The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-07-17

satisfaction, but, for fear of further de-
hays, 1 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 General Bonham, the
first message from Mrs, Greenhow Of the
intended positive advance of the enemy
across tho Potomac. l then Immediately
commenced making my preparations to
receive his meditated attack, and I sent
one OF my aids Colonel ]. s. Preston) to
communicate the information RECEIVED
to the president. as well as my future OPP
erations. On the night of the 10th of July
received by special messenger "a Mr..
Donnellan) the second despatch Qn cipher
also) of Mrs. c., telling me that the ene-
my-55,0o strong, i believe-would posi-
lively commence that day his advance
from Arlington Heights and Alexandria
on to Manassas, via Fairfax Court House
and Centreville. Early the next morning
telegraphed that information to Presi-
dent Davis. About noon 1 received his
telegram to order Gen. Johnston to join
his forces With mine. BY that time, how
ever, the enemy had already driven in my
pickets in advance OF Fairfax Court
house. and / answered the president that
L feared II was then too late, but stll
would telegraph and send a messenger to
Gen. johnston The latter arrived about
noon on the 10th. At about 43O a. m. on
the 21st ! sent orders to all the troops TO
hold themselves In readiness to move at
moments notice. and at about a. IN.
sent my final orders to commence the
movement (see my report of the battle CT
Manassas), Gems. Ewell and Holmes on
the right, to start first to attack and turn
the enemy's left and rear at Centreville.
At about $50 a. m, having given all pre-.
liminary orders, / left my headquarters
with Geo. Johnston for the scene Of ac-
tion near Mitchell's Ford, on Bull Run.
At about 1920 {. m. l was informed by a
message from Gen, Ewell "a gallant and
meritorious offiCeD that he had not yet
received directly my orders to advance,
but would do so at once from informa-
tion received to that effect from Gen. r.
r. Jones, next on his left, and who was
to have followed his movement
1t was however, then too late, for the
enemy was already pressing with vigor
my extreme left under Gen. Evans at tho
Stone Bridge. l 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
manoeuvre, My heart for a moment
failed met I felt as though all was lost.
and I wished / had fallen in the battle of
| the 18th; but l soon rallied, and / thcn
solemnly pledged my life that 1 would
| that day conquer or die! Immediately
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
| Ohree regiments) forward, and charged
| at the head of one of them. We drove
| back the enemy, about five times our
number, and held the position until tho
reinforcement5 from our center and eX-
| treme right of the morning had arrived
| and decided the fate of the day. The enc
| my commenced flying about 4.S0 p. M.
| and the president arrived on the field
about half an hour later, in time, how
ever, to enjoy that agreeable sight You
will excuse, I hope, these details, which
| are given only to furnish you a clearer In
sight into the memorable events of that
| day. I beg to remark here that the re-
| port of that battle sent you IS more a full
| history of 1t than a mere report which
| would have contained only the leading
| facts; moreover, / had not much expert
| ence in such matters. / am happy to
| hear that you appreciated so we'll and
| truly my two most worthy friends, Johns
| ton and Price. / would serve with pleas
| ure under either one of them. I hope
| you will yet meet also with another one,
Breckenridge, than whom there is not a
nobler soul.
| With my kind regards to all at home,
remain, very truly, your friend.
G.. T. Beauregard.
The publication of this private letter
will give to many readers of the his
| tory of the civil war the first definite
impression of the tremendous advant-
age 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.