New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-07-14
BULL RUN.

After the Battle-Why the COnfederates
Did Not March on Washington.
1t having been intimated in Hon. A. II
Stephens new volume that JEFF. Davis
''was responsible for the failure of the Con
federate troops to advance after the victory
OF Manassas" a writer in the jackson
(Miss.) Clarion prints what he claims to be
correct copies of original letters in his pos
session in relation to that matter as fol.
lows:
RICHMOND, Va, November 3, 1861.
General J. Z. Johnston Commanding Department OF
the Potomac:
SIR-RepOrts have been, and are being,
widely circulated to the effect that l pre-
vented General Beauregard from pursuing
the enemy after the battle of Manassas, and
had subsequently restrained him from ad-
vancing upon Washington City. Though
such statements may have been made
merely for my injury, and in that view their
notice might be postponed to q more cOnve-
nient season, they have acquired impor-
tance from the fact that they have served
to create distrust, to excite embarrassment,
and must embarrass the administration in
its further efforts to reinforce the armies of
the Potomac, and generally to provide for
the public defense.
For these public considerations l call
upon you, as the commanding General, and
as party to all the conferences held by me
on the twenty-first and twenty-secOnd of
July, to say whether obstructed the pur-
suit of the enemy after the victory at
Manassas. or have ever objected to an ad-
vance or other active operation which it was
feasible for the army to undertake.
Very respectfully yours, ETC.,
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
Headquarters, CENrRKyILLE
November TO- 1861.
To His Excellency the President:
SIR-I have had the honor to receive your
letter of the third instant, in which you
call upon me, ''as the commanding general
and as party to all the conferences held by
you on the twenty-frst and twenty-second
of july" to say:
whether you Obstructed the pursuit
after the victory of Manassas!
"Or have ever objected to an advance or
other active operation which it was feasible
for the army to undertakeF
To the first question reply, no. The pur-
suit was ''Obstructed' by the enemy's troops
at Centreville, as have stated in my official
report. In that report have also said why
no advance was made upon the enemy's
capital flor reasOns) as follows:
The apparent freshness of the United
States troops at Centerville, which checked
our pursuit; the strong forces occupying the
works near Georgetown, Arlington and
Alexandria; the certainty, too, that General
Patterson, if needed, would reach Washing
ton with his army of more than 10000
sooner than we could; and the condition
and inadequate means of the army in am
munition, provisions and transportation.
prevented any serious thoughts OF advanc-
ing against the capital.
To the second question reply that it has
never been feasible for the army to advance
further than it has done-tO the line of
Fairfax Courthouse. with its advanced posts
at UptOn's. MunsOn's and Mason's Hills.
After conference at Fairfax Courthouse
with the three senior general officers, you
announced it to be impracticable to give
this army the strength which those officers
considered necessary to enable it to assume
the offensive. Upon which drew it back
to its present position.
Most respectfully, your obedient servant,
j. Z. JOHNSTON.
A true copy:
G.. w. G. LEE, Colonel and Aid de-camp.
To the President.