The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1880-02-12
PROGRESS OF THE BATTLE.

ii CONTINUATION. 1.-The lucky awkward
hardness wherewith Fishers regiment
Aumbled through the ravine directly upon
|Rickett's battery, silencing his CALLING fire at
he right moment, was equaled, it not sur
nassed, by the fortunate arrival Of F.. Kirby
mith, with 1900 men Of Johnston army,
a1.t in time to meet the advance of the enc
by's fanking column. Twice, already, the
tederals, by extending their right wing, and
1ginging around the Confederate left flank,
lad forced the latter to fall back and now
third movement of the same character was
ttempted the design being to push around
bvards the rear of the whole Southern po-
ftion, cutting the railroad, and preventing
he approach of further reinforcements, eth
u from Richmond, or from the Valley.
The march of this heavy body of troops was
plainly ~perceptible to the Southerners, and
have not a little anxiety. Rumor, indeed,
declared the Federals had already cut the
railroad and the officers in charge of Camp
|Pickens,'' near Manassas, flew hither and
thither collecting s~tragglers, teamsters and
hospital convalcscents. to defend the extern
hive wagon parks and reserve stores. the
|elatter of"U. S. Dragons" being expected
DIT every moment. 1t was a perilous period.
|Beauregard's ~allusion to "a Waterloo vic
|fory' seemed about to be realized though
mot on the side anticipated. Certainly many
h Southern heart repeated the amous Water
hoo eiaculation-''Oh, that night, or Butcher,
were herer!' Happily, as it happened,
Butcher Kirby Smith) was fast marching
over the hills to the rescue. 1t will be re-
membered that only a portion of Jehnston's
army could obtain railroad transportation
from Piedmont station, at the Blue Ridge.
Smith, with the 10th Virginia, LIST Mary
land, Sd Tennessee, and Beckham's Battery
about 800 mem, Of Elzy's brigade, arrived
at Manassas Junction at noon on Sunday
and finding the battle i'll progress, ran his
train to a point some two miles from the Con
federate left fank-whither he fastened a
double-quick step. The Southern Generals
sitting on their horses upon an eminence il
| ming the field for new developments, ant
| fearful that Early's brigade would not arrive
| from Union Mills in time to meet the i'm
| pending blow, were startled by the cry
Look! Look yOnder comes the Yankee
in our rear - About a mile to the left a lonl
line of men could be seen coming over tn
| ridges and through the fields in threatenin,
style. AS a member of B~eauregard's stat
had galloped from Manassas a short tim'
previous to report the eruption of the enem.
in that quarter, the first thought was one o
CONSERVATION; for if these were indeed foe
men, the battle must speedily terminate II
rout and destruction.
For a moment or two all voices wcr
hushed, every eye fixed on the approaching
column. The flags, hanging limp around thei
.tatf., seemed Identical with the STARS an
Stripes" but at last a gust of wind blew on
the three broad bars of the then Confederat
colors; and General Johnston made haste t
direct this timely reinforcement to the threat
ened point. They arrived Just a. the eneml
we're throwing forward a swarm of ski
mlshers, preparatory to attack. Immediate
ly the aspect of affairs underwent d marke
change. General Smith received IA danger
Ous wound, but Col. Arnold Fly, takin
command, pushed forward with zeal an
e%ooIness. Moreover, at this juncture .!ub;
Early, with kemper's It'll Virginia, Hay
1th Louisiana, and Barksdals' j 9th Mi.si
app, came t~rotting into line on Ely lef
after a gallant march from Union Mill
sNoTE.-This incident showed the need of a change
Ne nag; and General Beauregard, not awaiting the slt
E1on of Congress, caused each regiment to be pr
'Nlet With a 6. EaTtla EIau ~ ahnlt thraa foot u,,u.,