New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1878-10-30

oshake bloody hands across the new
froDtier-what living witness can fail to
recall those enthusiastic jubila ions2 In
tho North the command was: xii the
rebelsW Hang j. D. to a sour apple
treee' &c. In the South: Bring US a
lock Of old Aces hair!'' Some home
soon with some Yankee scalps!' g..
Impatience over inactivity became intense
every where, and soon the cry Of ION
to Richmond" was rung out over all the
land f:om Washington. Nobody looked
forward to anything save an lusing
military promenade, barrir e a few WISE
acres, who have sinced confessed to the
corn, yet every body happened to have
entered upon lCLg lane, whose only
turning was years afterward found at
Appomattox Court house.
In satisfaction of the popular demand
for decisive scrimmage. General Scott.
against his own better judgment and
Mexican experience, gave General Nc
Dowell peremptory orders on the 10Th of
July to leave Washington at the head Of
55.tM0 troops for the capture OF Rich
mond. The Contederates, numbering
10000, stood their ground twenty lies
off, spread cut over an extent Of eight
miles along the banks Of Bull Run, very
narrow, boggy little stream, running
from the Blue Ridge Mountains into the
Potomac River; and never was there a
better. prettier plain for a free fight be-
tween two encountering hosts. The tim
Der and underground covering portions
the locality were not equal obstacles in
the way of handling troops as were sub
sequently met in many battles. At that
time the roads, fields, fences and vegeta-
ton presented to the view an aspect Of
innocence and comfort destined speedily
to be obliterated for weary years in that
peculiarly trampled corner of Virginia;
while the blue chain of mountains in that
distance formed beautiful background,
which was even still more striking after
the roar of big and small guns had fairly
opened A wretched turnpike road led
from Alexandria through Fair ak Court
house. Centerville, Warrenton. &C., on
to Richmond, Manassas being left little
ASIDE after the passage of Bull Bun. The
battlefield along the stream was about
six miles equi-distant from Centervlle
and Manassas Junction. General Nc
Dowell's army arrived at Fairfax early
on the morning of the 18th, and as it's
glistening bayonets and white-covered
wagons hove in extending and meander-
ing line the brigade Of Confederates sta
toned at Fairfax became suddenly i'm
pressed with the seriousness OF things
and hastily aware they were wanted
elsewhere, viz: about ten miles away at
Bull Run:
They were not to fight but to retreat.
and this they proceeded to do with alac-
rity, many OF them expecting On the
march to be banged into by the pursuers
Orders had been given that they were to
move expeditlously in dignifed silence
to the spot they were booked to fight,
and during the night no pipes were to
be lit or loud talking allowed, for fear Of
spies that might be lurking in tfe forest
growths lining the road. The march of
this exposed detachment was safely made
witt out the exchange of a shot; but few
hours after they landed on the safe side
of Bull Run the head of General Mellow
ellis column debouched on the hill a
mile and half opposite their position at
Mitchell's Ford, when in a twinkling a
battery of twenty Founders opeled a
searching fire on their position. The
Conled elates reserved their masked bat
teries yet awhile; hence in front Of the
heavy guns battery OF light artillery
was pushed out on the open declivity md
rapidly got the exact range of the Confed-
crates, WI en- these, too, in their turn ad
vanced battery across the Run into the
opening ana compelled withdrawal
This was the first little fire of cannonade.
the first shot heard eagerly watched al
most in breathless awe on both sides) that
precluded the skirmishing latter on the
same day (the 18th) at Blackburn's Ford,
where General Tyler vainly reconnoitered
to find a suitable passage Of tn, stream.
Upon finding the Confed.rates too strong
on this end, General Mcdowell decided
to look around few days before again
moving. The effect of this check on
their advance was rather astonishing to
the Federal side, while inspiriting to the
Confederate; at any rate, all were now
seriously convinced that the pinch had
finally come, aud that a grand trial of
strength was imminent; It was now that
the best generalshlp on either side was
not only in order, but in urgent demand;
and how stood the heads Of the two OPP
posing forces2
General Mcdowell under estimated st
several points during the day the strength
of the forces Immediately opposed to his
subordinates, and this through his mex
perience of war. thus failing at capital mo-
ments of the conflict to oppose the fitting
tactics. He certainly showed himself
brave and obstinate. and reviewed h;s