The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1880-01-29
RALEIGH, N. c., THURSDAY, JANUARY 20, 1880.

The reader will remember that at Win
chester, in the alley, fifty miles west o
Beauregard S position, Gen. Jos. +. John
with about Is, 900. When Mcdowell start
ed from Washington, Patterson started as il
to attack .Johnston. All day on the 10th,
he lay within eight miles of the latter: but
on the 18th moved to Smithfeld
Meanwhile, Johnston had received intel
ligence of Beauregard's situation with or
ders to join him if practicable Losing no
time, he sent J. f. B. Stuart cavalry to
deceive the enemy, while he with the bulk
of the army started for Bull Run; the in
fantry by forced march. Of 20 miles,
through Ashbys gap to Piedmont station,
on the Manassas railway; the artillery and
wagons overland. Unfortunately the rail
road transportation was SO meagre that only
Jacksons Virginia brigade, two Georgia.
and two Alabama, regiments, were able to
reach Manassas by noon on Saturday, the
Goth at which hour Gen Johnston also ar
rived. He found the field SO extensive,
wooded, and intricate the troops being
scattered over an area of fifteen miles, that
he decided not to assume chief command,
but to remain with Beauregard in Joint con
sultatiOn.
That the Federais did not attack during
Saturday occasioned much wonderment in
the Confederate camps. Gen. Beauregard
in DIS Kissing council of hi leading officers
on Friday night shook each by the hand,
saying with the semi theatrical air, inherited
with his Creole blood. .-'Noac, gentlemen.
let to-naorro,c,r it,,esS the Waterloo of An,eri-
err
AS the Waterloo failed to begin on Satur-
day, and as there appeared to be danger Of
} I ~
Beauregard with .Johnston's assent, decided
his right wing from Union Mills to assail
Miles at Centreville. The attempt, in my
judgment, must have resulted in utter dis
aster to the Southerners; but of this we
need not speak, as the programme was
changed at day break on Sunday by the ad
vance of the foe.
AT SUNRISE ON SUNDAY.
McDowelrs plan of attack provided for a
feint with his left wing under Miles, while
Heintzleman, Hunter, and Burnside with
the bulk of the army should march through
the woods far around to the right to get in
rear of Beauregards left at Stone Bridge,
cut off his reinforcements and put him to
flight. Unintentionally helping this plan,
Beauregard (of whose intention to attack
with has right we have spoken) had left the
say from five to fifteen miles away from the
point where they were about to be sorely
needed.
Both armies were aroused at % a. m.
The morning was warm and sultry. At 3
o clock, Hunter was on his long march
around through the woods by Sudley ford
to turn the Rebel flank At A o'clock, Gen.
Johnston signed the Battle Order" drawn
by Beauregard, for turning the Yankee
flank. At clock. cannonading begins at
Stone bridge, and other points At sunrise
it is seen that Heintzleman is threatening
Gen Cooke and Col. Evans. At 6 o'clock
skirmishing begins. At $50 the signal Of
tcer reports large bodies of Yankees on the
left At clock Col. Evans discovers that
the blue coats have crossed the stream
somewhere above him, and are swarming
down to take him in the rear! Things be-
gin to look ugly There is no time to lose
Maj Wheat's Louisiana Tigers" 900
men,) and companies Of the Fourth South
Carolina are all that can be raised to meet
the black column of 1900 men and l6 guns
sweeping down the stream
Were the war six months older, the fate OF
the day would be decided within thirty min
utes the whole Confederate position would
be turned and rendered unteuable. Luckily
the asSailants are tim;dy, feeling thel
way, in mortal dread of masked batteries,
and other myths of the period. Thus time
is given for Barnard +. Lee, guided by the
firing, to come to Evans rescue, with the
7th and Sth Georgia. 4th Alabama, End
Mississippi, and Imboden battery. They,
however can only check for brief period
the advancing masses.
TO BE CONTINUED.