The Monitor-register., 1896-12-04

the returning train would not be due
until los p. m. In passing along the
poorly constructed sidewalks l came to a
hardware store and resolved to make
further inquiry and another effort to reach
the object of my trip. l went inside and
accosted the gentlemanly proprietor,
stating to him the rather unfortunate
dilemma I was supposed to be in, and
whether there was really any possible
hope of my reaching the battle ground
that day. He kindly informed me that
he had no doubt that the liveryman
would take me out at the desired place,
and thither he directed me. found this
worthy to be colored boy, and l soon
made bargain for team, and off l
started for the battle field Of Bull Run,
fought on Sunday, December 21st, 1861,
just 3S years previous. lacking a few
days. The directions given me were to
follow the road out of town, which be
said wound around little just out of
the place, and to keep directly on, not
turning off this road, and after travelling
about six or seven miles would come to
the Henry farm, where the main part of
the battle took place, and here l would
see sign on the gate bearing tbe words
"The Henry Farm"
So started. l had not proceeded far
on my way, in fact I was just leaving the
town, when 1 came to the conclusion that
all hope of reaching the Henry farm that
day was hopeless indeed; that Virginia
mud-did you ever see it 1 have, l assure
you, and brought sample of it home
on ny clothes and retained this sample,
| too, for some time afterward, for it was
the kind that sticks we'll to whatever it
gets onto. Before giving up all hopes,
however, 1 made careful survey Of all
my resorces. had good team. l
noticed that the animal was not worried
in the least, although had kept him on
a slow trot almost all the way this far,
and it became evident to me that the
animal was used to it; too such roads.
Thus encouraged, pressed on, and soon
1 made up my mind that had .traversed
fully half the distance required to reach
th battle ground. Just at this moment
l met darkey on horseback, whom
acoosted and asked how far it was to the
Henry house. He stopped, looked at me,
grinned, looked down the road, and sa id
it was just five miles right down the
road. This was sumner, indeed, but
was in for it,; my team was all right,
was quite certain, and of which 1 made
complete observations every few minutes
1 now knew that should get there in due
time all right. pressed on, full of hope,
knowing that 1 should be rewarded on
reaching my journeys end at the sigh
of battle field, something had nevel
seen in my life. was now more hope
full. On I went, thud, thud, thud
through Virginia mud, fully four inches
deep at every step of the way.
In little while 1 came to ravine and
hill beyond. A team containing two mer
approaching me had halted at tie top O.
the hill, as there was not room enough
for two to pass in the hollow. When
came up to them asked them how far il
was to the Henry gate. They replied il
was about three quarters of a mile.
passed on and reached the Henry gate a
last. 1t was about the longest three
quarters of mile ever travelled. Tht
sign said: "The Henry farm; all personl
are charged so cents for entering th'
gate" opened the gate and passed in
and now l was rewarded for all my toi
and anxiety. l stood on consecrated soil
I stood on ground that thirty years agt
had witnessed the greatest struggle tina
this nation ever knew. stood ol
ground that witnessed men, heroic men
fall by the hundreds. yes by th
thousands; men who for tie want of I
; cup of water in some instances on tina
bot 21st of July-Sabbath, 1861-has
persisted with no one, in many cases. fo
several days to give the corpse any atten
tion whatever.
approached the house and went to the
door. A card said, "Knock loud"
made my summons heard and mai
came to the door. 1t was Mr.. Henry
the owner of the farm, where the mali
engagement of the battle occurred. H,
was then 81 years of age. He had beel
teacher, so he informed me, in Alex
andria in his early life for fourteen years
The Henry farm had been in the famil.
for a number of years. He said he, bi
sister and his mother were living in tn
J house at the time of the battle. Th'
house was soon demolished he said, ant
} his sister killed, while his mother. VIII
was an invalid, had been taken to th
cellar for safety. But soon as the coDfiic
ragged this was no longer a place
security, and she was removed from th'
} cellar on door, and in passing down t.
that ravine, said he, pointing to the spot
she was struck by nine balls. They ar
both buried in the yard, just at tina
corner. he said, with tears in his eyes, a
he stood in the door and pointed to th
place. A brave colonel Che mentioned
his name, but cannot remember it now
in leading his men on a charge fel
mortally wounded and he is buried jus
where he was stricken down.
There is a monument in the yar'
erected by some New York regiment
who took part in the battle. On thi
monument are a number of shot ant
shell that had been fred from differen
} batteries stationed on the hillsides
"Here is one shot," said be, as he left th
door and went towards the monument
and pointing at the shot, "that is ye
} unexploded. This SHE'LL" said be
"oame three miles. We know this,
J there was only one gun in both contend
ing forces that used that kind of shot,
After describing the terrible scene
that day for short time, he called TO
his cane and we took a walk over
norton of the battle field, ''for, said be
81 eau only show you over small par
of the field, as it extended over numDe
of So uare miles. Here" sai1 ne' as W. W.
came to q tree with the sig9 on IL,
: where General Bristow fell ana peg
il where General Bee fell. y and we passe.
OYER that portion of the field wberebrav'
men had fallen, defending. as the.
/ claimed, . sacred csnse, The different
places being plsinly marked and notef
ohort nbnfof