Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1863-05-09

ately sent too brigades, which were seen to
advance resolutely in the green corn, to drive
back the Federal brigade. The latter coolly
let them approach, and received them with
terrible artillery fire. The confederates, un-
shaken, pushed on to within thirty yards of
the cannon's mouth, shouting Bull Run I"
Bull Run I" AZ the Swiss shouted "Gran.
isbSh ~" Granson r. At that point they be.
gan to waver, and the Federal General Han.
cock, seizipg the moment, waved his cap and
cried to his brigade. "Now. men, charge bay
onets I" and threw himself with them upon
the enemy, who could not stand the shock,
but broke and run, strewing the field with
their dead. AT that moment, the General.in.
Chief, till then detained at Yorktown, appear
cd on the field. 1t was growing dark, night
was coming on, and the rain was falling in
torrents. On three sides of the plain on
which the General stood there was an unin-
Hancock's success had been decisive, and the
results brought up by the Gene, al-in.C Chief,
rushing on rapidly. completed it by their
presence alone. Then saw General McClel.
lan passing in front Of the sixth cavalry, give
his hand tb Major Williams, with few words
in praise Of his brilliant charge the day be.
fore The regiment did not hear these words,
but they understood them, and uttered one Of
those tremendous shouts which are heard only
on the day of battle. These shouts. which
were repeated along the whole line, terrified
the confedcrates. They were seen to get
upon the parappts of their rpdoubts, and look
on. silent and motionless Then the firing
ceased. and night fell on the fight called in
America, the battle Of Williamsburg.
The next day opened without cloud. The
air had that purity which in warm countries
follows storm. and the woods all the fresh
ness Of a beautiful spring morning Around
us lay smiling landscape, with blooming
flowers. new to European eyes; but in sad
contrast with all this, we beheld the horrors
Of the battlefield. the ground heaped with'the
dead and dying, and with ruins Of every sort.
During the night the confederates had evacu-
ated their works. We soon entered them.
and beheld the blue lines Of Federal infantry
marching with banners flying into the town
Of Williamsburg, amid the explosion Of aban-
doned magazines and caissons. Soon after,
the staff entered by fine broad street bor-
dered with acacias. All the shops were shut
but the people were mostly at their doors and
windows, looking on with gloomy. anxious
Of them very grotesquely assumed the airs of
conquerors. or decamped in the direction of
Fortress Monroe-that is Of liberty-taking
with them their wives and children in little
carts. The yellow flag waved over all the
public buildings, churches, and the like, which
were filled with wounded left by the enemy.
At the end of large street we debouched upon
a handsome square, ornamented with marble
statue, and surrounded with the buildings Of n
celebrated college, founded by the English
Government when Virginia was beloved
colony. This college also had been turned
into hospital. and the wounded were lying
even on he steps Of the portico.
Gen. McClellan's first thought was to re.
lieve 50 much suffering. A flag Of truce was
sent to the rear guard Of the confederates.
to invite their surgeons to come and take care
of their wounded, entire freedom being guar
anteed to them A number Of them soon ar
rived which gave them resemblance to off,
GERS of the Austrian chassenrs. The next
care was to station sentinels in every street
to maintain the strictest discipline. This
prccaution was superauous for. It the obedi.
ence Of Federal sOl1iers to their officers is not
what it should b. for the good Of the service,
never, believe. has any army shown more
respect for the inhabitante and for private pro.
pprty. Throughout the whole time that &C.
companied the army Of the Potomac. the only
instance Of disorder that came to my knowl-
edge was the pillage IF loft filled with fine
Virginia tobacco. djscovered in an abandoned
cart.house. will add that. on account Of
surrounding circumstances. there was some
merit in this strict observance Of discipline.
The troops that encamped around Williams.
burg. the ,lay after thu fight just related. were
for time short Of supplies in consequences Of
the impassable state Of the roads, and endured
with resignation the hostile behavior Of the
people, who all refused to accept their offer to
pay cash for provisions. When the first mo.
ments Of fear were over. and 1t was evident
that they had no risk to run, the ladies Of tho
city were seen ostentatiously carrying to thesr
wounded refreshments which they had not for
the Federal wounded and when. followed by
their negro servants carrying baskets filled
with provisions. they met Federal soldier on
the sidewalk, they openly gathered up the
folds Of their dresses AZ though they feared
contamination from some unclean animal. The
couqusrors merely smiled at these childish and
and unmannerly provocations. Others, In
their place. would perhaps have been less pa-
tient.
The general fixed bis headquarters in the
house occupied the day before BY Johnston,
the leader If the confederate army; for it was
no longer Mag:uder that We had to deal with
for some time past. Johnstou was regarded.
both BY friends and enemies, and especially
BY his former comrades Of the regular army.
a. soldier of the first order. He was ssid to
uni11great courage With an iron viii and ne