The Portland daily press., 1897-10-23
A STORY OF BULL RUN.
Beauregard's Two Women Spies In
Washington.

They Revealed the Federal Plan. For the
battle ~ Msaassas 60 the Confederate
Communicative Latter Relates the In
eidsnt Ia q Personal Letter.
The battle OF Hull Run, as it is known
In history, called Manassas by the sonth
was fought III July, 1851. 1t was MANNED
and won by Heaufegard. IL was the great
est Victory gained by the Condolences in
the entire war Yet there was a time in
the midst 81 IL when the southern oom.
mander'a heast failed" him; when he
''felt as though all was lost, and when he
wished "he had fallen in battle" before.
These revelations arc mado In personal
letter of Beauregard, written TO Miss An
gusta j. Evans of Mobile. The letter has
come into the possession OF the war DEPART
ment, but has not been made public until
now.
Perhaps more interesting than the ad-
mitted fact that victory was snatohed
from defeat is General Beauregard's state
ment that two women IN Washington,
whom he names, betrayed the plane 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, jeopardized temporarily the re-
suit.
To Miss Evans General Beauregard sent
an account Of the battle, inclosing with ID
personal letter. He wrote as follows:
Miss Augusta J. Evans, Mobile:
beg to thank You for your letter of the 18th
INST, and am at Last able to answer your M
Qulrles by sending You my reports Of the bat
ties of Bull Run and Manassas-not copied,
however, to my satisfaction, but, for fear Of
further delays, send them as they are by the
southern Express company.
The young lady referred to (Miss Duvsl OF
Washington) brought, about the 10th Of July,
1861, to Fairfax Court House, headquarters Of
General Bonhara, the first message from Mrs.
Greenhow of the intended positive advance OF
the enemy across the Potomac. then imme-
diately commenced making my preparations
to receive his meditated attack and sent one
OF my alds--Colonel J. S. Preston-to commu-
nicate the information received to the presi-
dent, as well as my future operations. On the
night Of the 10th of July received by special
messenger Mr.. Donnellan-the second dis.
patch-in cipher also-of Mrs. g.. telling me
that the enemy-55, 600 strong, l believe-would
positively commence that day his advance
from Arlington Heights end Alexandria on to
Manassas, via Fairfax Court House and Center
vile. Early the next morningI telegraphed
that information to President Davis. About
noon I received his telegram to order General
Johnston to join his forces with mine By
that time, however, the enemy had already
driven in my pickets in advance Of Fairfax
Court House, 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 about noon on
he OH .Q0 hos lid
orders to all the troops to hold themselves in
readiness to move at q moments notice, and
at about a. NJ. sent my final orders to com
mence the movement (see my report of the
battle Of Manassas), Generals Ewell and
Holmes on the right, to start first to attack
and turn the enemy's left and rear at Center
vile. At about $50 a. M, having given all
preliminary orders, l left my headquarters
with General Johnston for the scene of action
near Mitchell's Ford, on Bull Run. At about
10 80 a. m. was informed by message from
General Ewell-a gallant and meriforious Off
cer-that he had not yet received directly my
orders to advance, but would do 10 at once
from information received to that effect from
General D. 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 General Evans at the Stone Bridge.
thus had suddenly or on the spur of the mo-
ment to change my whole plan of battle, with
troops which had never yet fought and could
scarcely maneuver. My heart for o 1noment
failed mel I felt es though all was lost, and
wished had fallen in the battle Of the 18th,
but soon rallied, and then solemnly pledged
my life that would that day conquer Or dieI
Immediately everything appeared again clean
and hopeful, although the worst was yet to
come. About 8 p. m, finding that the enemy
had retaken the plateau of the Henry house,
/ ordered my reserves (three regiments) for
ward and charged at the head of one of them
We drove back the enemy, about five times
our number, and held the position until the
re-enforcenents from our center and extreme
right of the morning had arrived and decided
the fate Of the day. The enemy commenced
flying about eco p. NJ, and the president ar.
rived on the 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 memorable events Of that day. beg
to remark here that the report Of that battle
sent you is more a full history of it than a
mere report, which would have contained only
the leading facts. Moreover, had not m ach
experience in such matters l am happy to
hear that you appreciated so well and truly
my two most worthy friends, Johnston and
Price. l would serve with pleasure under
either one of them. hope you will yet meet
also with another one, Breckenridge thai.
whom there is not nobler soul.
With my kind regards to all at home re-
main, very truly, your friend,
G. T. BEAUREGARp.
The publication Of this private letter
Will give to many readers of the history of
the civil war the first definite impression
OF tho tremendous advantage the Con-
tederates had through spies in Washing
ton, and also the first knowledge of how
the fortune of battle wavered on the field
OF Bull Run.-St Louis Globe Democrat.