yesterday.