The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-05-09
CHAPTER 1.
COPYRIGHTED 1894 BY AMERICAN PRESS ASSOCIATION.

CHAPTER /.
The day and date is the 21st of July,
1861.
The scene is the battle-ground of first
Bull Run. q field made memorable for
ever.
From daybreak to high noon the Fed
eral army under Mcdowell has been
moving down on the Confederate posi-
ton selected weeks ago by the generals
old in the strategy of war. On The tanks
brigades have grappled in the open
fields, regiments have dashed at each
other in the forests and thickets. Here
a little ground has been gained, there a
little lost It has been the skirmishing
which precedes every battle, locating the
enemy, testing his readiness, drawing
his strength and uncovering his designs.
The hour is high noon. The Confed-
crate front has been pressed back, the
left wing shattered. Men looking down
on the battlefield from the hills Of Cen
teryille have every movement IN plain
view. At 10 o'clock the battle is Won
for the Federala. Bee, Barstow and
Evans, vino have held the Confederate
center, have beaakbeaten bach: by Burn
side, Sykes and Porter. They give way
slowly and grudslngly, fighting as they
break back, and they are trying to rally,
when there is = clatter of bayonets be
ing fixed to muskets, and a thousand
men rush forward at the double quick.
It is the New YorkTwenty-seventh, and
Colonel Slocum feadSit, the first bayonet
charge OF the war-Forward! For
ward!'' And the wedge drives into the
Confederate center and rolls the flag-
ments night andl left.
The cheering is heard g mile away
above the noisoef BATTLE The Federal
centermoves forward to pursue the shat
tered enemy, and couriers ride away
with the news, w have pierced the
Confederate center and won the day."
Behind the flying Confederates is a
plateau Of 800 acres, comprising two or
three farms. There are two o. -hree
farmhouses, orchards. meadows, thick
cts Of pine, barren fields. Hereis Stone
wall Jackson with s, 600 men in reserve.
The fragments of brigades, regiments
and companies are hurled back to the
slopes OF this plateau to be rallied
and reformed behind the reseryes. Cou-
riers ride away to Beauregard to ask for
more artillery, infantry and cavalry,
and while the Federals pause TO replen-
ish their cartridge boxes and grid up
their loins for a last struggle 5 900 fresh
Confederates are hurrying forward to
the plateau.
Noon becomes 1 O'Clock. The Skin
mishers are at work all along the front
of the plateau, but there is no fighting.
Another hour slips away. The Fed
erals have waited too long. Atnoon they
could have carried the position with a
rush. At ! o'clock they would have met
with stubborn resistance, but victory
would have perched ON their banners.
Now as the Federals are ready to move
the Confederate 5000 have become 10,-
600, and their 10 pieces of artillery
have become 20.
a majority of the troops are fresh
and their nerves mistaken. and all are
ready for the gfapple.
Thirteen thousand Federals move
against the plateau at different points
almost as n man, and the battle opens
with a great crash. Under General
Jackson s immediate orders are FIVE or
six regiments. On the right OF his line
is a Virginia regiment. On the right of
that regiment is q company from the
Shenandoah valley. They have not been
in action yet AS the Federals move
up to the attack Ricketts, Federal bat
terry, supported by a Minnesota regi-
"