Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1883-12-01
FIRST BULL RUN.
As s,een by an officer in the Con.
Moderate Army.
An UnrenOwned Warriors RecOliec.
tiOns OF the Fight at Manassas
Incidents OF IL Memorable
Summer sunday.
90 w Baebv in PHILADELPHIA Times

ture of memories is left to me-thlng>
relevant and irrelevant. l.. w. Spratt:
Thomas H. Wynne, Bradley 7. john,
son, the big guns of the entrenched camp; the
night arrival of Johnson's staff, the parting
with my friend Latham-all these and
many more recollections are piled up i'll my
mind Beauregard's plan of battle ha'
been approved by General Johnston
Ewell was to attack McDowelfS left
at early dawn, flank him and cut
him off from Washington, our other brigadeS
from left to right cooperating Until mid
night and later all of Col. Jordan's clerks
were busy copying the battle orders, which
were at once sent off to the divisions and
brigades by couriers. myself made many
copies. The last sentence l remember to this
day; it read as follows: "In case the enemy
is defeated he is to be pursued by cavalry anu
infantry until he is driven across the Poto-
mac" He needed no pursuit, but went
across the Potomac all the same. Had we
followed in force the result might have been
different. l sat up as usual that night, but
recall no event of interest. As morning
dawned | wondered and wondered why nc
sound Of battle was heard-nOne except the
distant roar of Long Tom, which set the
enemy in motion. How Ewell failed to get
his order, how our plan of battle failed in
consequence and how near we came to defeat
is known to all. It's an old, and to Conted'
crates, sad story
THE BATTLE OF MANASSAS.
On the morning of the 18th, as Beauregard
walked out to mount his horse, he stumbled
and came near falling-a bad augury, which.
we thought, brought ladow over his face
DIT ~;
the generals and their stats, after an early
breakfast, rode off in high spirits, victory il
their very eyes. My duty was to look after
the papers of the office, which had been
hastily picked up, and, in case of danger, SEE
that they were put on board a train; which
was held in readiness to receive them and
other valuable effects. The earth seemed to
vomit men; they came in from all sides.
Holmes, from Fredericksburg, at the head OF
his division, in a high-crown, very dusty
beaver, l we'll recollect. He made me laugh.
Barksdale, of Mississippi, hating his regi-
ment to get ammunition; the militia eSconced
behind the earthworks of the entrenched
camp, their figures fit before me- 1t was a
superb Sabbath day, cloudless and at first
not very hot. Asweet wind from the west
blew in my face as stood on hill overlook
ing the vale of Bull Run. saw the enor-
nous column Of dust made by the enemy a.
they advanced upon our left. The field OF
battle evidently would be where the comet,
then Illuminating the sky, seemed to rest at
night Returning to headquarters I re-
ported to Col Jordan the movement upon
our left
''Has Mcdowell done thatT' he asked, with
animation. ''Then Besuregard will give
him all his old boots, for that is exactly
where we want him."
PROGRESS OF THE BATTLE.
The colonel meant that Ewell would have
better chance of attack by reason of the
weakening of McDowell's left.
Again and again | walked out to watch the
progress of the battle, which lasted a great
deal longer than | expected or desired The
pictures of battle at distance in the Eng
lish illustrated papers give a good idea of
what l saw, minus the stragglers and the
wounded, who came in increasing numbers
as the day advanced and disheartening Prcsi-
dent Davis as he rode out to the field in the
afternoon. At noon or Whereabouts a report
that our centre had been broken hurried he
back to headquarters, and, although the re-
port proved false, kept ME there for several
hours the battle meanwhile raging fiercely
and not sound from Ewell
Restless and excited [ went into neign-
boring house, occupied by lone woman, who
was in peck of trouble about herself, her
house, her everything The bigger trouble
outside filed my mind during the recital of
her woes, so that now recall none of them.
Unable longer to bear the suspense I left
important papers, ETC., to take care of them
selves and set out for the battle field, deter
mined to go in and get rid of my fears
and doubts by action. Preached the hill
which had SO often visited in the morning
and paused awhile to look at some of our
troops who were rapidly moving from our
right to our left. Just then-can ever for
get it-there came, as it seemed, an instan-
taneous suppression of firing, and almost
Immediately cheer went up and ran along
the valley from end to end of our line It
meant victory-there was no mistaking the
fact. l stood perfectly still, feeling no exul-
tation whatever. An indescribable thankful
sadness fell upon me, roofing me to the spot,
and plunging me into deep reverie, which
for long time prevented me from seeing or
hearing what went forward. Night had
nearly fallen when came to myself and
started homeward. The road was filled with
wounded men, their friends and few pris-
oners. spoke kindly to the prisoners, and
took in charge badly wounded man, carry
ing him to the hospital, from the back
windows of which amputated legs and arms
had already been thrown ON the ground in .
sickening pile
IN BALTIMORE NEXT WEEK.
AT headquarters there was great crowd
waiting for the generals and Mr.. Davis to re-
turn. 1t was now quite dark. A deal Of talk
ing went on, but l observed little elation.
People were worn out with excitement-too
many had been killed-how many and whom
was yet to be learned. War is sad business
even to the victors. I saw young George
Burwell, IA years of age, bring in Col Cor
coran, his personal captive. | heard Col.
Porcher Miles whitening retort to Congress
man Ely, who tried to claim friendly ac-
quaintance with him, but went off abasled
in linen buster with the other prisoners. |
asked Col Preston what lie thought of the
days work.
"a glorious victory, which will produce
immense results" was his reply.
''When will we advanced
eve will be in Baltimore next week.
How far wrong even the wisest are? We
never entered Baltimore, and that victorious
army, one-half of which had barely fred a
shot, did not fight another pitched battle for
nearly year!
1t was after midnight when carried to the
telegraph office Mr.. Davis dispatch announc-
ing the victory. Inside the entrenched camr
1000 or loo prisoners were herded,
the militia standing ED side by
side guarding them an& fleming human
picket fence, funny to behold. It was clear
as bell when | walked back; the baleful
comet hung over the field of battle; oil was