The National tribune., 1895-12-12

GEN. BEAUREGARD, c. s. A.
defended bv four companies and two
guns? Beauregard SAYS he discovered
the movement in his front at the Stone
Bridge was only feint, and by the dust
arising on the Sudley Springs road he
concluded we were coming on bis left
flank, so be left four companies at the
bridge. and took the remainder Of his
force, being Sloan's 4th s. c., and
Wheat's Louisiana Tigers, with two g.
pound howitzers across the valley Of
AoangIs Branch, to the high ground
beyond it. And this was the force that
struck us right in the face.
The enemy line at this time was north
of the WaTenton pike, his extreme
left on the Sudley Springs road, with one
gun, and the other guns behind bis right,
and this thin line we
OUGHT TO HAVE DESTROYED.
As il was, we drove them across the
pike and up on the Henry House hill
and into the woods, where Johnston's and
Jackson's forces made a strong line, be-
hind which they concentrated their men
and guns Mcdowell now came up and
directed the movements against the re-
treating enemy.
Sherman's Brigade had also come up
from the bridge and joined in the pur-
suit, but now the advantage of position
was reversed: the enemy was on a hill
and the Union army at the foot Never
tbeless, Ricketts, and Griffin moved for
ward to the top Of tie hill and got into
position, but in a flash the enemy made
a charge and delivered a vollev that
killed every cannoneer and most Of the
horses and completely wiped out Rick
etts's and Griffin batteries, and pell-mell
down the hill came their support, the
Fire Zouaves and the 18th n. Y. of
Brooklyn Col. A. N. Woods, of the
18th, was wounded and captured here.
From this time the battle was lost to
the Union army. Several times were
these guns taken and then retaken
Charge after charge was made up the
hill by different detachments of the
Union army and many officers and men
sacrificed, only to be driven back again,
and by this time the Warrenton pike
was crowded with the scattered and de-
moralized Union army moving back
ward and forward. Capt Woodbury.,
in bis report, gives bis opinion of the
cause Of the disaster as follows:
:" An old soldier feels safe in the
ranks, unsafe out Of the ranks, and the
greater the danger the more pertina-
ciously he clings to his place. The
volunteer Of three months never attains
his instinct Of discipline. Under
danger, and even under mere excite
ment he flies away from his ranks and
looks for safety in dispersion. At 4
O'Clock IN the afternoon Of the DIST of
July there were more than 1900 vol
unteers Oh the battlefield Of Bull Run
who had entirely lost their regimeutal
organization. They could not be
handled rs troops, as officers and men
mingled promlscuously together. The
enemy was probably disorganized the
same way, bat they acted on the defens-
I've, and were not 50 exposed to dis
organization"
And DOW, TO top the climax, up came
the balance Of JOhnston's Army ol the
Shenandoah, who had Just arrived at
Manassas junction. These 5000 fresh
troops turned the day. ltwas Johnston's
and not Pattenon's army that had an
rived. Ii was Blucher, not Gr0nchv,
who lad come. And 50 we fell back
under the attack IN front, flank and
rear toward Sudley's Ford, the way We
came, while the left Of the Union army
retreated down the Warrenton pike and
across the Stone Bridge. 1t does seem
at this day the
HARDEST KIND OF Ill LUCK
that We should have thought il necessary
70 retreat by the long detour around
Sudley's Ford when we could have
marched right along the Warrenton
pike and arrived at Centerville in two
hours. But here we went over this long,
circuitous route Of 10 miles, officers and
men, worn out, tired and hungry, and
most Of the regiments mixed up and de-
moralized. But our rear was well pro-
tected by Maj. Sykes and his Regulars.
lie says in his report
moved my battalion TO the right
amidst crowds Of retiring troops, took
our position, and covered the retreat,
being the last TO leave the field. After
crossing Bull Run / was threatened by
a large cavalry force, but our order and
compactness prevented an attack"
Ills was j. i. B. Stuan's cavalry,
who had pursued us up the Sudley