National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1885-05-23
AFTER FIRST BULL RUN.
now THE ARMIES WERE OCCUPIED DURING
THE SUMNER.
This Effect OF McClellan's Great Review on
the Southern Army--An Aeronauts Adven-
ture-JohnstOn's Failure TO Capture the
Federais at townsville.

the Southern Army--An Aeronauts Adven-
ture-Johnston's Failure TO Capture the
Pederais at townsville.
A prominent lawyer Of this city, who
was too young at the timo Of the war to
Join in the fighting, suggests to mo that IL
would DO of interest TO those who, like
himself, have not seen service, If would
write up the winter quarters, the camp,
tho marches, &c.--the private life OF the
soldier, as IL were--iustead Of devoting so
much attention to the battles. without
a diary for guidance, this think, would
prove a difficult job. All my diaries were
lost when Gen. Sheridan gobbled
mp our wagons at Sailors creek, on
the last retreat, and 1 am think
ing that tho man who got possession Of
them was very much edited If he took
the trouble to peruso them. However,
will try in the near future to oblige my
ID friend. Another suggests that j should
write up Richmond from tho inside dur
81 ing tho last year Of the war, as he says he
cannot understand how the people man
aged to live, to obtain food when tho con-
federate currency was so enormously
4 deprecated. He shall DO obliged also If
Il IN tho mean time my correspondontial
= head shall not have been chopped of.
Cen. j. Il. Johnstoh's late article, in
reply to the structures of Jefferson Davis
on his conduct after the first battle of
Bull Run, shows pretty plainly that the
confederate army was in no condition to
make an Immediate advance upon the
Il national capital, aud that even If 1t had
advanced promptly 1t would have been
met by y strong force of we'll organized
troops, who retreated from the field in
good order on that memorable 21st of
July.
N AFTER THE FIRST BULL RUN.
Shortly after the battle tho bulk of the
confederate army was thrown forward to
Centerville, and Longstreets brigade,
numbering about $500 mon for duty, was
advanced to Fairfax Court House. Per-
haps tho old general was more justly
criticized because during the summer aud
autumn he made no movement, remain
ing supine and inactive, when IL was
known that tho Young Napoleon" was
proceeding vigorously with the recruiting
and reorganization of the army of the
Potomac, making it every day more
formidable, 1t may DO that Gen. john
ston was convinced that the best plan for
the south was defensive warfare, and
east and west, appears to favor this idea.
THE FIRST PICKET GUARDS.
Longstreet's troops while posted at
II Fairfax had their first taste OF that most
disagreeable of all the duties OF soldier
picket duty in the presence Of the enc
my-presenting as it does all the more
dsagreeable features of skirmishing,
without tho excitement of actual fighting.
But it was good school, for tho strictest
discipline was maintained by the officers
commanding tho picket line. The brig
tde pickets extended from Annandale, on
the Alexandria pike, in Gordon across
to and beyond Munsons hill, opposite
Washington, and at the latter point they
were within speaking distance of the
pickets of tho enemy. The 18th Virginia
Infantry to which tho writer belonged
had charge of tho line in front of Mum
sons hill and, springing above the mast
of intervening forests, the white dome
of the capitol was plainly visible
and seemingly very near, from thai
elevation. 1t looked as If the bolt
from our larger rifod cannon could easily
be crashed through the dome's graceful
proportions, though l never heard tina
any such piece Of vandalism was ever con
templated by the confederate officers
When the picketing irst began, and be
fore the regular Gordon was established
two companies OF the regiment were sen
down to Falls Church, the reserve beinl
posted in the outskirts of the village, ant
the outposts thrown out down the turn
pike toward Washington.
AN APPLE ORCHARD BETWEEN THE LINES
Now, there was splendid apple and peacl
orchard situated at the foot of Munson'
hill, the fruit of which was only rip
enough for the stomachs of schoolboy
aud soldiers, which was bone Of con
tenton for the opposing pickets, as |
was between the lines The consequence
was that it became regular battle ground
and a number of both sides in the strug
gle for possession got pains otherwis
than those occasioned by munching greer
fruit. / have said in u previous articl
that this firing on pickets was little bette
~ than murder and what excited angr!
> feelings still further was that there wer
number of independent scouts from tn
far south not regularly connected witt
any organization who were accustomed
to stalk the federal pickets as hunte
does the stag, and shoot them down iron
ambush. Such warfare had no earThi.
bearing on the result of the campaign
for it was, in the opinion Of most of u:
nothing but assassination, legalize
though it might be by circumstances.
LoSGsTREET STOPS PICKET SHOOTING
Gen. Longstreet in order to put a sto
to this desultory firing marched out frol
Fairfax Court House one afternoon wit
two regiments of infantry and batter
of the Washington artillery, and takin
position in front of Munson's hill shelle
the federal pickets from out tho orchard
advanced his infantry and took possessio
of the hill. A line of pickets was the
established to the left beyond Febrey'
farm, and to the right in front OF, and be
yond Mason's hill, which was occupie
oy the enemy. 1t was then strictly on
Joined upon the men not to answer tn
fire of the federal pickets, unless the
advanced from their position to ASA
our line. After this both sides quit thei
foolishness, and the pickets walked III
concernedly on their posts in full riff
range without molestation. Weeks passe
in this monotonous duty, though tn
night was somewhat harassing, for til
general, in order to accustor
the men to alertness of watcl
by special orders led us
believe that the enemy was contemplatin
an advance, and to lie down or stand in
swamp far away from the reserve for 81
al hours on a stretch, exposed to the bite
of myriads Of mosquitoes-not able to SC
the man posted to the right or left {
fifteen yards Misunderstanding wit
nerves all on q tension at tho cracking
twig under the foot of prowling Nigh
animal, the rustlinR of the leaves, or I'll
sudden hooting OF an owl-all this wi
not a pleasant experience for green troop
But the experience was valuable to I
afterward.
SCARED BY MCCLELLAN REVIEW.
What made US the more expect IL
federal advance was that Gen. McOlella
held ono of his grand reviews about tn