National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1885-01-10
AFTER FIRST BULL RUN.
THE CoNFEDERACY DEMORALIzED by THE
UNwONTED SUCCESS.
Scenes in Lonsstrecrs Army After tho Vie
tory-Tho visit of Prince Napoleon and tho
Trick That Was Played on the Foreigner
JEFF Davlss Ambition 10 Command.

Written especially for THE NATIONAL REPuB.
L1CAN.
Recent publications by distinguished
officers on both sides Of the fence in the
civil war, relative to the "ifs and ands"
resulting from tho first battle OF Bull
Run. have created widespread interest
in the subject matter. Tho reooloctions
Of private soldier Of tho confederate
army of the rumors and events of that
exciting period may also be Of somo in
terest the more especially ss he has moth
ing to lose by telling tho truth and moth
ing to gain by false statements.
1t so happened that the writer, after
the fight at Blackburn's Ford on the 18th
of July, 1861, while dripping with per-
SEPARATION and flushed with excitement Ut
was tho regiments first battle) was
thoughtless enough to drink freely Of
cold spring water. That night l was
seized with raging fever aud neuralgia,
and was incontinently bundled into an
am bulance by tho surgeon, and
sent back to the camp at
Manassas, After the battle of tho 21st
in which, to my great relief,
Longstreet's brigade, to which my regl-
was not engaged, | was still on the
sick list at the Junction, where was In a
position to see and hear what was going
'on and to gather the prevailing sentiment
as to the results of the battle much better
than could my comrades at the front
And here declare believe that drawn
battle or even defeat would have been
better for the south than the decisive vic
tory which was gained. The result Of tho
battle had been scarcely sent over the
wires before tho influx to tho Junction Of
yelling, enthusiastic, and bibulous south
rons began. Every train from the south
and the valley--even tho freight trains.
was overcrowded with non com batants,
sll ablaze with patriotic exultatioD, ex-
hibited chiefly in songs and music and
flags Of every state and wsrwhoops of vic
tory that would have done credit to
BAND OF CoMANcHE INDIANS.
Manassas junction has never before nor
since witnessed such scenes as occurred
for two or three days after the battle, not
even when Stonewall pounced upon Gen.
Pope's trains just before the second bat
tie. and lit up the hills around with the
glare Of tho bonfres. Grave legislators
and planters and what not went about
acting like school boys. Everybody
wanted to shake hands with everybody
else. There was a general love-feast all
around. The provost marshals office was
besieged for passes to the battle ground.
Relics from tho battlefield were eagerly
sought for, and tho wounded being
transported TO the southern hospitals
were literally overwhelmed with gifts
and kindly intended services. They all
thought-poor short.sighted mortals-
that the north had been knocked out OF
time, as it were, at one fell stroke.
peace with honor" said they, 'is now
assured. The Yankees will now give va
our own terms" How little the people
of the two sections knew of the stamina,
and the resolute determination of each
other at this date of the war! Yes, the
victory Of Bull Run was costly ono for
the south. 1t served TO confirm in the
minds Of the masses the silly idea, which
was certainly then prevalent, that one
southerner was equal to two or three
Yankees on the battlefield. The feeling
that the cause was virtually won caused
the abatement Of the strenuous efforts
that had been made in all the states to
enroll volunteers, to arm and equip them,
and to push them to the front. whats
the use of more troops?" said the state
authorities. why go to needless ex-
pense" Indeed, l recollect to have
read in the newspapers at the time that
in some Of the states the offer of service
of additional volunteer companies was
refused by the authorities. As a conse.
quence while the north was girding up
its loins to renew the struggle with ten.
fold power and insistance, volunteering
in the south languished or died out en-
tiroly. The searching conscript act after
ward passed was the legitimate offspring oil
THE POST BULL RUN CRAZE,
But to return to Manassas Junction.
On the day after tho battle the federal
prisoners, numbering about 1,500 OF
1000, were brought to the Junction and
halted near the depot, preparatory To
being sent to Richmond. Among them
were a number of civilians, noticeable
among whom was Congressman Ely
(whom knew we'll by sight, who paced
back and forth within the ring Of guards
like Gagged tiger l never saw a man
with a more disgruntled expression OF
couutenance in my life, for he had many
friends and associates among the superior
confederate officers, aud evidently OK
pected to have been at once released upon
parole. Hundreds of confederates tlocked
out of curiosity about the ring of prison.
ers, and as the captured artillery was
wheeled past greeted each piece with an
sxultant shout. An old grayheaded
:olonel Harrison, | think thereupon
mounted a stump and, taking off his hat,
drew the attention of the men, and in a
slear voice said: "Men. am ashamed OF
you. 1t is not the part OF brave men to
sxult over fallen enemy" | suppose no
Nan in that crowd ever forgot that sharp
lesson; l know didn't
The histories tell how Jefferson Davis
arrived on tho battlefield of Bull Run
Just about the time the fighting ceased aud
participated in the council of war, con-
sisting of Johnston, Beauregard, and him
self, which decided that pursuit was inn
practicable. The headquarters of Geus.
Johnston and Beauregard were after
wards established near the Junction, and
MR.. DAVIS CAME FREQUENTLY FROM
RICHMOND TO CONSULT WITH THEM.
The president of the confederacy was
as unostentatious in his manner when
visiting the camps as was President Lin
coin. On stepping from the cars he
would mount his horse and with single
aid and without escort would gallop oil
to headquarters, courteously acknowledge
ing the salutes of the men as he passed
them. These frequent visits to head
quarters occasiOned remark, OF course,
and tho troops were on the qui viye to
learn what was up. Now, II there was
one thing that especially distinguished
the American armies from those of other
nations 1t was that the men In tho ranks
were in the main as intelligent rs their
officers. Som 1t was bruited about
that there were serious Engagements
In these councils of war. Rumors
were current that hot words and angry
voices had iloated on the Silly air from
the marquee whore the councils wore
held, and that on one occasion n certain
distinguished general, now living, had
flung himself out OF the tent, flushed and
furious, and with naughty "cuss words'
on his tongue, All this had bad effect
upon the troops, for such rumors fly
throughout an army like wildAre. In
fact. the president and his generals
agreed only to disagree, and here wore
planted the seeds of distrust aud dsalIec-
tiOn between Mr., Davis and Gems, John
atom aud Raaurpgard which aftarXua ri