The National tribune., 1884-01-10


troops. 1t is the first gun of the morning
And now, two miles down the Run, by Mitch
ellis Ford, rolling, echoing, and reverberating
through the forests, are other thunderings
General Richardson has been waiting impa-
tiently to hear the signal gun. lie is to make
a feint of attacking. His cannonade is to be-
gin furiously. He has six guns, and all of
them are in position, throwing solid shot and
shell into the woods, where Longstreets men
are lying.
Now, going back to General Hunter and
looking south from the little stone church, you
see clouds of dust floating over the forest trees.
The Confederates have discovered the move
ment and are marching in hot haste to resist
the impending attack. General Evans has left
portion of his command at Stone Bridge and
is Fastening with the remainder to the second
ridge of land north of the turnpike. He
plants his artillery on the Hill and places his
infantry IN thicket of pines Officers ride
furiously and shout their ordefs. The aTtil-
lerymen lash their horses to run. The in
fantry are also upon the run, sweating and
painting in the hot sunshine. The noise and
confusion increase. The booming deepens
along the valley, for still farther down, by
Blackburn's Ford, Hunts battery is pouring
Its FIRE upon LoDgstreets, Jones and EwelIs
men.
BEGINNING OF THE BATTLE.
Of the Union troops from Sudley Springs
General Burnside's brigade is in advance. The
I'd Rhode Island infantry is thrown out, de-
ployed as skirmishers. The men are five PAGES
apart They move slowly, cautiously and
ncrvously through the fields and thickets.
Suddenly, from bushes, trees and fences
there Is a rattle of musketry. General Evans
skirmishers are firing. There are jets OF flame
and smoke, and strange humming in the air.
There is another rattle, roll, voliey. The
cannon join. The first great battle has begun.
General Hunter hastens to the spot, and Is
wounded almost at the first yolley and COM
PEELED TO leave the field. The contest suddenly
grows fierce. The Rhode Island boys push on
20 closer quarters, and General Evans men
give way-irOm thicket TO a fence, from a
fence 70 a knoll.
General Bee arrives with his brigade to help
General Evans. You see him swing up into
line west OF Evans, toward the hay-stacks by
Dir. Dogan's hoase. he is in such position
that be can pour a fire upon the flank of the
Rhode Island boys, who are pushing Evans.
But help is at hand. The list New York, the
2d New Hampshire and the 1st Rhode Island
al belonging 10 Bhrnside's brigade-move to-
ward the hay-stacks They bring their guns
TO a level, and the rattle and roll begins.
There are jets OF fame long lines of light,
white clouds, unfolding and expanding, roll
ing over and over, aud rising above the tree
tops
General Heintzelman's division was in rear
Of Hunters on the march, and when the battle
begun, instead of being near at hand, the men
we're nearly two miles from Sudley Mill, and
Burnside's and Porter's brigades had been fight
ing two hours before HeintzeIman arrived.
MISTAKES.
How easy it is to make mistakes; how easy
TO let great opportunities 90 by for want Of q
well-considered plan.
General Mcdowell had planned grand stra-
! tegic movement, that is, a movement which
! gives an advautage-but he was going to lose
the battle. because his tactics were not what
| they oaght to have been. He was not hand-
/ ling his troops well on the field. Far different
would be this story of the battle, if He;ntzel-
man had been close Up 20 Hunter; if Tyler
/ had swung snerman's brigade across Bull Run
! at O'Clock, instead of waiting till past noon.
/ isut it was the first battle. Officers and sol
diers, alike, were learning their a, B, Cs.
THE AFTERNOON.
Down frora Mr.. Mathews house, driving the
/ Confederate troops across Youngis Branch,
marched Hunter and Heintzelman. Up from
Blackburnis Ford hastens Jackson, his men
upon the double-quick. He goes without Or
ders for he comprehends that the battle is not
TO be at Bull Run, but ont in the fields and
woods behind him.
! Confederate officers ride in hot haste to bring
up the other brigades, for the battle is going
against them. Evans and Bonham's men are
being demoralized. FugitiTes are streaming
towards Manassas, telling woeful tales OF de-
feat-that their regiments are cut 10 pieces.
How sToNEwALL JACKSON RECEIVED HIS
NAME.
Up on the hill, in the edge Of the pine woods,
Jackson has deployed his line. Bees men are
falling. That officer tries to rally them
See jackson; he stands there like stone
4 wall," he shouts 10 his men, and thenceforth
k-f L r.
son.
General Bee and Colonel Barton are killed
aud there Is great confusion in Johnston's lines.
IL is midafterno0n. / am standing on
] the ro0f Of a house near Stone Bridge.
i I sec the flaming of the Confederate
cannon on the hill beyond Mrs. Hen
/ rvs. The Union troops have driven the Con-
federates more than a mile. Franklin's sher-
| mans Wilcox and Porter's brigades are across
| the turnpike. and are pressing up the Hill to-
wards Mrs Henry's and Mr. Chinns house
( Griffin and Ricketts,. with their batteries 90
down into the rayine aud up the hillside 10
open upon the CoDfeaerates. Out beyond them
i see cloud Of dust. Men in gray come out
from the woods. It Is General Elzy's brigade
the last OF JohBston's from the Shenandoah
/ Just arrived. The cars stopped opposite the
battlefield. General Ely could see the white
clouds rising above the trees. The soldiers
leaped from the cars and here they are IN DO
sitiou 70 pour fire into the backs Of the Union
troops.
Captain Griffin wheels his guns toward:
them.
Don't fire at them; they are your supports,
shouts Major Barry.
''They are rebels, I think"
No; they are your supports just ordered
up
The csnnoneers stand ready TO fire. Let
them but pull the lanyards, and that line viii
melt away like a straw in candies fame.
The cannon are wheeled the other way once
more. pointing south. The next moment therj
comes fash rattle Of mnsketry, and mel
and horses 90 down in a heap. Ricletts falls
The ConfeGcrates rush upon the guns. All i
confusion. The Union troops, moment ag,
confident Of victory, begin to fall back.
THE SUDDEN CHANGE.
AS suddenly as a lightning fash all i
changed. Regiments are disorganized. By
common impulse they retreat across the turn
, pike. The retreat ere long becomes panic
Soldiers. throw away their guns and go upol
the run. The turnpike is filed with wagons
Members Of Congress are there in carriages Z
see the battle, but wagons and carriages breal
down, blocking the road Across the fields
through the woods, stream the soldiers fright
. ened at they know not what. A bridge acros
Cub Run breaks down; the wagons and artiller,
cannot pass Shells burst above them and tn
frightened teamsteTs, cutting their traces lea
e upon their horses aud ride away. Back to Cen
5 trevilie rolls the tide, and from Centreyili
& towards Washington.
! few moments ago the Confederates wer