The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1897-08-11
SOLDIERS BUDGET,
Betrayed at Bull Run.

Y
the Confederates in the entire war
Yet there was a time in the midst OF it
when the Southern commanders heart
failed" him, and when he wished
" he had fallen in battle" two or three
days before.
These revelations are made in per,
sonal letter of Beauregard, written to
Mics 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 interesting than the
admitted fact that victory was snatched
from defeat is General Beauregsrd's
slater ent 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 bis 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 personal letter. He wrote as
follows:
Miss Augusta Evans, Mobile, Ala:
1 beg to thank you for your letter of the
18th inst, and am at last able to ans
wer 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 de-
lay l send them as they are 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 Gen. Bonham,
the first message from Mrs. Greenhow
of the intended positive advance Of the
enemy across the Potomac. / then i'm
mediately commenced making my
preparations to receive his meditated
att, ok, and l sent to one of my aids
(Col. j. S. Preston) to communicate the
information received to the President,
as well as my future operations. On
the night of the 10th of July l received
by special messenger Ga Mr.. Donnellan)
the second dispatch Tin cipher also) of
Mrs. Greenhow telling me that the
enemy - $4,000 strong, / believe
would positively commence that day
his advance from Arlington Heights
and Alexandria on to Manassas via
Fairfax Court House and Centerville.
Early the next morning telegraphed
the information to President Davis.
About noon l received his telegram to
order Gen. Johnston to join his forces
with mine. By that time, however,
the enemy had already driven in my
pickets in my advance of Fairfax Court
House, and l answered the president
that 81 feared it was then too late, but
az; ta1. nd
senger TO Gen. Johnson" The latter
arrived at about noon on the Goth. At
about 4:30 A. NJ, on the 2lst, sent or
ders to all the troops to hold themselves
in readiness to move (see my report Of
the battle of Manassas) Gems. Ewell
and Holmes on the right, to start first
to attack and turn the enemy's left and
rear at Centervlle. At about $3.50 A.
NJ, having given all preliminary orders,
1 left my headquarters with Gen. John
| son for the scene of action near Mitch
el's Ford, on Bull Run. AT about
1920 A. NJ, was informed by mes
sage from Gen. Ewell Ga gallant and
meritorious offlcer) that he had not yet
received directly my orders to advance,
but would do so at once from informe-
ton received to that effect from Gen.
d. r. Jones, next on his left, and who
was to have followed his movement.
at was, however, then too late, for
for the enemy was already pressing
with vigor my extreme left under Gen.
Evans at the Stone bridge. | thus had
suddenly or on the spur of the moment
to change my whole plan of battle
with troops which had never YET
fought and could scarcely maneuvre.
MY heart for a moment failed me?
felt as though all was lost, and wished
l had fallen in the battle of the 18th
but l soon rallied and then solemnly
pledged my life that l would that day
conquer or die. Immediately every
thing appeared again clear and hopeful
although the worst was yet to come
About three p. NJ, finding that the
enemy had retaken the plateau of the
Henry House, ordered my reserves
(three regiments) forward, and charged
at the head of one of them. We drove
back the enemy, about five times ou
number, and held the position until re
Inducements from our center and eX
treme right of the morning had arrived
and decided the fate of the day. The
enemy commenced flying about 4:3l
p. NJ, and the President arrived on tn,
field about half an hour later, in time
however, to enjoy that agreeable sight
You will excuse, hope, these details
which are given only to furnish you
clearer insight into the memorabl
events of that day. beg TO remar
here that the report of that battle sen
you is more a full history of it than
mere report, which would have con
tanned only the leading facts; more
over, am happy to hear that you ar
preciated 80 we'll and truly my tw
most worthy friends, Johnston an
Price. 1 would serve with pleasur
under either one of them. l hope 20
will meet also with another one, Breci
inridge, than whom there is not nj
bier soul.
"With my kind regards to all 9
home, l remain, very truly, you
friend, G. 4. BEAUREGARD."
!, The publication of this private lettG
will give to many readers of the histor
of the Civil War the first definite in
preston of the tremendous advantag
q the Confederates had through spies i
: | 4. 4 IL Al