Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1878-07-10
The Second Battle of Manassas.

During the trial of Ger. Fi'z John Potter.
at West Point, yesterday. Geo. James Long.
street testified that Gen. J Jackson force 90 the
2S:h Of August was about %. 900 men, and be
was east Of Thoroughfare Gap, and Lougstreet
was at Tboroughfare Gap with 5000 men di.
vided into divisions Of three brgades each.
There were two battalions Of artillery and sew
eral batteries, but there was no regular artillery
organization. The troops were 10 foe cond.
ton. His troops were marchiog to the sup.
port Of Jackson On the afternoon of the 25:h.
Three brigades got through HopeWell Cap that
night, and the Federal forces on the east Of the
Gap abandoned their position. Wltoess aud
and then straight to Jackson's command,
marching three miles al hour after artillery
6riDg Was heard, reaching supporting distance
to Jackson about.9 e. 70.
General Hood troops we're depIoyed at once,
kempers three brigades throwo 10 the direc.
ton of Manassas Gap Railroad and other
troops were in supporting distance; there was
DO cavalry with Long5treet, but all the cavalry
Of the army was with Jackson: all Of witness
troops were 10 position By eleven; the troops
under Anderson were along the WarreDtoo
pike, 4 600 or 5000 strong, and joined 1r'0e'
streets forces at daik. The Mcdowell! map
was sbowo witness. aad he said the position on
il Of bic aud Jaekscn's forces at twelve o'clock
that day is generally correct He looked at
General Warren map, and said that his left
was three or four hundred yards from j ackson's
right, AID the general direction of his line was
asopointed ouI; sometimes bis skrmishera we're
only two or three hundred yards in advance:
the larger portion CT artillery was nsssed be.
tween him and Jackson, aud there we're other
batteries along The line; witness had 90 particu.
lar headquarters that day; the first infantry
fighting occurred about D. No., brought about
accidentally by both advancing 1t the sametlmei
it lasted till after dark. He knew Ct GO ter
rife battle raging that day from daylight till
after dark; if there had been he would have
known it; General Lees plan vas for Long
sti Get to bring 90 an engagement, an! !Gs lat
ter asked bin to make reconnaissance, which
he did, and deemed the plan hazardous from
seeing large numbers IF troops IN front Of him,
which be afterwards learned were these Of Cen
erals Porter and Mcdowell. Because OF the
wooda in trout of him he thought his position
a good one for defence. 10 view Of tbs impeue.
!rable woods it would have been very haz.rd-
Gus for General Porter to take lis command
around the road 10 Groveton, and if he had
attempted it bis force would have been broken
up. General Portet's position checked the
forces Of the witness till it was too late. If
General Porter had attacked that day any time
aftrl IL o'clock the forces of witness would
have annhilated him, for the Federal lines
were then too much extended and disjointed.
The battle on the Goth was brought abcu; by
go attack Oh jackson. Witness sew heavy masses
of troops pressing the latter, aud, instead Of
o5cyins en- order from General Lee to reinforce
Jackson, witness placed batteries in position
aud poured az en6Iadng fire agans. the troops.
They fell back three times, when he finally
charged and dispersed them, following til! 10
p. %. If Porter had made an attack on him
on the 29h be could have held him without
drawing from the rest of the army.