Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1885-1890, 1886-02-20
THE FIRST BULLS RUN,
WRITTEN FOB TIE TRIBUNE.

WRITTEN FOB THE TRIBUNE.
| Nearly quarter Of a century ha
elapsed. and new generation come
into existence and grown up since tn
sounds of fratricidal strife was heart
for the first time throughout the land
1t is needless to enter here into tn
causes which instituted the struggl,
so momentous in our country's histo
ry. It was forcibly presented by tn,
President in his inaugural address
Our government could not continue t,
exist, halt slave and half free. What
ever may have been the intention O.
the administration Of Abraham Lin
coin in regard to the slave institution
they were not yet developed at the in
ception of the rebellion. Presiden
Lincoln protested that no intention
existed, and that no right accrued tt
the executive under the constitution
to meddle with slavery; but ths
Southern leaders thought differently
and took the initiative by attacking
the federal forces at TT. Sumpter
South Carolina, thus bringing on the
war. The war cry sounded all ovel
tie country, and the general uprising
Of the North beat responsive to the
cry Of the "Union forever" In the
Northern and New England states
and West, the feeling was intensely
loyal and patriotic.
The excitement was intense in New
York city when the remains of Col
Ellsworth arrived there from Alexan-
| dria. Ellsworth was very young
man, and a great favorite with Presi-
dent Lincoln, in whose law office he
had studied. The Ellsworth Zouaves
were already famous for their eff
cheney in drill, military organization
and movements. They We're stationed
near Alexandria, Va, shortly after
Mr.. Lincoln assumed the presidency.
1t was about that time rumored that
a strong party of detrminod men under
Ben AcCullock Of Texas, were form
ing at Alexandria for the purpose Of
attacking the Capitol, Or by surprise
abduct the President. Certain it is
that the confederates were in some
force at Alexandria, and the stars and
bars were floating from the most con
spicuous buildings; noticably so from
hotel kept by man naned Jackson,
at whose place the men under McCol-
lock assembled. Col. Ellsworth pro-
ceeded in person to the hotel accom-
panied by soldier of his regiment
named Brownell, for the purpose Of
hauling down the flag. Having done
SO, and returning down the stairway,
he was shot dead by Jackson. who in
turn was killed by Brownell. The
youth Of Ellsworth; the high rank he
held; the fame of his regiment, as we'll
as the friendship Of the President,
created widespread regret at his un-
timely death. Corp. Brownell was at
once promoted to a eaptaincy in the
regular army by the President, and
Alexandria became occupied by Union
troops. It was clearly more in keep
ing with the duty of Col. Ellsworth,
if he desired the flag removed, to have
sent a file Of soldiers with non com
officer to perform the duty
which cost him his life. There was
much contention and eagerness to
capture some trophy to send home
during the first days of the war, but
his, like many other useless displays,
soon dropped out Of existence.
Following on the death Of Col.
occurred the attack on the
Sixth Massachusetts, volunteers while
on their way to Washington. It at
once became evident that peace was no
onger attainable, and the call for 75,-
300 men was promptly responded to.
Somehow or other the administration
lid not at first conceive the magni-
;ude Of the rebellion. There was. how
aver, one man in Washington who
thoroughly understood the strength Of
he confederacy. He had recently
came to Washington from the state of
Louisiana, where he had been presi-
lent of a Military college, to offer his
services to the government; and sin
,ular to relate he could not get the
ank of Colonel of volunteers at the
ime The individual referred to is
me whose military genius has given
lim portion of history's pages, and
world wide renown; the hero Of that
,reat march from Atlanta to the sea,
nd known as Gen. Sherman. That
,reat leader considered 100000 men ,
nore approximate to the force requir-
d to quell the rebellion than the ,
lumber called for Very little atten-
ion was given an opinion founded on /
'ersonal and practical knowledge. {
contrast the positions of Fremont
nd Sherman at the inception and the j