The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1888-10-06
GETTING NEWS FROM BULL RUN.



II NAV well be supposed that Presi-
lent Lincoln suffered great anxiety
Turing that eventful Sunday; but Gen.
scott talked confidently Of success,
aud Lincoln bore his impatience with
nut any visible sign. and quietly went
10 church at III o'clock. Soon after
noon copies Of kilograms began COM
ing TO him at the executive mansion
from the war department and from ar
my headquarters. They brought. how
ever, no certain information. as they
came only from the nearest station TO
the battlefield, and simply gave what
the operator saw and heard. Toward
; o'clock they became more frequent.
and reported considerable fluctuation
in the apparent course and progress Of
the cannonade. The president went
to the Office of General Scott. where he
found the general asleep. and woke
him 10 talk over the news. Scott said
such reports were worth nothing as in
dications either way-that the changes
in the currents Of wind and the vaI'ia-
tion of the echo made il impossible for
"A distant listener Ia determine the
course of battle. He still expressed
his confidence in successful result,
and composed himself for another nap
when the president left.
Dispatches continued 10 come about
every ten or fifteen minutes. still based
on hearing and hcarsay. But the ru-
mors grew more cheering and definite.
They reported that the battle had ex-
tended along nearly the whole line; that
there had been considerable loss; but
that the secession lines had been driv-
EN- back two on three miles, some Of the
dispatches said To- the Junction. One
of Gen. SCOTS aides now also came.
bringing the telegram Of an engineer.
repeating that Mcdowell had driven
the enemy before him; that he had or
dered the reserves 60 cross Bull Run,
and wanted rc-enforccments without
delay.
The aide further stated. substantial
Is, that the general was satisfied of
the truth of the report. and that Me-
Dowell would immediately attack and
capture the Junction, perhaps Tonight,
but certainly by tomorrow noon.
Deeming all doubt NJ an end Prcsi-
dent Lincoln ordered his carriage aud
went out for his usual evening drive.
He had not yet returned when. at six
o'clock. Secretary Seward came 10 the
executive mansion, pale and haggard.
where Is the PRESIDENT he asked,
hoarsely. of the private secretaries.
'.Gone for drive" they answered.
''Have YOU any late news he continue
cd. They read him the kilograms an-
nouncing victory TEL No. one. he
said. THAT is not true. The battle
j. lost. The telegraph SAYS that Me-
Dowcll is in full retreat, and calls on
Gen. Scott TO save the capital. Find
the president and tell him TO come inn
mediately to Gen. SCOTS" Half an
hour later the president returned from
his drive and the secretaries gave him
Stewards message the first intimation
he received of the trying news. He lis
tened in silence, without the slightest
change Of feature or expressions, and
walked away 10 army headquarters.
There he read the unwelcome report
In telegram from captain OF engin-
GERS: 'Gen. McDowcll's army in full
retreat through Centcvile. The day
is lost. Save Washington and tie
remnants of this army. The routed
troops will not reform This tele-
gram was such an irrecOncilable con-
tradiction Of the former telegram that
Gen. Scott utterly refused Co believe il.
That one officer should report the ar
my beyond Bull Run, driving the enc
my and ordering up the reserves, and
another Immediately report IL three
miles this side Of Bull Run. in hopeless
retreat and decentralization. seemed an
impossibility Yet the impossible had
indeed come 10 pass, and the apparent
change of fortune had been nearly as
sudden ON the battlefield rs in Wash
ington. The Century.