The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1897-08-26
a STORY OF BULL RUN,

Two Women Spies I'm Washington
Revealed tho Federal Plans for tho
Battle OF Manassas to tho Confcd-
crate Commanders.
The battle of Bull Run, as it is
known in history, callc,l Manassas by
the South, was fought in July, 1861. 1t
was planned and won by Bcaurcgard.
1t was the greatest victory gained by
the Confcdcratcs in the entire war.
Yet there was 4 time In the midst of
it when the Southern commanders
heart "failcd' him m; when he "fclt as
though all was lost" and when he
wished "hc had fallen in battle" before.
These revelations are made in a Der
sonal letter of Beaurcgard, written to
Miss Augusta j. Evans, of Mobile.
The letter has come into the possession
Of the war department, but has not
been made public until now.
Perhaps more inter csting than the
admitted fact that victory was snatchcd
from defeat is General Bcau1 cyarl's
statement that two women in Wash
ington, whom he names, betrayed the
plans in 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, jcoparlizcd
temporarily the result.
General Bcaurcgard sent an account
of the battle TO Miss Evans, inclosing
with it personal letter. Ie wrote as
follows:
Miss Augusta j. Evans, Mobile
beg 10 thank you for your letter Of
the 18th 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 as they arc by the
Southern Express company.
The young lady referred TO Miss
Duval of Washington) brought, about
the 10th of July, 1861, to Fairfax
Court House, headquarters Of General
Bonham, The first message from Mrs.
Grccnhow of the intended positive adj
vance Of the enemy across the Potomac.
then Immediately commenced making
my preparations TO receive his mcdi-
tatcd attack, and 1 sent one of my aids
Colonel j. :. Prcst Onto commune
cate the information received 10 the
president, as well as my future opera
tions. On the night Of The 10th Of July
1 received by special messcngcr--a Mr..
Donncllan-thc second diSpatch-in
cipher also-of Mrs. G., telling me
that the enemy ST, 900 strong, | be-
licvc-would positively commence that
day his advance from Arlington
Heights and Alexandria on to Manas-
sas, via Fairfax Court House and Cen
tcrville. Early the next morning l
tclcgraphcd that information to Prcsi-
dent Davis. About noon l received
his telegram to order General Johnston
to join his forces with mine. BY that
time, however, the enemy had already
driven in ny picliots iii advance OF
Fairfax Court House, and l answered
the president that 81 feared it was
then too late, but still would telegraph
and send Il messenger 10 General John
stOn.' The latter arrived about noon
on the goth. Az about 4 80 a. m. on
the 2lst l sent orders to all the troops
TO hold themselves in readiness to move
at a moments notice, and at about 7 |
n. IN. sent my final orders 10 commence
The movement (sce my report Of the
battle of Manassas), Generals Ewcll
and Holmes on the right, to start first
10 attack and turn the cnemy's left and
rear at Ccntcrvillc. At about $50 a.
m., having given all preliminary or
ers, left my headquarters " ith Gen
oral Johnston for the scene Of action
near Mitchcll's Ford, on Bull Run. At
about 1870 a. III. I was informed by
, message from General Ewcll-a cal |
ant and mcritorious uilicer-that he |
had moi yet received directly my Or
lers 10 advance, but would do so at
Incc from information received TO that
effect from General ID. r.. Jones, next
On his left, and who was to have fol- |
owed his movement.
1t was, however, then too late, for
,hc enemy was already pressing with |
viSOr my extreme left under General |
Evans at the Stone Bridge. l thus
hail suddenly or on the spur of the mo-
nent to change my whole plan of bat
Tic, with troops which had never vet
fought and could scarcely mancuvcr.
My heart FOR a moment failed nc II
'clt as though all was lost, and l wish
cd had fallen in the battle of the
18th, but l soon rallied, and l then
solcnnly pledged my life that would |
mat day conquer or die Immediately |
everything appeared again clear and |
hopeful, although the worst was ct to
como. About 3 p. in., finding that the
enemy had rctakcn the plateau of tho
llcnry house, ] ordered my reserves
(thrcc re3imcnts) forward and charged
al The head Of one of them. We drove |
back the enemy, about five times our
number, and held the position until the
rc-cnforcclnents from our center and
extreme right of the morning had ar
rived and dct idcd the fate of the day.
Tho enemy commenced flying about
1 :3O p. M, and the president arrived
on the field about half an hour later
in time, howcvol, 70 onjoy that agree,