Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1873-09-29
ALEXANDRIA, VA. MONDAY SEPTEMBER 49, 1873

of disorder the vain efforts to reform the new
aud undisciplined troops uutil he directed the
coors to be planted out about fifty yards IN
front and ordered the regiment to rally on
them, when the line was reformed aud the
charge of the 4th Alabama was led by Johnston
and himself; the arrival of the rcintorcements
which Gen. Johuston went back to push for
ward: the extension OF the two hostile lines tn
the westward beyond the Sudlcy road, as add-
tional numbers were brought into the contest;
the charges back and forth across the plateau;
its loss aud recovery and second loss and rccov-
cry; the capture, loss and rocapture OF the Fed
eral batteries; the Subsequent arrival OF hlrby
Smith from Manassas Junction and the dnal
arrival of Gcu. Early's brigade, which should
have come up from the right long before,
but had been delayed by the miscarriage
of orders, and now, having swept arouud
the woods occupied by the Contcderate LETT
burst iu on the Federal right flank just
as their line, reformed on the opposite clc-
yation, was advancing down the slope to
another attack. The Gen. here ,rceailcd the
anxious moments he had passed, when the ap-
nroach Of Early's column first became visible,
uncertain from its direction. 1t was uncertain
whether it was friend Or Toe; how the colorS
almost the same as those Of the u. ). flag hung
day, so that neither the. General nor his stall
officers, gazing through their glasses could dis
tinguish them, aud to make the doubt greater,
he had just received notice from his regular
officer Capt. Alexander, of signal oil dust vlsl-
Bile in the direction of the Bull Rnumouutalns,
SUGGESTING that Patterson might have forced the
gaps and was coming down TO the battle: how
as he was about to make arrangements fur the
evil ALTERNATIVES should it be such, the colors
were blown out by Il sudden breeze anu the
'sStars and Bars became visible, aud, seeing
then the decisive opportunity, ne requested;
his staff to give cheer and dispatch thcln all
along the line to aunouDcc the news to the
troops and order gcueral advance; now, press
ed in front and flank, the EederalS, after some
resistance, broke and the great roui began.
His presence on the scene recalled many IN.
tercstinp details. among which was an attempt,
after the enemy had been swept across Dung $
Branch in the last clearing Of the plateau, to
stop the firing of his small reserve, winch he
had led into the charge, fearing The exhaustion
Of ammunition. As the excited soldiers slill
continued firing notwithstanding th'lr oihcerS
efforts, the General and his staff rode along IN
front of them striking up their. ln'lSScts win
their sabres; but, as if hya species OF ntoN'ca,
ton, they fired in the air with their elevated
pieces; i!lusrating he added, the nnsoVerna-
Bile excitement of new troops. :, .
Moving across towards the haalcrn Sldc Vi
the plateau, we paused over the several Spots Z,
where collection Of rude stones marx ne -. IAN
of Generals Bee and Barlow and Colonel Fish
w w The General spoke with feeling and adj
miratiop of those three gallant soldiers VINO.
nnr;shed on the very verge Of victory and re-
marked that Bee, Judging 10y his conduct on
that field would have taken very high rank ma"
he survived. On the eastern brow OF the
nlateau, we reached the house o1 Uncle jim
Rohinson. 4 free negro III lS6l, whose. mousse
With ;,s surrounding. sheds, lenceS and trees,
had been one Oft hottest points OF the strus,
ole. He was absent at a nelghborns larul anu
his wife. who was delighted to see the General;
whom sh, s"mcmber well when he used to rld
,hont dar." invited Us to rest, whilst she sent
messcn ] Ger for her husband. rs 1t was growing
late in the afternoon, the Gen. clt alter a"hlN'
EXPRESSING to Aunty Robinson h's rcgrct not 10
ace his old neighbor, aud soon afterwards canc
Moor Uncle Robinson himself, all pcrspltlng
from the effort OF haste aud deeply dlsapp99lnt-
ed nj being too late. Having been asked ,, where
he was during the battle, he SAID wen Sc
scc. when dc fight begin obcr dar (polnting TO
Evans first position beyond loung 6ranch J
do,'s 1 when de Suffcrns come dar and doan spec
va. uao Sa Norfcrns and dc Norfcrns doan spec see
dam. den sen de wolnankin ober dar to Do
nohne's an dcy stay in de cellar all day, an L
stav wild de meukin' to pcrtec my property.
Den stan up yah an look at de bghun. Den
hv and by, | see Gen Barlow gwine down dc
hin vah an ober dat side (of loung,s branch !
| an den he come back and say boys, now we's
gwine to have some good fightin and l wants
You stan we'll Den sec Gen. Bee and Bar,
tow pwine ober dat side and jine Evans. We'll
bv an By dcy was all comm back and de Nor
ferns foo, and dcy was more troops back on de
hill vendah so reckon it | get tween de two
armies to pertcc' my properly, | better pcrtec
mrse'f fnst 50 den me an dc res oh de inenkln
aw;ne hide down dar under de rail bridge lpolnt-
ing in the direction of the wooden bridge by
which the Warentou turnpike crosses Young 5
Rrauchl an stay dar dc whole hight
We left Uncle Robinson quite interested ny
| ,;s rec;tal and bearing his repeated regrets to
the General that he should not have see him
and carrviur some beautiful apples which the
noiite old negro had carefully gathered from
his orchard near the house and requesting that
wc should present them for HIM to the Oencr-
al We then pressed on to join the rest OF our
nartv and returned after having enjoyed a DAY
of as rare interest as We ever expect 10 see. ne
General during his brief visit, the tlrst that ne
has made to Manassas since his mcnOraole de-
nartnre in the wiotcr of 1861 and 1862 has met
the eager hands Of many OF his OLD friends
some son Of whom were in his confidential service
and recalled to his mind with great interest
many maj curious and adventurous Incident III
tho line of events leading to the first great bat
tie tie of the war. He has gone from among US
atier i his brief soiuru, and We wish life and pros
perity 10 him whose brilliant genius aud pa'rlo-
,;c c heart m have illustrated tic history Of his
country.