Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1867-05-09

and prepared for an attack But sud
denly from this dust emerged an Off
Ger, coming at full gallop, with the
intelligence that the dust was caused
by Stuart's cavalry. AT the same
moment a long line Of Federal bayo-
nets was seen on the Warrenton road
in front Jackson turned to Ewell,
who stood near by, and raised his
arm aloft then, letting it fall with a
loud slap upon his Knee, he said,
briefly;
"Ewell advance p
just as the thunder from Thorough
fare began to roar, Ewell threw for
ward his line, and attacked with fury
the Federal force in front CT him. 1t
was King's.divisiono aud made q splen-
did fight. Though assailed 10 flank,
they did not give way, nor did they
finch during the whole engagement.
ItNwas only at nine O'Clock at night,
when the news of tho abandonment
Of Thoroughfare probably reached
General King, that the Federal lines
retired. They had been advancing
toward Stone Bridge; they fell back
or Manassas. Thus Mcdowell, Rick
etts (at Thoroughiare) and King, had
all retired, one after another, upon
Manassas. At dawn on the 29th, the
golden moment had fitted by; the
gate of destiny had silently turned
upon its iron hinge; Pope was "mass-
ed J" Lee was massed it was army
against army. The brain Of General
Pope was to be measured against the
brain of General Loe.
Jackson had lost his right arm,
Ewell-severely wounded in the bat
tic just fought-bht the crushing
weight Of great anxiety had been
lifted from his breast. Lee had ar
rived VIXEN that intelligence was
brought him, he drew long breath
of relief, and his eyes were raised to
heaven in prayer and gratitude.
All the morning General Longstreet
was coming into position part of his
line OF battle was formed, indeed, by
nine o'clock, and the whole line re-
sembled an open V. Jacksons force
was the left wing; Longstreets the
right. At the angle was Groveton, a
small assemblage Of houses, near which
Stephen d. Lee was in command Of
about thirty pieces Of artillery.
Longstreet was ready about noon.
AT five in the evening General Pope
did not know Of bis arrival.
Does that statement seem absurd,
and is it greeted by any reader with
incredulous laughterg Proof-Porter
was ordered at half-past four TO attack
the right and rear Of Jacksonl 81 be-
licye," says General Pope-"in fact,
| am positive-that at five o'clock in
the afternoon of the 18th, General
Porter had in his front no considera-
bic body Of the enemy. | believed
then, as | am very sure now, that it
was easily practicable for him TO have
turned the right flank Of Jackson, aud
to have fallen upon his rear; that If
he had done so, we should have gained
a decisive victory over the army un-
der Jackson, before he could have
been joined by any Of the forces Of
The present writer spoke to Gen
eral Longstreet, within twenty yards
of his line of battle, kneeling on the
right knee, finger on trigger before
noon. General Fitz John Porter
that stubborn fighter on the Peninsula
and at Sharpsburg-was tried by
c)urt-martial, and dismissed from the
service, for not attacking Jacksons
r ght at fUe in tie eUeniHg, "beforo he
could have been joined by any of the
forces Of Longstrect," as Gen. Pope
says.
We have traced, perhaps tediously,
the steps OF the two adversaries, by
which they steadily advanced to the
moment and the place Of decisive
struggle. That narrative, we thought,
would interest the thoughtful reader
more than fofid series Of paragraphs
upon the fighting. The movements
which we have followed decided the
second battle of Manassas. When
Lee had massed his army, the hour of
destiny had struck. The defeat OF
Pope was merely a question
of time and detail That result might
occur thus or thus; IL would certainly
take place.
"The histories" will describe in de.
tail the long, obstinate, and bloody,
but nevcrdoubtful conflict. The pres.
ont writer retircs from the domain of
that great muse it is only some sa-
ient points that he begs to speak Of
And even these maynot be understood
diagram; for what is plain
to those who saw the ground, is the
mystery Of mysteries to those who
have never seen IL.
Lot us ascend that hill within sight
of Groveton and look We are near
the southern centre. Those gray
lines, extending toward the left, are
Jackson's. In his front is a woodland
and an unfinished railroad cut, where
the adversaries are going to grapple
in bitterest confict-to fire within a
few PAGES of each other--to stab and
fence with their bayonets-to seize
rocks and hurl them, breaking each
othSrs skulls. In tho centre, near at
hand, are the guns Of Stephen Lee
that hardy soldier, and accomplished
gentleman-waiting, grim and silent,
Ior the great assault from the woods
beyond Groveton, which round.shot,
she'll and canister is going TO meet /
On the right, stretching far beyond |
he Warrenton road, is the ombattled |
inc of I,Onpstreef. bristlinp with bay