The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1861-12-04

mad about ten thousand men and SIX guns
the later immoveable for went OF harness.
On the 28th he informed the General Of the
strength of the enemy ard of his own force;
that he would not on his own responsibility
attack without artillery, but would do so
cheeriully and promptly if he wonld give
him an explicit order to that effect. No or
der was given. On the 29th he received
the harness for his single battery of six
smooth bore guns, and on the 30th gave the
order TO cross.
On the I'd of July he crossed, met the en-
emy and whipped them.
On the 9th of july council was held, at
which all the commanders of divisions and
brieades, and chiefs of staff, were present.
Col. Stone the juuior line officer, spoke
twice and decidedly agains, an advance,
advocating a direct movementio Shepards-
town and Charlestown. All who spoke op.
posed an advance, and all voted against
one. On the same day, he informed the
Ceneral-in chief, OF the condition Of affairs
in the valley, and proposed that he should
90 TO Chsrlestown and occGpy Harper's
Ferry, and asked to be informed when he
would attack Manassas. On the 18th he
was directed 10 go where he had proposed
and informed that Manassas would be at
tackled on Thursday, the 18th. On the 18th
he was telesraphed "lf not strong enongh
TO beat the enemy early next week make
demonstrations so as TO detain him in the
valley Of Winchester" He made the dem
onslralions, aud on the 10Th, the day Gen.
Scott said be would attack Manassas, he
drove the enemy's pickets into his enuench-
manis al Winchester, aud on the l7lh
marched TO Charlestown
On the 18th he teIegraphed the General
in.Chief that Johnston was in a position 10
have hs strength doubled just as he could
reach him and HAT he would rather lose the
chance OF accomplishing something brilliant
than by hazarting his column, o destroy
the frCiis OF the campaign by defeat, closing
his telegram Thus: 'lf wrong, let me be in
strucied" But no instruction came. This
was eight days before the battle Of Manas-
sas. On the l7ih, Gen. Scott ieegraphed :
"Mc Dowelrs first days work has driven
the enemy beyond Fairfax Court House -
To morrow The Junction, will probably be
carried" With this information he was
happy. Johnston had been detained the ap
pointed time, and the work of General Pat
ierson's column had been done.
On the 18th, a, half-past one in the morn.
ing he lelegraPhed Gen Scott The condition
Of the enemy's force and OF his own, refer
ring to his letter of the 18Th tor full infor-
nation. and closed the despatch by asking
"Shal attack 2" This was plain English
and could not be misunde rstood, bot he re
| ceived no reply. He expected to be attack
ed where he was, aud if Manassas was no
TO he attacked on that day, as stated in Gen
Scot's despatch of The day previous, he
ought TO have been ordered down forthwith
to join in the battle and the attack delayed
uniil ne came. He could have been there
OF the day hat the battle was fought, anC
his assistance might have produced diff
/ ferent result
/ On the goth he heard that Johnston haC
marched with 35 600 Confederate troops
and large artillery force in a southeasterly
! direction. He Immediately IslesraPhed th'
/ information 10 Gen Scott, and knew that he
received it the same day. In accordance
with instructions he came to Harper's Fer
| ~ on The 2Ist, which place ne held unii
/ relieved
! Gen. Patterson, during the course o! bis
remarks, was repeatedly aPplauded, an'
! closed amid repeated cheers.