Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1876-03-24
EBeaareEard on HARNESSES.
Er,,o tha NV orleans Pic2vune
New ORLEANS, March 7, 1876.

NEW ORLEANS, March I, 1916.
DEAR SIR:-I avail myself of the first
opportuue moment to answer your let
ter of the l7th uIUimo inquiring of me,
as III command at the time, why the
pursuit of the Nederals Immediately
after their route at the battle of Manas-
sas. July 81, 1861, was suddenly checked
and the Federal troops recalled toward
Manassas.
will first state that though with
General Joseph E. Johnston's consent
[ exercised the command during the
battle, at it's cioses after l had ordered
all the troops on the field in pursuit, L
went personally to the Lewis House
and reliuquished that command to hin.
l then started at a gallop to take imme-
diate charge of the pursuit on the Cen
5reville turnpike, but was overtaken
by courier from Manassas, with a
note addressed to me by Colonel
r. G.. Rhett, of General Johnston 8
staff, who had been LETT there in the
morning t. forward that Generals
troops as they might arrive by rail
from Winchester Colonel Rhett
thereby informed me that a strong
body of Federal troops had crossed
the Bull Run at Union Mills ford, ON
our right, and was advancing on Ma
nassas, orr depot of supplies, which
had been necessarily left very weakly
guarded. Hurried back to the Lewis
House to communicate this important
dispatch to General Johnston, and
both of us believing the information
to be authentic, 7 undertook to repair
to the threatened quarter with Eweli's
and Holmes bcigades, at that moment
Hn,co x1,ha l.. IA
Just arrived too late to take part in the
action. With these troops [ engaged
to attack the enemy vigorously before
he could effect a Judgment on our side
OF Bull run, but asked to be reinforced
as soon IS practicable by such troops
as might be spared from the Centre
vile pursuit.
Having reached the near vicinity Of
Union Mills ford without meeting any
enemy, I ascertained. to my surprise,
that the reported hostile passage was
,lse alarm growing out of some
movements of our troops "a part of
General II. D. Jones brigade), who
had been thrown across the run ia the
morning, pursuant To my offensive plan
If operations for the day, and upon
their return now to the south bank of
the run we're mistaken, through their
similarity of uniform, for the Federals.
I returned TO intercept the march of
the two brigades who were following
me towards Union MilIs,.an as it was
quite dark when I met them, aud they
were greatly jsded by their long march
and cOuntermarch during that hot July
LIZ, [ directed them to halt and biv-
ouc 81: r, they WIRE. H-aring that
Prc-iAent Davi and General johnson
lad gone to Mana>s,,s, / r turned, and
found them between In f-past and 10
o clock at my headquarters.
This vii! explain 10 you Why TIE
partial /. trocrade mn,em- to
which you refes wa, made. and why SO
sustained, vigorous pursuit of McDow-
ellis army was made that evening.
Any pursuit of the Federals next
day towards their rallying post at and
around L)ng Bridge, over the Poto-
mac, could have led to no possible
military advantage, protected as that
position was by n system of field
works. No movement upon Washing
tor. by that route puid have been pos
sible; for even if there had been no
such works the Lridge,a mile III length,
was commanded by federal ships of
war and few pieces of artillery, or
the destruction of a small part of the
bridge could have made it's passage
impracticable.
Our only proper operation was to
pass the Potomac above into Maryland
at or about Edwards ferry aud march
upon the rear of Washington. With