The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-07-05
For the Richmond Dispatch.
Tte FRS. battle Of fyaaaSsas-<.c,tr-
rnI johnson and Err. EtmbMcys F-ct-

r,l johnson and Err. Itmbmcy'a F.ct-
iers.
.NeSSi,s. EdiforS,-In the reply Of X. J..
Dabncv, ID. D., to the letter OF General
Joseph T.. Johnston critlciSlng Dr.. -.
narrative of the first battle Of Manassas Is
the following: {" now pass to another
uoint, General Johnston, dissenting from
anv opinion thar it would have been better
10 march the remainder OF Inc Army OF the
Valley direct TO the battlefield from Pied
mont station, instead OF waiting npon cen
fused and dilatory trains %! cars, says:
'Thc fact that these troops were two days
in marching twcnty-lhrcc miicS-ifom
Winchester 70 PiedmOnt->h that they
could not have marched tiii!ty-Iotlr mics
from Piedmont TO the scene OF actlon--ln
less than two days, and that the only hope
of getting them into battle was by the rail-
road" / happen 10 be able 10 speak to
this very point, having been an humble
officer in the Army OF the Valley, and
having performed the march on foot with
nv brigade, then commanded by Coione!
Barlow, of Georgia. can testify with per
feel confidence in the accuracy OF my
statement. because had iii my possession
a journal, in which was noted the time OF
starting from Winchester, the time of ar
rival az Piedmont, the distance, &c. The
Seventh, Eighth, Ninth, and Eleventh
Georgia regiments, and the First kentucky
battalion Of six companies constituted at
that time the brigade of Colonel Barlow.
The Seventh and Eighth Georgia regiments
alone participated in the hattlc-the rest,
aggregating at least two thousand effective
i MnnIuV
morning, 22d, the day after the hght-and
they were some of the troops which Dr.
D. states arrived on that day by the train.
In my journal is the following entry, Tor
the truth Of which | will youch, as it was
made upon the spot, and at the time of the
event: awe commenced the march on
Thursday, July 18th, from Winchester TO
Piedmont, latter II O'Clock NJ leaving
behind us al! the baggage which could pos
sibly be dispensed with. We continued
our march during the whole OF Thursday
night on the Berry's Ferry turnpike, cross
ing the Shenandoah about midnight, not
stopping to refresh ourselves with food.
We reached Piedmont, distant from Win
chester about twenty-five miles early Fri
day morning, many of the men broken
down, and all ialigued by tho forced march
without rest"
lean aver that this brigade was not two
DAYS in marching twenty-thrce miles, from
Winchester TO Piedmont, nor the hall oi
it, and that they were ready and willing
to march the remaining thirty miles, II
necessary, to give them an opportunity to
share in the glorious victory achieved on
the 2lst. We remained in bivouac around
Piedmont station Friday, Saturday, and
Sunday, impatient all the time to move on,
the men openly expressing wish 10 be
permitted TO march the distance rather
than be delayed beyond the day OF the
! e~uected battle. They actually, III bodies,
waited upon their officers to consult upon
'h's very pont, and were 50 impatient that
onr commander, Major Claiborne, several
llnles sought Interviews with those IN
charSo OF transportation to know If they
cooia not arrange To hurry Us forward.
Another entry Is this: "We laft Piedmont
Monday 22d before dawn, and arrived a,
Manassas Junction early in tho davn
cannot state positively how many fresh
troops arrived on the morning after tho
battle, but know las above stately that
went in a train with two thousand, at the
least, and that there were others. As 10
the point whether the pursuit should have
been pressed and Washington threatened,
will not presume TO express an opinion
in case where one SO eminent as General
Johnston speaks. 1t was the almost
unanimous desire Of officers and men to
press the pursuit and to reap the full
fruits Of our victory. Many at that time
thought, what all now know, that in a con-
test with powerful and overwhelming
adversary hope of success lies chiefly in
dealing rapid and effective blows The
weaker nation cannot afford to wait till
the stronger makes every preparation ne
cesSary to overwhelm them by the mere
force Of numbers and the weight OF ord
nance. Jackson himself is the best illus
tration of his own theory-owing success
chiefly TO the energy, activity, and zeal
which lie displayed in his combinations
and movements; striking here, striking
there, striking everywhere; giving his