The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-06-30
BETRAYED Az BULL RUN.
Secret History of Great Battle Told
In Private Letter.
w. B. S., in St. Louis Globe-Demoerat.


W. B. S., in St Louis Globe Democrat
The battle of Bull Run, as it is known
in history, called Manassas by the South,
was fought in july 1861. II was planned
and won by Beauregard 1t was the great
est victory gained by the Confederates in
the entire war. Yet there was a time in
the midst of it when the Southern COM
manders heart failed" him. when he felt
as though all was lost" and when he
wished "he. had fallen in battle two or
three days before.
These revelations. are made in a personal
letter of Beauregard written to Miss Au-
gusta j. Evans, of Mobile. The letter has
come into the possession of the War De-
partment, but has not been made public
until now
Perhaps more interesting than the ad-
mitted fact that victory was snatched from
defeat is General Beauregard's statement
that two women in Washington whom he
names, betrayed the planA Ia detail OF the
Federal army and enabled him TO choose his
position and make his arrangements to give
battle The failure OF his own orders, not
any mistake in the betrayal, JeOpardized
temporarily the result.
To Miss Evans General Beauregard sent
an account of the battle, inclosing With it a
personal letter He wrote as follows:
Miss Augusta Swans, Mobile. Ala; I
beg to thank you for your letter of the nth
inst, and am at last able to answer your
inquiries by sending you my reports of the
battles of Bull Run and ManassaS-not
copied, however, to my satisfaction, but for
fear of further delays l send them they
are by the Southern Express Company.
The young lady referred 10 Miss
DuVdl, OIL WdSnlnStOn) brought, ABOUT the
10th of July, 1864, to Fairfax Courthouse.
headquarters of General Bonham, the first
message from Mrs. Greenhow, of the in
tended positive advance of the enemy
across the Potomac. l then Immediately
commenced making my preparations to re-
ceive his meditated attack and | sent one
of my aids (Col. j. S. Preston) to COM
muncate the information received to the
President, as well as my future operations
On the night of the 10th of July | received
by special messenger ca Mr. Donnellan) the
second dispatch tin cypher alsO) of Mrs.
g. telling me that the enemy-5o 900 strong,
l beleVe-Would positively commence that
day his advance Trom Arlington Heights
and Alexandria on TO Manassas via Fair
fax Courthouse and CenterVille Early the
next morning l telegraphed that informa-
ton to President Davis. About noon / re-
ceived his telegram to order General john
ston to join his forces with mine. By that
time, however, the enemy had already
driven in my pickets in advance of Fairfax
Courthouse and / answered the President
that Il feared it was then too late, but still
would telegraph and send a messenger TO
General Johnston. The latter arrived
on the 2lSt l sent orders to all the troops
to hold themselves in readiness to move
at a moments notice, and al about a. m.
sent my final orders TO commence the move
ment (See my report of the battle OF
Manassas), Generals Ewell and Holmes on
the right, to start first to attack and turn
the enemys left and rear at Centerville. At
about $3.50 a. m, having given all prelimi-
nary orders, left my headquarters with
General Johnston for the scene of action
near Mitchells ford, on Bull Run. At about
1920 a. m | was informed by a message
from General Ewall Ca gallant and mer-
itorious officer) that he had not yet received
directly my orders to advance, but would
do so at once from information received to
that effect from Gen. d. r. Jones, next on
his left, and who was to have followed his
movement
1T was however, then too late. for tho
enemy was already pressing with vigor my
extreme left under General Evans at the
Stone Bridge. l thus had suddenly or on
the spur of the moment 10 change my whole
w haH
yet fought and could scarcely maneuVer.
My heart for moment failed me! / felt as
though all was lost, and ! wished ! had
fallen in the battle of the 18th; but / soon
rallied and | then solemrly pledged my
life that would that day conquer or die!
Immediately everything appeared again
clear and hopeful although the worst was
yet to come. About p. m. finding that
the enemy had retaken the plateau of the
Henry house, l ordered my reserves three
regiments) forward. and charged at the
head of one of them. We drove back the
held the position until the renforcements
from our center and extreme right of the
morning had arrived and decided the fate
OF the day The enemy commeEced flying
about 4:30 p. M, and the President arrived
on the field about half an hour later, in
time, however, to enjoy that agreeable
tails, which are given only to furnish you
clearer insight into the memorable events
the report of that battle sent you is more
a full history of it than a mere report,
winch would nave contained only the lead
ing facts: moreover had not much ex-
perience in such matters. / am happy to
hear that you appreciated so well and truly
my two most worthy friends Johnston and
Price / would serve with pleasure under
either one of them. l hope you will yet
meet also with another one. Breckenridge.
than whom there is not nobler soul.
With my kind regards to all al home,
remain very truly, your friend.
. @. T. BEAUREGARD."
The publication of this private letter will
give to many readers of the history of the
civil war the first definite impression OF
the tremendous advantage the Confederates
had through spies in Washington. and also
the first knowledge of how the fortune OF
battle wavered on the field of Bull Run.