Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1873-09-29
uriA GAZETTE & VIRGINIA ADVERTISER
Gen. Beauregard's Visit to Manassas.
From the Manassas Gazette. -

J q
r;ved in this place on the 18th lust, from
Farm Farm Springs, Va, and stopped at the Mauas-
ems Hotel. Having visited the General and
I',rnei that he Intended to visit the Bull Run
hattie fields 10 company with Messrs. Mclean
and Marriu, our reporter Joined the party
which set out on horseback shortly after break
fast The day was beautiful and exhilaratng,
and increased the feeling of anticipated pleasure
and interest We took the road to Michell' 5
ford and had gone some distance beyond the
site of camp Pickens, where the General point
cd ont the system of field works aud the in-
trenched camp As the party was proceeding
onward the Generals horse stumbled and
fali forward as the horse was about to rise,
,he General kept his seat, but the horse made
false effort, aud losing his balance suddenly
feii over on his shoulder. As the General could
MT eytr;cate his foot from the stirrup when
his horse fell the second time it suffered slight
commission. The party soon separated, Gen.
Reanrcpard going in company with MIR, Whit
inc to Ben Lhomond, the old Chinn house, now
owned by VIM Ii. Campbell, ESQ.,, near the
scene of The bloody fight Oh the plateau there
TO await the return OF Messrs. Marin and Nc
Lean, who struck their way through the woods
by an old army road lone OF those made t'y the
order of Beauregard previous to the battle OF
Manassas to Mclean 5 ford near the right Of
the Confederate lines. After several hours
spent in tracing the several positions from the
right TO the left Of the Confederate Bull Run
Iues-a distance of several miles-and examin-.
lug the scene of the Bull run battle of the Sth.
of July at Blackbu S and MitchelPs fords,
they came to Mr. Campbell's, and the party
then took the Sudley road. to reach the famous
plateau which lies to the North and rear of the
Confederate liues, the chief scene OF the battle
of Manassas fought on Sunday the 2lst. The!
road was travelled with gay conversation, until
the General, who for some time had been 10.
tenty scanning the country, remarked In u
grave tone, tinged with feeling We are
now reaching the battle ground" 1t was the
voice of memory into which many the thoughts
aud feelings of the past were now crowdlng.
There is always deep and touching Interest
belonging to this battle, from it's having been
the first Of the war, from the character OF the.
men who composed the two armies, their new
ness 10 arms, the suddeDness OF their call from
peaceful homes their mingled hrmness and.
generous reluctance 10 coming to deadly blows,
aud the fact that the result was to decide
whether the great revolution should iall or take
organized existence.
A halt was soon made and whilst still in rear
of the line of battle on the plateau. the Gen.
pointed out the line of march to the field taken
hy Kirby Smith toward the left and that follow
I'd later by Gen. Early, who swept around the
woods on the left of the Sudley road, coming
out on the eneuys right flank on the centre of
the Warrenton turnpike. As the party ad-
vanced, Maj Mclean suddenly called halt
and nointed to a small rough stone lying on the
grassy border Of the road, on which was ruaely
carved the name of Lieut.. Williams Of South
Carolina, evidently the upskilled work of some
friendly comrade and touching memorial OF
thatterrible fight in which so many young men,
OLIVES hitherto unassociated with any form OF
violence, suddenly found themselves precipltat-
ed into SO fierce contest The party. now
rode up to the edge of the slope and, as they
turned to the right through the gateway lead
Ing to the Henry house, the Gen. pointed out
the scene of Stuart cavalry charge on the Fire
Zouaves. Arrived at the Henry house, the
Gen. informed the party that they now stood on
the plateau where the battle had ragged from
noon till 4 o clock. In front OF the house stands
a rough monument, commemoratlng the fede-
raj dead. On the front side ofits base are placed
small boards with Inscriptions commemoratlng
some of the chief events of the battle and the
death of distinguished Contederates, such as
the brave Generals Bee, and Barlow and Col;
Fisher The inmates of the house, gladdened
but much affected, came out to see the General,
among them the daughter of old Mrs. Henry
who had sat all day by the side OF her mother
who lay sick in bed during the noise and terror
Of the surrounding battle until killed at last by
shell which exploded in her room. Passing
on to the central elevation of the plateau, the
Gen, then described the course of events con-
ncctcd with that portion Of the llpe OF battle
lie pointed out tie line of march taken from
the Confederate left at the Stone Bridge by
Evans, when the latter having observed by
the moving columns Of dust ,hatthe enemy were
marching around upon the faux and rear OF bis
position, went with the chief portion OF his
command to meet them and formed in small
wood about half mile in front Of the plateau
on another elevation beyond Young's branch,
where he was soon encountered by the van OF
the Federals. He then explained how Bee, who
had been ordered to support the left when
the firing had increased in that quarter, had
formed his line along the plateau and put In
bodcn's battery IN action against the distant
federals. firing over the heads of Evans coll
umn, until the latter, pressed by the newly ar
rlvng forces Of the enemy called for assistance,
when Bee. after having advised Evans to with
draw to his position on the plateau reluctantly
responded to his repeated call, and advancing
10 Evans position and extending the line with
o"L ofStut duu ludt VI A>oi asSuuCu
command and, fought the enemy for long
time, until the Federals, ,st increasing, as their
successive forces crossed the Sudley ford, en-
dAngered his line end forced him to withdraw !;
he described the confused retreat, as they came
Grp.the slope of the plateau and around its base,
ia1lqg behind the Hampton legion (which held
tGe Robinson house and breasted the Federal
aayance) Into sort of wooded ravine to the
i,sht and front of a pine belt just below the
Top OF the rear slope of the plateau, whittier
yacSson, after being ordered to the support Of
,.; ue lett, had come, moving to the immediate
slc,nlty Of the firing, as Bee had done before,
suG forming some distance in rear of the lat
W ,sf hrst line Of battle how, after learning the
miscarriage of his orders to Ewell Oh the ex-
ue9e right and forced thereby to abandon the
original plan Of battle, to which the other su-