Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1884-07-21
BATTLE OF BULL RUN

BATTLE OF BULL RUN
"Were you ut The battle Of Bull Rum ~ !,
New Haven veteran was recently asked.
"Well, yes-I was there. wasn't exact
ly in the battle, but helped the run part OF
it all could. Run was no name for it. 1t
was race-the biggest skedaddle there
ever was on earth saw more ridiculous
sights that hot Sunday afternoon, and
laughed more than II man will ordinarily
laugh in ten years. You see, the time OF
the three months men was out, but the ar
my was ready 10 move forward on Manas.
sas, and the regiments took vote TO decide
whether they should go forward or demand
discharge. There was company of New
York artillery, well-to-do men-butchers
| believe they were-who had provided
their own battery and outfit, and who
voted to go home And rs they moved
to the rear perfect storm of boots
and ieers assailed them, but they did
MT notice it, didn't know Of any others
who voted not to go forward AT that
time ! was detailed to drive four horse
team for General Keys, who had COM
mand of these Connecticut regiments
and the Second Maine. 1t was my
business to move his personal bag
gage, aud | had splendid team of horses.
The wagon had white canyas top which
opened ut both ends. | sat outside the top,
the front curtains closed behind me. !
moved out to Falls Church, nine miles into
Virginia, then moved forward to Centreville.
At two O'Clock on Sunday morning, July 81,
the generals mess. chest, ten gallons OF whis.
kew. groceries, two officers tents and two
Young colored girls were loaded into m.
wagon and was ordered to drive ahead.
Our troops were close upon the Juhunles.
and battle that day was considered dead
moral certainty, and an overwhelming We
| tory was believed TO be quite as sure. The
two colored girls were going TO the front a.
officers cook. A continual stream Of arm!
wagons was pouring along the road, anG
many civilians on horseback and carriage
and bugges containing Washingtonalts
whose voices were still for war and wht
| were ambitious to take part in it by eye
sight at Il very safe distance. 1t was sever
o'clock before was allowed to swing int
| the long current and move forward. 1T wa:
a very sluggish stream. As ! reached the
| top ola hill Quartermaster Hodge OF our br:
cade ordered me To turn out and halt uDde
the shade of tree. ldd 80. The contents
| OF the Wagon were removed, a fire was buiI'
anu lllC guns l'St'aiSo M A''''
share then lying down beside III,
wagon fell asleep, for | had slept llli'
or none for two nights. 1t was uear norl'
when | awoke, and firing had been heard N
| the front for some time. There WAS III
| for an hour, and lhcE it resumed tierct'
than ever. In another hour horselnen ant
carriages came tearing down The road, lhcil
| riders and drivers shouting: Turn back
turn back . Drive for your lives, the rel s
are upon us !
"Aiong came hack containing four Con-
gressmen Each man sat with cooked re-
yolver in his hand, aud were yelling to the
driver to drive for his life. | expected TO be
made prisoner in a few minutes, and the
prospect was not Il pleasant one but had
to stop the leading up my wagon aud laugh
at those four heroic legislators brandishine
their pistols. threatening their driver in
one breath and offering big wealth in the
next if he would get them back to Washing
| ton.
"The current in the narrow road now
turned and rushed backward. Watching
nv chance turned into it. As | did so q
big Dutch sutler, with IA wagon load Of
goods, in turning around upset his wagon
into ditch beside the road He jumped to
the ground and took to his heels leaving
his horses struggling to free thcmselvt S
! from the harness. It seemed as if the very
horses had caught the panic, and were 8
anxious to 60 North as the men.
Il 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. Ar
tillerymen had cut the traces from the guns
and had ridden away before q shot had
come anywhere near them.
There were regular army men, and in
nv four years at The front the poorest
soldiers saw were regular army men. II
ever men made good time these soldiers
did. The afternoon was terribly sultry and
bot. 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 applica-
tions for ride, because my teams 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
groaning:
"'Oh dear! oh dear! Inever was so tir'
in all my life; | don't believe in war ary.
how
"I saw a chance where, by turning out
into the field and driving fast, conld cut
into the road again much further on. Nc
sooner did my bold drum major notice that
had left the road than out be thrust bis
head through the curtain and shouted:
"'Where are you going?
ooh out here in the country q little way to res
the team.
"srhen count me out said he, and tumbled II
the ground. landing on his head, but picking him
self up he ran to regain the road.
Then discovered that my two colored girl
had caught the new panic aud were making thei
exit through the rear.
whats the matter with you? shouted.
Gus nigsers is gwnc back to Washington
maSsa, we IS we didn't come out here on no picnl
e for the Coufederates to ketch.'
3 1T took me several minutes to explain N,
) movement and induce them to return to tn
!, wagon. Along came party Of Ellsworth's H"ti
: ayes worn cut and footsore, who offered me hand
fuls of gold to allow them to ride; but | hail t
; use all alike and kept them off.
,, AT about o'clock next morning l reie.'e
Falls Church. at which place l had bean or'ierr