Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-09-21
Bull Run, By an EpgIisbmnn.

A correspondent of the Edinburgh Satur-
day Rsvis,o, who was at Manassas, says:
About noon the heads Of columns were
distinctly seen advancing towards the Con-
federate batteries, and three batteries (as
afterwards learned)-two of United States
artillery, and the lthode Island flying artil-
lery--were brought up so that their shot told
heavily upon work containing eight guns
of position, into which, from my steep ac-
clivity, l could see very distinctly. This re.
doubt was crammed with men, and shot af-
ter shot told upon the living mass. Vsinly,
in the iron storm, men rushed in to fill the
places OF the gunners who fell at their guns,
scorched by the explosion of she'll, or cruelty
mangled by the splintering of their wooden
gun. carriages. By one O'clock the battery
was silenced, with loss of three hundred
killed and wounded. The precision of the
Federal fire was remarkable. For nearly
every blue puff which left the muz1les of
their guns, a gap in the mass of men or a
shower OF splinters answered. 1t was deadly
fire, the range not being more than five hun
dred yards. This battery was on the other
side of the Run. About the time that it was
evacuated, large body of Federalists moved
forward under the shelter of their field-pieces
to capture the guns on the small eminence
which were delivering calling fire. These
guns were supported by two thousand men,
and the assailing force was considerably
larger, and included, l believe, the Fire
Zouaves, and the New York Irish and Scot.
tish. The battle was now most exciting, and
its course was distinctly visible, the Federal
lists having advanced so near to their enemies
that with my glass could discern the color
of their uniforms. Victory seemed now to
incline to their side. Two of the Confeder-
ate batteries were silenced with heavy loss
and the possession of this eminence, Captain
Tyler informed me, would Oblige Beauregard
to retire from his first line of defense, his po-
sition being turned in flank. The Federal
lists came boldly on, mounting the slope in
double quick time, the gunners, panic
stricken, deserting their guns. The Confed-
crates after firing volley, which appa-
rently did little execution, wavered and
broke. i y The hill was now
crested with the Confederates, who, since
they were REINFORCED, outnumbered their as
sailauts but the Federalists re. formed, and
now charged up the hill with their bayonets,
led by an officer in a gray uniform, who con-
stantly waved his hat and sword. On they
came; but as the steal. crested human wave
had nearly surged up the hill, they received
point-blank, and then the Confederates,
them with the bayonet. 1t was fearful
sight as the bayonets crossed, the death
grapple, the fury, and, above the clash OF
arms and the booming of the guns, rose yells
like "the echoes of hell" 1t was not only
the fierce rage of battle that swelled those de-
mon-like utterances, and drove home those
bsyonets with much deadly force. 1t was
the long pent.up hatred of North and South,
of Puritan Roundhead and aristocratic Caya.
lier, the deadly antagonism of race, the un-
dying feud between Saxon and Norman.