Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1861-07-28

the very DesTt Of the action, appearing then,
as was afterward most eXpreBsiVely said Of
him, to be the very impersonation Of the "gOd
Of war" General Johnston, too, looked every
inch a commander, and proved himself 10 be the
worthy inheritor of The prowess and virtues Of
his ancestors.
On reaching the top Of the bill, where was
a white house, owned, I believe, by a Mr..
Lewis, they were again discovered by the en-
envy, as the rifed shot and shell wbizzed
through the air and lodged in the hollow be-
hind. The aim was not go good at this time,
the accurate artilleTisls three miles below not
haviog yet come up with the enemy's main
body.
At about 70 O'Clock BeaaTegard and John
ston assumed The command Of cur main body
at Stone Bridge.
The line Of battle extended some seven miles
up and down the creek, and during the day
there were some minor engagements at other
fords.
At Blackburn's ford, General jones' brigade
made an attack t. the left flank Of the enemy,
who had two strong batteries in a commanding
position, which it was important to capture.
The Fifth S c. regiment led The attack, but
our troops were compelled to retire for a while
under the heavy fire Of the batteries and mus
kerry, and the enemy Immediately retreated-
Up TO toe time OF this attack, these batteries
LEU 80 1HAL0aAAtAaE rs ~ AANAAAAA@ ~
LOngstreeps position in his entrenchment on
this side of the run.
General Evans, Of South Carolina, was the
first to lead bis brigade into action at Stone
Bridge. It consisted of the Fourth South
Carolina regiment and Wbeat's Louisiana
battalion. Sustaining them, was Gen Cookies
brigade, consisting OF the 18th, 10Th and 28th
Virginia regiments, commanded respectively
by Coils. Cooke, NisheTs and Robt. T. Pres
fnu These hrfraHna vvarn the fret fn hnar the
brunt Of the action, az they were exposed TO
a cOncentric fire, the object Of the enemy be-
ing to turn our left flank while we were en-
deavoriEg to turn his righ'. These regiments
OF infantry were sustaining the famous Wash
iEgton artillery, Of New Orleans, who had two
of their guns at this point, which made terri
bic havoc in the ranks OF the enemy. The
federal troops leading the action consisted OF
10000 regulars, sustaining the celebrated Sher
mans battery, these regulars being in their
turn sustained by immense masses Of volun-
teers, the New York ZOuaves among the nun
Der Gen. Beauregsrd estimated the enemy's
numbers IN the action to be not less than 3d.
600 men.
Their artillery far outnumbsred ours. We
have captured 81 pieces cannon, while we had
only Is guns on that part Of the field. It has
been stated to me by so many OF our soldiers
I cannot but believe it, that the enemy by some
mtdhS uuu ODLdllitA our StEHdl lot iut
dav-theT also used our red badge, which for
tunately was discovered in time, and they car
Tied into action the flags of the palmetto State
and the Confederate States. It bas been as
serted, too, by numerous individuals engaged
in the battle, that there was great confusion
and slaughter among our own men, who mis-
took them for the enemy. This was less to be
wondered at from the similarity Of uniform
and the mean advantages above referred to
taken by our INSCRIPTIONS fOesy
They pressed our left flank for several hours
with terrible effect, but our men fiucbed not
until their number had been so dinished by
the well aimed and steady volleys, that they
were compelled 70 give way for new regiments.
The seventh and eighth Georgia regiments,
commanded by the gallant and lamented Bar
tow, are said to have suffered heavily during
the early part Of the battle. Kemper's,
Shields, and Pendleton's batteries were in this
part ofihe field, and did fearful execution.
an inclined to believe there was some
mistake during the day, in the delivery or exc
cutiOn Of an order of Gen. BesuregaTd's, re-
speeding an attack on the enemy's rear, which
was not effected.
