The National tribune., 1886-04-08

small stream turning, in northern and
southern loop, respectively above and below
the Warrenton pike, much as the OF q
PROSTATE dollarmark (e4) twines above and
below its horizontal line, the vicinity of
which is destined to be houy-contested
ground ere nightfall.*
Sending word to headquarters, Evans
pushes forward, and, gaining Buck Ridge, to
the north of the northern loop of Young's
Branch, forms his line of battle upon that
eleyation-which somewhat compensates
him for the inferiority of his numbers
nearly at right angles to the Bull Run line;
rapidly puts his artillery in position; the
rebel guns open on Burnside's advance
their hoarse roar soon supplemented by the
rattle of rebel musketry and the answering
roar and rattle of the Union onset; and the
battle of Bull Run has commenced!
II is after 1890 a. m, and Beauregard and
Johnston are upon an eminence in the rear
of the center Of the enemy'5 Bull Run line.
They have been there since o'clock. An
hour ago, or more, their signal officer has re-
ported a large body Of Union troops crossing
the Bull Run Valley some two or three miles
above the Stone Bridge upon the strength OF
which Johnston has ordered Bees Brigade
from near Cookies position, with Hampton's
Legion and Stcnewall Jackson's Brigade
from near Bonham's left, TO move to the
rebel left at Stone Bridge, and these troops
are now fastening thither, guided by the
sound of the guns.
The artillery firing is also heard by John
ston and Beauregard, but intervening wood
ed slopes prevent them from determining
precisely whence ii comes. Beauregard,
with bsdly-organized staff, is chatting over
flsn dalau fl,ot hac in ont
his own plan of battle He is waiting to
hear Of the progress of the attack which he
has ordered upon the Union army-supposed
10y him TO be at Centervlle-and especially
as to the advance of his right toward Sang
sters Station. In the meantime also-from
early morning-the rebel commanders have
heard heavy firing in the direction of Black
burns Ford, toward their right, where the
artillery attached TO the brigades of Davies
and Richardson, constituting McDoweils
left wing, is demonstrating in a lively man.
ner in accordance with McDowells plan.
II A. NJ
IT is II o'clock. Beauregard has become
satisfied that his orders for the rebel adj
vance and attack on Centerville have failed
or miscarried. His plan is abandoned, and
the orders countermanded. At the same
time the growing volume of artillery detona-
tons upon the lett of the Bull Run line of
defense-together with the clouds OF dust
which indicate the route of march of Hum
ter's and Heintzelman's Divisions from near
Centeville to the point Of confict-satisties
both Johnston and Beauregard that serious
attack is imperiling the rebel left flank.
Beauregard at once proposes to Johnston
"a modification of the abandoned plan,"
viz: To attack with the rebel right,
while the left stands on the defensive" But
rapidly transporting events conspire to make
even the modified plan impracticable.
Johnston, convinced by the still growing
volume of battle sounds on the rebel left,
that the main attack of Mcdowell is being
made there, urges Beauregard to strengthen
that left as much as possible; and, after that
General has sent orders to this end-to
Holmes and Early to come up with their
brigades from Union Mills Ford, moving
with all speed to the sound of the firing"
and to Bonham to promptly send up from
Mitchells Ford a battery and two of his
regiments-both he and Beauregard put
spurs to their horses and gallop at full speed
toward the firing, four miles away on their
left-stopping on the way only long enough
for Johnston to order his Chief of Artillery
Col. Pendleton, to follow with his own and
Alburtiss batteries"