The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1895-10-24

10 TIC IISUb VI DiChitSS . lluS, bub do li
enemy were being driven we only fire
a few shots.
We remained around the scene of th
engagement during the 2Sth, thinking
the Engineer Corps would be along
when we supposed we would repair tn
bridge. All this time We were in
quandary as to where the corps was
Porter's and kearny's troops came from
Warrenton junction to Bristoe durin!
the forenoon, and toward night 1t be
came evident that there was no ikeli
hood of the bridge being rebuilt.
So we started for Manassas junction
during the forenoon of the 29th, passing
Porter's army, which was off to the nortf
of US in the direction of the Manassas
Gap Railroad.
When we reached the Junction W.
learned that jackson had struck thu
railroad at Bristoe after sunset of tbt
26th, capturing the small force who were
guarding the road at that place.
As the Confederates were coming in
sight train of cars ran past the station
toward Manassas. Another train soon
followed, upon which they fired, but il
also
MADE ITS ESCAPE,
the engineer giving his engine all the
steam and sand he had. A third train
was ditched by removing the rails, thus
breaking communications.
jackson sent troops at once to Manas-
sas, who arrived between midnight of
the 26th and the morning of the 9th,
where they captured the whole outfit,
consisting of a battery Of six guns with
horses and ammunition, 200 new tents,
500 prisoners, 200 negroes, 10000
pounds of bacon, 1000 barrels of corned
beef, and 1000 barrels each of pork and
-four.
After allowing his men to feast on the
good things and take what they wanted,
he burned the rest, then proceeded
leisurely via the Sadley Springs road
north, and finally brought up on the old
battlefield of Bull Run at about noon of
the 2Sth, where his forces were ready for
business as soon as Lee should join him
with the rest of the army.
Meantime the Engineer Corps had
accompanied McDowell's forces, passing
through Buckland Mills, Groveton,
Gainesville, and at one time along the
flank of Jackson's army, and on the 30th
arrived at Centerville, where the inn
mense wagon-train of the Army of Vir-
ginia was in park awaiting the outcome
Of the fighting that had been in progress
near Groveton and On the old Bull Run
battlefield since the 2Sth, but which
terminated the night of the 30th in the
repulse Of the Union army.
On Sept. ] the wagon-train was gotten
under way, headed for Alexandria. At
an early hour the same day jackson left
his bivouac at Sudley Ford and marched
down the Little River turnpike, intend
ing TO get in our rear again. Alter pass
ing Chantilly he turned to the right. on a
cross-road which connected with the
Warrenton pike, about midway between
Centerville and Halifax Courthouse.
While our wagon-train was passing
down the pike, and just before We (the
Engineer Corps reached this crossroad,
an officer rode out into the pike, and in
CURED for the officer in charge Of the
train. He was directed to an officer in
charge Of a section, to whom he said
." have orders from Gen. Pope for you
TO turn the balance of the train Off on this
road and 90 into park"
While the officer was debating the
order
MAN CARRYING MUsKET,
and blanket hanging over his shoulder,
with the ends tied together, came along,
and as soon as he saw the man, he
brought his musket TO an aim and said
q" You - rebel, you can't fool me.
| saw you with Stonewall jackson last
Thursday after you captured us fellows
at Manassas" )"
Then turning to the Major in COM
mand of the train he said: Major, YOU
want TO catch onto him, for he's rebel
officer, and is trying to have the train
turn off the road SO they can gobble it
up"
This was sometime between 3 and 5
o'clock p. M, Sept. ], and it was after
ward learned that Jackson's right was
not ovst 20 rods from the pike, on the
road on which the officer with "orders
from Gen. Pope" was trying to turn the
train, and but for the timely arrival of
the man Of whom spoke would doubt
less have succeeded.
The man told us he was captured at
Manassas the 9th, and during the night
Of the 2Sth had succeeded in making his
escape. The rebel officer was made a
prisoner at once and taken to Alexandra. |
1t soon began to rain, or rather the
rain poured down, drenching us to the
skin; but on We moved, and, finally, at |
ii P. m. we turned off the pike and went |
into park within a mile Of Alexandria,
and by night Of the following day the
entire army was safe within the defenses
of Washington.
The Engineer Corps was disbanded |
Sept 20, by order of Gen. Reynolds, |