The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1888-04-19

BATTLE OF MANASSAS.

MESSRS EDITORS: seeing IN Il re
cent issue a description OF the scene.
on the Battlefield of Manassas after
the fight, has induced me to give al
account of that battle as | saw it
The Dist of July, 1861, found the It'll
Ga. Regiment after hard marching
from Winchester through Piedmont
Gap at Union Mills on Bull Run.
Sunday morning we were all getting
or eating breakfast, when the first
boom of artillery broke upon our ears
and told us of the bloody work that
was coming to desecrate the Sabbath.
The long roll was beaten quickly and
the command was soon heard in each
company to fall in. The regiment
was quickly under arms and formed
The firing was up the stream and we
headed that way at double quick.
We halt after a short march and pile
our knapsacks in enc heap and press
on. The first line Of battle was along
the stream, but the Federal's cross
ing above caused tie line to be
changed to nearly right angle with
the stream, This caused the troops
stationed down the stream to have 80
push rapidly to the left to keep from
being ilanked, The rattle OF musket-
ry commences on our right We
get orders to load and many hands
tremble as they place the cartridge
in the muskets. We are in sight of
the guns on the opposite hills. The
first shot passes over our ranks, and
one fellow breaks ranks and goes to
the rear a few steps and gets on his
allfours like scared shoat in a peach
orchard, We move to the left, pass the
open tield, go through the pine and
cedar and take our position near the
log house and apple orchard. We
are Hat on the ground. Things are
getting badly mixed, that is the shells,
solid shot and bullets, are mixing at
a lively rate. The 9Th Ga. is heavily
pressed on our right. We move to
the right near the brick house to
support them and fill UP the gap be-
tween us. The wounded commence
to pass out in our front, the 8th is
badly cut up. Gen. Bee is close by
us. / see him encouraging the men
who are unsteady, ! hear him say
''ior the sake of Carolina, for the
honor of Georgia, stand steady"
But it is clearly seen that we cannot
hold the hill raked by such o etorm
OF deadly missiles and the order comes
to retire. We TALL back about two
hundred yards in hollow in front OF
the Washington Artillery, who have
turned them guns in the direction OF
the hill and we kneel in their front
and they fire rapidly over our heads.
The 9Th Ga. is coming out. Gen.
Beauregard salutes them with head
uncovered for the fight they have
made. Two hundred and fifty Of
their regiment killed and wounded.
The roar of cannon and musketry
has become perfect storm. ! see
Gems. Barlow ana Beauregard close
together, the latter points up the
hollow We face in that direction
and double quick We 20 for hun
| dred yards o. tw0 and face square to
the front, up the hill we 60. Barlow
snatches the colors of the 7th Ga.
and leads the charge. We reach the
top Of the hill and halt an instant.
The regiment fires and rush right
among the guns. They are taken.
Bee is killed to cur right and Bartow
goes down with colors in his hands.
EwelPs and Smiths men are coming
in rapidly on our left. The Federals
commence to waver. There is a per-
feet storm of shot and shell. In a
short time the blue coats commence
to run and in lutte time they are
going pell nell towards Centerville
IN a complete stampede.
Yours truly,
Il. II. MURRAY,
Go, ID. 7th Ca Regiment.
Do.,,l. Gg..,,,,. ~