Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1861-08-09
The Battle of Manassas, as Seen by a
Southern Correspondent.


We select the following from a lorg and
well written account of the battle, which
appeared in the Richmond Dispatch:
The CORES spondent says that, though the
Z. S troeps opened with cannon on the
right, Beauregard detected that as feint.
and was seen to direct Gen. Johnston's
attention particularly, with his hand. to-
wards our extreme left, as if be knew the
struggle would be made there
He proceeds:
AS | have said, Gen. Beauregard was
not deceived. for the immense clouds of
dust appearing above the woods, indicated
beyond a doubt, the Federal columns were
moving in solid masses in another direc
ton. and one which was unmistakahle.
Several balls fell in field Immediately
behind US. and not hundred yards from
the spot where the Generals stood. An
officer of General Bcaurcgard's staff re-
quested US to leave the hill, and as we
moved away she'll burst not twenty feet
off. Col. Bonner calculated with his
watch the time taken By the balls to pass
US, aud made the distance / 3-4 miles from
the encmys battery. The enemy no
doubt discovered the horses of the gener-
ais, and thought it good opportunity to
display their craftsmanship, and credit is
due to them for the accuracy Of their aim.
THE CRISIS OF THE BATTLE.
They pressed our left flank for several
hours with terrible effect, but our men
! finched not until their number had been so
diminished by the well aimed and steady
volleys, that they were compelled to give
way for new regiments. The 18th and Sth
( Georgia regiments, commanded by the
gallant and lamented Barlow. are said to
have suffered heavily during the early part
of the battle Kemper's, Shields, and
Pendleton's batteries were in this part Of
the feld and did earful execution.
Between two and three o'clock large
numbers of men were leaving the field,
some of them wounded. others exhausted
BY the long struggle, who gave US gloomy
reports; but as the fire on both sides con
tinued steadily, we felt sure that our brave
Southerners had not been conquered by
the overwhelming horaes Of the North, It
is, however, due to truth to say that the
result at this hour hung trembling in the
balance We had lost numbers of our
most distinguished officers. Generals Bar
tcw and Lee had been stricken down =
Lieut. Colonel johnson. of the Hampton
Legion, bad been killed Col Hampton
had been wounded, but th ere was at band
the fearless General whose reputation as a
commander was staked on this battle and
with that chivalry which is his nature,
General B, auregard offered to lead the
Hampton Legion into the action, which hs
executed in a style unsurpassed.
Your correspondent heard Gen. John
ston exclaim to Gen. Cooke, just at the
critical moment, '.Ob, for four regiments
His wish was answered. for in the distance
our reinforcements appeared.
The tide Of the battle was turned in ou1
favor by the arrival of Gen Kirby Smith
from Winchester, with four thousand mel
of Gen. Johnston's division.
Cen Smith heard, while on the Manas
sas railroad cars, the roar Of battle. H'
stopped the train and hurried his troop
across the fields to the point just where b
was most needed They were at first sup
posed to be the enemy, their arrival a
that point Of the field being entirely IN
eYncrfed