Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1884-03-25
Battle of Bull Run.

Battle of Bull Run.
THE GRAPHIC STORY TOLD BY NEW HAVEN |
SOLDIER.
"Were you at the battle of Bull Run % a
New Haven veteran was recently asked.
"Well, yes-I was there. WASN'T exact
Iy in the battle, but helped the run part OF
it all could. Run was no name for it. 1t
was a race-the biggest skedaddle there ever
was on earth. / saw more ridiculous sights
that hot Sunday afternoon, and laughed
more than man will ordinarily laugh in
ten years. You see, the time of the three
months men was out, but the army was
ready to move forward on Manassas, and
the regiments took vote to decide whether
they should go forward or demand discharge.
Thefe was a company of New York artil-
lery, well-to-do men-butchers, l believe
they were-who had provided their own
battery and outfit and who voted to 60
home. And as they moved to the rear
perfect storm of boots and jeers assailed
them, but they didn't notice it. didn't
know of any others who voted not to go for
ward. At that time was detailed to drive
a four-horse team for General Keys, who
had command of these Connecticut regi
ments and the Second Maine. 1t was my
business to move his personal baggage, and
l had a splendid team of horses. The
wagon had white canvas top which opened
at both ends. sat outside the top, the
front curtains closed behind me. l moved
out to Falls Church, nine miles into Vir-
ginia, then moved forward to Centreville.
At two o'clock on Sunday morning, July
81, the generals mess-chest, ten gallons of
whiskey, groceries, two officers tents and
two young colored girls were loaded into
my wagon and was ordered to drive ahead.
Our troops were close upon the Johnnies,
and battle that day was considered dead
moral certainty, and an overwhelming vic
tory was believed to be quite as sure. The
two colored girls were going to the front as
officers cooks. A continual stream of army
wagons was pouring along the road, and
these civilians on horseback and carriages
and buggies containing Washingtonians,
whose voices we're still for war, and who
were ambitious to take part in it by eye
sight at very safe distance. 1t was seven
o'clock before was allowed 10 swing into
the long current and move forward. 1t was
top of hill Quartermaster Hodge of our
der the shade of tree. did so. The con-
tents of the wagon were removed, a fire was
built and the girls prepared breakfast.
took share; then lying down beside my
wagon fell asleep, for had slept little or
none for two nights. 1t was near noon when
I awoke, and firing had been heard at the
front for some time. There was a lull for
an hour, and then it resumed fiercer than
ever. In another hour horsemen and carri-
ages came tearing down the road, their riders
and drivers shouting: Turn back turn
back Drive for your lives, the rebs are
upon u.s..
"Along came a hack con tanning four Con-
gressmen. Each man sat with cooked
revolver in his hand, and all cling to the
driver to drive for his life. l expected to
be made prisoner in a few minutes, and the
prospect was not pleasant one; but L had
to stop the loading up my wagon and laugh
at those four heroic legislators brandishing
their pistols, threatening their driver in one
breath and offering big wealth in the next
if he would get them back to Washington.
| The current in the narrow road now turn
ed and rushed backward. Watching my
chance turned into it. AS did so y big
Dutch sutler, with wagon load of goods,
in turning around upset his wagon into a
ditch beside the road. He jumped to the
ground and to k to his heels, leaving his
horses struggling to free themselves from
the harness. 1t seemed as if the very horses
had caught the panic, and were as anxious
to 60 North as the men.
| 81 saw teamsters draw the tailboards of
their wagons and let their freight fall out
into the road while ascending hills. The
fields on either side of the road swarmed
with horses and soldiers in full rout. Artil-
lerymen had cut the traces from the guns
and had ridden away before shot had
come anyway near them.
''There were regular army men, and in
my four years at the front the poorest SOL
diers l saw were regular army men. If
ever men made good time these soldiers did.
The afternoon was terribly sultry and hot.
The men ran in all stages Of undress uniform
even to shirt and drawers. Few knapsacks
were to be seen. Many had thrown away
their guns, but some trailed them on the
ground behind them.
81 was troubled with but few applications
for ride, because my team pace was slow.
Suddenly big drum major, bare-footed,
and his uniform covered with dirt and dust,
climbed up beside me and pitched himself
headlOng into the wagon, grooming:
"'Oh dear oh dear I never was SO tired
in all my life; I don't believe in war any
how
81 saw chance where, by turning out
into the field and driving fast, l could cut
into the road again much further on. No
sooner did my bold drum major notice that
l had left the road than out he thrust his
head through the curtain and shouted
"'Where are you going?'
ooh, out here in the country little way
to rest the team.
"sThen count me out, said he, and tum-
bled to the ground, landing ON his head, but
picking himself up he ran to regain the
road.
''Then discovered that my two colored
girls had caught the new panic and were
making their exit through the rear.
"'What's the matter with you p | shout
ed
"'Us niggers is gwine back to Washing
ton, massa, we is, we didn't come out here
on no picnic for the Confederates to ketch. ,
SIT took me several minutes to explain
my movement and induce them to return to
the wagon. Along came a party Of Ellis
worth's Zouaves worn out and footsore, who
offered me handsful of gold to allow them
to ride, but had to use all alike and kept
them Off
cat about O. clock next morning reach
ed Falls Church, at which place had been
ordered to halt. Next day was ordered to
Fort Corcoran, where the brigade followed
the day after, and from thence we were sent
to Washington and discharged.-New Ha-
zen Palladium.
A HUMoRIsT's READY WIT.-This is
story of George D. Prentice, which never
saw in print and which is better illustra-
ton of his ready wit than anything else be
said, 1 think. The old Journal Office used
to be the stamping ground of many South
ern men, more or less known, who liked to
hear the veteran journalist tell story or
warm up .presumptuous young man for
lunch Among those who frequented the
Journal Office was Will S. Hays, the song
writer. Coming into Prentice's Office one
day in that free-and- easy way of his, he sat
down in one chair with his feet on another,
and jamming his hat on the back Of his