The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-10-27
LONGSTREET INTERVIEW
EXTRACTS From OPTICAL RE-
FORTS or THE RATTLE
BY Generals Johnston and Beaursgsrd--
President Davis Part In tho Order
to Advance.
To the Editor of The rImes:

To the Editor OF The Times:
sir.-In view Of the statement alleged
to nave been made by General Lo.s-
street. and published In the New YORK
World that orders from President DAVIS
prevented the advance or the army 10
Washington after the nrst battle OF Ma
nassas. would IL not be well 10 puoiish an
extract from Gen. Johnstons report OF
that battle, I'm which he says:
The apparent frmness OF the tnited
States army at Centrevllle, VINO had
not been engaged. which checked our
pursuit: the strong forces occupying the
works near Georgetown and Alexandria
the certainty, too. that Gen. patterson
ii needed, would reach Washington win
his army OF thirty thousand men sooner
than we could. and the condition ana
Inadequate means OF the army In ammuhi-
ton. provisions. and transportation pre-
vented any serious thoughts OF advanc-
ing against the Capital
Gas. BEAUsfc AKD's REPORT.
Gen. Beauregard's report was of like
tenor He said: In conclusion, II Is prop
er, and doubtless expected. that through
this report my countrymen should DC
made acquainted with some of the suf-
fcient causes that prevented the advance
pursuit OF the enemy To and beyond the
Potomac.
IAN army which had fought as ours on
that day. under q July sun. most OF the
time without water and without tood,
except a hastily -snatched meal at dawn,
was not In condition for the toll OF
vigorous. effective pursuit of an enemy i'm
mediately after battle.
added to this, the want OF cavalry
force Of sufficient numbers made an Ell
dcfent pursuit a military impossibllity.
Gen. Johnston in his book is still more
emphatic He generates President DAVIS
entirely from any responsibility for the
failure to advance. and says that the
ACCESSIBILITY OF such a movement may
have been discussed to some extent, but
was not seriously contemplated.
some historian OF the war-l think Dr.
/ Vim. Jones--has said. / ffknow not with
what truth or by what authority that
President Davis actually gave the order
to advance. but withdrew II In reference
20 the Judgment OF Generals Johnston ana
Beauregard.
THE DTsrRr TO ESCAPE.
II is certain that those Generals dld
not at all yealize the extent OF me
rout and panic OF the enemy. Gen. EVEN )
Brigade. TO which our company was at
fHrnf1 III AIdl ltiItf Nof
diatelv after the battle TO return with
ali possible speed 70 s-tir old position
on Bull Run. and to hasten their march,
each cavalryman was ordered 10 take up
an infantryman-under the mistaken rear
that the enemy would attempt to re-
cross and renew the attack Their sole
desire az that time was TO escape anu
thew were making frantic EFFORTS 10 get
owav as fast as possible, and threw away
All membranes, such as guns and KNAPP
sacks. r
You will remember that Gen. Logan
then a member OF Congress came OUT 70
the battle on foot and IN the retreat
made quite as good time as the others :
and while next day narrating ms aoVen-
lures and experiences 20 his brother con-
s.,..ss,oon some one innocently asked
"Whv are the cars running Il don I
know {" said Gen. Logan. II did not stop 10
examine. but everything saw III VII
elnia was running. and suppose the cars
were doing as others"
W. b. NJ. PARHAM.