The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-10-25
At Bull Run.
The Old Battlefield Revisited by Party
Of Federals and Confederates.
IBy Carleton.l.

IBy Carleton.l
twenty-five years ago the whole civilized
world learned that there is locality in
Virginia bearing the name of Bull Run.
What transpired there in July, 1861, and
August, 1852, will make it as permanent in
history as Naseby and Marston Moor in
Old England; as Bunker Hill and Benning-
ton in American history. But never in En-
gland, never in the Old World has there
been witnessed scene like that of the pres
ent week-of men who met in deadly con-
flict two decades ago, assembled upon the
historic field in social picnic, where they
once fought each other with all the energy
that comes from high resolve, profound
conviction of loyalty to an idea; each, now.
striving to Guido the other by the exhibition
of kindness and charity. The titled En-
glishman today does not like to talk about
Cromwell and Marsten Moor, nor have /
ever seen an Englishman who mad any
great admiration for Bunker Hill or York
town. But Americans, before quarter of a
century has passed, meet as brothers where
they stroye for the mastery, narrate the in
cidents of battle-of victory and defeat with
no signs of bitterness
The excursion was happily conceived of
by Major j. Ell. Slime, who, by his energy
and pains-taking, made it a triumphant sue
cess. The party numbered about one hun
dred and fifty. Cars were taken at the Bal
timore and Potomac depot, Washington, on
Monday morning, October 18th, to Yelling
ton, the nearest point to the field of Grove
ton, where a great number of vehicles were
in waiting; also saddle horses OF men
who have made their mark in the history of
this country, were General W. S. Rosecrans,
hale, hearty, gayer to-day than twenty years
ago, but the picture of health, the embodi-
ment of energy, trimming over with good
nature, whose eye twinkles brightly as he
rides over the field, taking in the position of
the two armies at glance. More conspic-
uous--the center of an admiring citcle-was
General Longstreet, whose brigade opened |
the preliminary battle of the first Bull Run |
engagement-that of Blackburn's Ford |
July IS, 1861, who was in the engagement |
of the 21st, and whose arrival on the field,
August 28, 1866, folded back the Union left
flank and forced General Pope back to Cen
tervile.
General Rosecrans was not in any en-
gagement at Bull Run, but Longstreet con- |
fronted him at Chickamauga They were |
old friends before the war, and it was lit |
tie glimpse of prophetic millennial glory to |
see the two men, whose names are insepa-
rably connected with American history, as
happy as college classmates rehearsing by |
gone days.
From Wisconsin came General Lucien |
Fairchild, sitting in the saddle with all the |
ease and grace of former days, an empty |
sleeve attesting his honorabl g record, rid |
ing over the field where he fought, and Civ
ing graphic description of the engagements |
under Pope. Among the excursionists we're
Gen. r. B. Ayres, Gen. Henry j. HINT,
Gen. Broughten, Col. W. w. Dudley, Gen.
A. NJ. Wood, Gen. Joe Dickinson, Col. w.
Lewis, /. S. Tichenor, Major Geo. G.. |
Rounds, Major VIM. Fl. Plunkett, Major Fl.
L. Crawford, Major E. P, Halsted, Major J.
HI. Slime, Capt. Daniel Barrett, Capt. R. M.
Groundie, Col. C. G. Matson. Capt. S. NJ
Barrows, Capt. r. L. Hoxie, Capt. Fl. W.
Wheeler, Capt /. n. Burritt, Lieut.. W. E.
Fuller, District Commissioner Edmunds.
Col. Emil Frey, Minister from Switzerland,
and ten or dozen newspaper correspond
ents.
Memory recalls the march to Bull Run In
1S61-of Tyler's division, which accompa-
from Falls Church to Vienna
the first nights bivouac. How delightful
it as!-the column of 0,000--marching to |
the music Of several brass bands--the sun
light glistening from sword and bayoneti
We were going right on to Richmond. What
a lively time in the morning-the rout of a
brigade by the combined attack of several
swarms of bees, enraged by the upsetting of
the hives by the soldiers. Men ran through
the fields pAeticulatipn Yyiidlvs bpYcnc nd |
mules let their heels fly, broke their haters
and leaped fences IN their desperation. Just
beyond Vienna squadron Of Confederate
cavalry Was deserted. Col. Joseph Haw.