Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-08-02

A correspondent of the Charleston Mercury give
the following thrilling picture Of the battle Of Ma
nassas
The scene a moment since, and yet is unutterably
sublime. Upon the hill, just one and third miles
of, the enemy are placing their artillery. We SCI
them plunging down the Centreyile road to th
apex of the eminence above Mitchelrs Ford, anC
deployIng to the right and left. Dark masses ar,
drifting on with the power of fate in the road. w
the columns moving, and, as they deploy through
the forests we see the cloud of dust floating over
them, TO mark their course. When the dust ceases
we are sure that they have taken position. The
firing now commences from two batteries. to the
right and left of the road 1t is constant and anOth
er has been opened about a mile lower down. That
! however, has been firing for an hour past. The
guns are served with great rapidity and precision
and as within range AMI uncertain, therefore
when they will favor Us, there is quite an interest
ia the position. Our own troops are In the dense
forest that lies below us on Bull Run. They are
STILL not gun has yet been fred, and there would
seem to be nothing TO indicate their presence. OF
their presence and their readiness the enemy is ad
vised, however, and is making all the headway he
can. OF the precise pC sition, however, they are
still unadvised; and in every clump of trees, and
all along the line, they plungiDg shots. So far.
however none have told Our own batteries are In
reserve ready for spring to any point hatmay come
to be available. The hospital is again the object of
their fire; and the battery mentioned as mile be-
| low the ford, having heavier guns than mere field
pieces, and one at least, rfed, is now playing up
| on it.
The object. however, of most intense interest is
line of dust that begins TO rise above the mass of
forest lying for miles away the right of the enc
| my. That it is a moving column is evident but
| whether of our own the enemy is the principal
| question If ours, are taking the enemy in flank
| If theirs, thay Outfank II moves towards the
enemy and courier that joins reports that it is
| the Brigade Of Gen. Cooke. On it goes There is
no corresponding cOlemn of the enemy. The move
ment promises success. The enemy may have sta
toned force in anticipation but not we fall upon
| their flank.
! HALF PAST TEN O'CLOCK. A. M-There is firing on
our fanking cslumn. The enemy has opened their
| battery upon it half way. The column responds.
1 The firing becomes rapid-musketry rapid. Gen
| erals BesuregaFd, Johnston and Bonham have Just
/ come to the hill where have been standing The
whole scene is before us-a grand moving diOrama.
The enemy have sent ball from their riAed cannon
/ at us. Another. They ass over US with sound
| that makes orr flesh crawl All have left the spot
| but General BeaRregard Bonham and Johnston and
their aids The firing has ceased a. the head of our
hanking column. 1t is renewed again, nearer. l
think, TO the enemy. AnJther ball exactly over our
heads. A very sustaining force follows our flank
| ing column. The enemy, firing at our Generals,
has dropped q shot among the wagons IN the edge
of the woods below, and they dash eft Another
shot follows them as they fly, and plunges IN the
ground but few feet behind one Of them.
ELEVEN o OCLOCK-1he firing has been awful The
heads of the ankiug and resisting columns dis.
tnctly visible from the smoke that rises above them
and they stand stationary for long time, but at
last the enemy's column goes back-a column of
dust rises in their rear-a shout rises that rosrs
loud as the artillery from men-the enemys
fire sackens-our reserves advance-the dust rises
on to the position lately occupied by the enemy
we triumph, we triumph, thank God! The dust still
rises IN the Of the enemy, though they were
retreating rapidly.
QUARTER BEFORE TWELVE O'CLOCK.-The enemy
made another stand Again, there is the roar of
,r al
tracted thunder Again the roar, but always at
the head of the enemys column. A column of
dust rises to the left of forces and passes to
the enemys right 1t must be intended to flank
them. II is fearful to think how many heart
strings wrung by the work that now goes on
how many brave men must be mangled and in
arguish.
again, the enemy has fallen back to another point
half q mile in the rear; ; and the splrals Of the
smoke curl up the side of the mountain in the
background. The whole scene Is in the Piedmont
valley. which have often noticed 70 have slept
so sweetly to the West of Centreville. and sweep
ing on down to the South. 1t is nearly level, or
seems So and the Blue Ridge rises to form the
dark background of most magnificent picture.
TWELVE O'CLOCK, NOON.-The batteries first open
ing have been silent for half en- hour. and the
whole extended valley is now the thick OF the
fight Where the enemy last took his stand re-
treating, the fight is fearful-the dust is denser
than the smoke. 1t is awful. They have been
repulsed three times-so it is reported by
cOurier-and row they have taken their bloodiest
and final stand
HALF PAST TWELVE O'cLoCK-The firing now is at
its Height. Never until now have l dreamed OF
such spectacle for one long mile the whole val
lev is boiling er ater of dust and smoke.
QUARTER BEFORE ONE OCLoCK-The fray ceases
Gems Beauregard and Johnston dash on TO the scene
of action, and a. we cannot doubt that the enemy
has again fallen back, it looks as though they were
on their way TO Washington.
ONE o o'clock Column after column is thrown in
from all along the lire of Bulls Run TO fall upon
the flank of the enemy, and the firing Is again re-
newed as though nothing had been done. An effort
would seem to have been made to outfank US, and
it has brought on another engagement further eh
but on line with the first. The established
on the hill feint at the MitcheN's Ford while
of both armies the effort was to outfank. These
guIs now but play at the columns of dust as they
rise from the infantry and cavalry as they tramp
past and those columns near the point where
stand, they have brought dozen at least within
100 years.
FIFTEEN MINUTES FAST ONE o'cLoCK.-The firing
has almost entirely ceased, but still our reserves
are pouring in. The enemy seems to be making an
attempt to cross at MitchelIs Ford All at MitcheHs
Ford is feint and it IS now certain that the grand
battle ground for empire is now to the West. be-
yond the Stone Bridge, on Bulls Run, and | go
there.
EvENG-At two o'clock 1 arrived on the
ground but of the further scenes of this battle,
have nothing more TO say, save this only, that at
field, leaving most of the guns of Shermans battery
behind them, with an awful list of dead and wound
ed. -
The attack was made at point above the Stone
Bridge, on Bulls Run by the whole disposabe force
of the enemy, led by GeLeral Mcdowell. The i'm
portance OF the movement not at first estimsted,
and it was met by General Evans with only the 4th
South Carolina Regiment, Col. Sloan, the Independ
ent Louisiana Battalion, Msj. Wheat, and two guns
of the Washington Artillery.
The charge of the enemy was met with sn intre
pidity beyond all praise, and the whole column of
the enemy was held at bay until reInforcements
came. These were led on by Col Jackson, Colonel
Barlow, General Bee, General Jones. The conflict
went in fierce and terrible struggle of the Con
federate troops against great odds and amidst ter
/ rible slaughter.
At the crisis of the engagement two regiments Of
South CarOlinians Kershaw's and Cookies, were Or
| dered to advance. Kemper's bsttery was attached
to Kershaw's. As these troops advanced they were
/ joined by PrestOns Regiment of Cookies Brigade.
| A tremendous charge was made, which decided the
fate of the day After acts of incredible Talor, the
enemy were driven of far to the North. As they