Between two and three O'Clock large num-
bers Of men were leaving the field, scme OF
them wounded, others exhausted by the long
struggle, who gave rs gloomy reports but as
tie fire on both sides continued steadily, We
felt sure that or brave Southerners had not
been conquered by the-overwhelming hordes
Of the North. It is however, due to truth t.
say that the result st this hour hung tTem-
bling in the balance. We bad lost numbers
Of our most distinguished officers. Generals
Barlow and Bee bad been stricken down
Lieutenant Colonel johnson, Of the Hampton
Legion, had been killed Colonel Hampton
had been wounded, but there was at hand the
fearless general whose reputation az a CON-
mander was staked on this battle: and with
that chivslry which is bis nature, General
Bsauregard promptly offered to lead the Hamp-
ton Legion into actioR,.which be executed Il in a
style unsurpassed and indispensable
Your correspondent heard Gen. Johnston
eXclaim to Gen. Cooke, inst aE the critical mo-
ment, "Oh for four regiments!' His wish
was answered, for in the distance our rein
forcements appeared.
The tide Of tie battle was turned in our
favor by the arrival Of Gen. Kirby Smith,
from Winchester, with four thousand men Of
Gen. Jehnston's division.
Gen. Smith heard while on the Manassas
railroad cars The roar Of battle. He stopped
the train and hurried bis troops across the
fields TO the point Just where be was most
needed. They were at first supposed to be the
enemy, their arrival at that roint Of the field
being entirely unexpected.
Tn enemy fell back, and a panic seized
-
them Cheer after cheer from our men went
up, and we knew the battle bad been won.
Thus was the hest appointed army that b.
ever taken the field on this continent beaten,
and compelled to retreat in bot haste, leaving
behind them everything that impsded their
escape. Guns, knapsacks, hats, caps, shoes,
c%anteens and blankets covered the ground for
miles and miles.
At about FIVE O'Clock, we beard cheer upsn
cheer, and the word "Daviso ran along the
ranks, and we saw in the distance the tail,
slender form Of our gallant President, who had
arrived upon the field in time to see the total
rout Of the army which threatened his capture,
and the subjusation Of the Sou'h.
The President left Richmond at 6 o clock in
the morning, and reached Manassas Junction
at4. where, mOuntihg a horse, accompanied
by Col. Joseph R. Davis and numerous attend
ants, be gallOped to the battle field, lust IN time
to Join in the pursuit by a magnificent body
of cavalry, consisting of 800 men, command
ed BY Lieutenant ColonelStewart. This sight,
Of stself, was worth the fatigue of the days
journey. We saw the poor wounded soldiers
on the roadside and in the fields, when they
observed the Presidents manly form pass by,
raise their heads, and heard them give shout
upon shout and cheer upon cheer.
It has been stated the President commanded
the center and joined in the charge, but this is
4 misldkPs lHt Tram udH De5u uttdYeQ ana
arrived at the Junction two hours behind its
time, which muse have been a ~griev0us dissp-
pOintment.
The Washington artillery, who bad drawn
their guns up the bill, and in front Of the house
known as Mr.. Lewis'-Gen. Cookies and Gen.
Johnston'5 headquarieT s, and which was rid
died with shOt-cOmmanded By Major J. b.
Walton in person, gave the enemy about this
time a parting salute.
With the aid Of our glass, which was more
powerful than his own, he observed the car
rage OF a gun some two miles of. He gave
tue order for another fire and Lieut.. bearing
pointed the piece. Before the ball had well
reached the point aimed at, a whole regiment
appeared in sight, going at the "double quick''
down the Centervilie road. Major Walton
Immediately ordered another shot to "help
them along" as he said, and two were sent
without delay right at them. There was 10
obstruction and the whole front Of the regi-
ment was exposed. One half were seen to
fall, and if Gen. Johnston had not at that mo-
ment sent an aid to Major Walton, with the
order to cease firing, nearly the whole regi-
ment would have been killed.
b Thus did fifteen thousand men, With thirteen
pieces OF artillery, drive back inglCTiously a
force exceeding 80, 900, supported by nearly a
hundred pieces Of cannon. 7 believe the eff
Lial report will sustain ne Ia The assertion
that Gen. ~Beauregard did not bring more than
1900 men into the action. The total force |
under Gen. Mcdowell was over $4,000, ana !
30. 600 will probably cover the force in action
at theS tone bridge.
Manvf f the DTiaOnerz saw that q, Ceo4f !