Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1867-02-05
Written expressly for the Staunton Spectator.
OUR Messy A REBEL SUBALTERN.
CHAPTER VI
CHAPTER VI
BATTLES.

''rhe battle of Manassas, " remarked Duncan
one day at mess: was, in my opinion the great
est battle of the war. y
(which one p asked Capt. Smilax.
1.-THE first, under the direction of Beauregard
and Johnston, was the reply. ''It gave our
enemy an idea of what kind of stuff our men
were made Oft was the first blow, which is
you know always the most effective
THAT so, chimed in Muckton, I'm al
first blew-it' S regular socdolager, and tells
moughtily.
"Bah!" exclaimed Major Stretcher entering
into the argument with his usual air Of supe-
riority-"Manassas glory is dimmed in the
greater splendor Of Shiloh [ ought to know
gentlemen / was in both affairs-Shiloh sirs
Shiloh y
Pray, why do you think that the battle of
Manassas was less important than that Of Shi-
loh?" asked Chester Duncan mildly.
Because, sir, there was more military skill
dispayed-there were greater general officers
in the field, more soldiers and more fighting
We had severe three days of 1.-THE death of
Sidney Johnston, too, threw damper upon
the men and, though they had every confidence
in Beauregard, yet, sr-they missed Johnston.
| was then in service with my regiment; it is
only lately that have been attached to the
Quartermaster' department. l remember well
the details of the battle, for was active in ev-
cry part Of the field"
"Give us your account Of it, Major" said
Smiax, winking to the company.
with pleasure, replied the Major, compli-
mented by being asked to display his rare pow
ers at story telling. with the greatest pleas
ure, gentlemen. Before sun rise on Sunday
me to consult as to the practicability of an as
,,lt ,1pon tha anonvc oamp which ypac di-
rectIy in front OF our lines. There had been a
good deal OF skrmishing during the last twenty
four hours-and every indication OF coming
general conflict [ advised him to attack inn
mediately, if consistant with orders He eshook
me warmly by the hand, and said that he would
follow my advice, compinIenting me on my
judgment and experience The attack was
made-the enemy were taken completely by
surprise-they even left their breakfasts for us
to eat and many OF them were even sans cutotte.
They hastily formed line OF battle-our forces
advanced in every direction, Gen. Bragg COM
mandlng the centre, Gen. Polk the right wing
and Hardee Oh the left
"We gave and received some hard knocks
but the enemy had to fall back before the tre-
mendous charge OF my battalion. In vain they
made stand after stand, my lndom table toys
owe them like afrlghted sheep at the point of
the bayonet. | was far in advance OF our line
when a she'll struck my horse in the rear and
turned him inside out-this, of course, reversed
his position, and was carried safely back to
my command.
"The fight continued all day, and at night
the enemy S camp renamed In our possession
My men regaIed themselves on every luxury of
the Northern market-lobsters, sardines, and
| roast beef were washed down with sparkling
champagne For few hours, gentlemen, we
lived like fighting cocks.
1''Ihe next morning, soon after sunrise, the
enemy heavily reinforced, showed signs of de-
termination to reclaim the breakfast they had
lost the previous morning. There was coun-
Gil OF officers-l was invited to give my opin
ion-it was decidedly to stand our ground-if
We could. They all agreed with Inc. The en-
emy made several attempts to force our posi-
tion-but they were repulsed each time by me
and my buys About eleven clock desper-
ate plunge was made upon our extreme left
General Beauregard, at NY suggestion, ordered
the right wing to fall back to keep the enemy
from getting between our left flank and Corlnth );
our whole line being thus swung round, leav
ing General Breckinnidge's division occupying
the portion Immediately in advance of the enc
my's old encampment. AS we fell back the
Yankees retired-so no victory was gained on
either side. was by the side Of the brave
Johnston when he fell He had placed him
self at the head of our attacking force, and led
the charge in person-and though frequently
begged him not to expose himself, he stul per-
sisted in rushing into the thickest Of the con-
fict. At about half past two o'clock mimic
ball struck his breast, at the same time shell
shattered his leg and he fell covered with glory.
Gentlemen, the press killed that man. Colonel
Preston, Governor Harris and myself bore him
from the field.
''In this battle the Federals numbered some
sixty thousand, while we had but about forty
thousand in the field. Notwithstanding the
great advantage the enemy had over us, we