The National tribune., 1898-04-28
1.-THE AMERICAN
CONFLICT"
Leading Incidents and Episodes
of the War of the Rebellion.
By HORACE GREELEY.
BATTLE OF BULL RUN.
(Continued.)

(C0ntinued)
NEW TROOPS SLOW IN MANUyERING.
THE BATTLE ON-THE TERRIFIC
FIGHTING OVER RICKETTS'S BAT
TERY-JEFF. DAVIS ARRIyES-RE-
VERSES FOR THE UNION TROOPS
REBELS DO NOT PURSUE-THE LOSSES
The movement of our army was to
have commenced at $50 o'clock a. M,
and the battle should have been opened
at all points at 6 a. M; but our raw
troops had never been brigaded prior to
this advance, and most of their officers
were utterly without experience; so
that there was a delay of two or three
hours in the thanking divisions reaching
the point at which the battle was to
begin.
Gen. Tyler, in front of Stone Bridge,
opened with his artillery at $50 a. H.,
eliciting no reply; and it was three
hours later when Hunters advance,
under Col. Burnside, crossed at Sudley
Spring; his men, thirsty with their early
march that hot July morning, stopping
as they crossed to drink and fill their
canteens.
Meantime, every movement of our
forces was made manifest to Beaure-
gard, .atching them from the slope two
or three miles west, by the clouds of dust
that rose over their line of march, and
re- iment after regiment was hurried
norllward by him to meet the imminent
shock.
No strength was wasted by him upon,
and scarcely any notice taken of, our
feint on his right; but when Burnside's
Brigade. after crossing at Sudley, had
marched mile or so through woods
down the road on the right of Bull Run,
and come out into clear and cultivated
country, stretching thence over a mile
of rolling fields down to Warrenton
turnpike, he was vigorously opened upon
by artillery from the woods in his front.
and, us he pressed or, by infantry also.
Continuing to advance, fighting, fol-
lowed and supported by Hunters entire
division, which was soon joined ON its
left by Heintzelman's, which had crossed
the stream little later and further
down, our attacking column reached
and crossed the Warrenton road from
Centerville by the Stone Bridge, giving
a hand to Sberman's Brigade, of Tyler's
Division, and all but clearing this road
of the rebel batteries and regiments,
which here resisted our efforts,r under
the immediate command of Gen. Joseph
E. Johnston. Here Grifin's battery,
Beauregard's official report of the bat
tie, which was dated Manassas. Aug. 20,
latter he had received and read all our
official reports,) Gays Of the state Of the
battle at this time Heavy losses had now
been sustained on our side. both in num-
bers and in the personal worth of the slain
The Sth Ga. regiment had suffered heavily,
being exposed, as it took and maintained
its position, to a fire from the enemy, al
ready posted within a hundred yards of
their front and right, sheltered by fences |
and other cover. 1t was at this time that !
Lieu:.-COl. Gardner was severely wounded, |
as also several other valuable officers; the (
Adiutant of the regiment, Lieut.. Branch, |
was killed, and the horse OF the regretted |
Barlow was shot under him. The 4th Ala. |
thousands Of muskets which they SO 6aunt- |
lessly fronted, under the immediate leader |
ship of Bee himself It's rave Colonel, T.. |
j. Jones, was dangerously wounded, and |
many gallant officers fell, slain or hors de !
combat.
Now, however, with the surging mass !
of over n eco Federal infantry pressing on .
their front, and under the incessant fire of |
at least 20 p eces o. artillery, with the fresh |
brigades OF Sherman and Reyes approach
ing-the latter already in musket range
our lires gave tack, but under orders from |
Gen. Bee. |
The enemy, maintaining their fire,
pressed their swelling masses onward as
our shattered battalions retired. The
slaughter for the moment was deplorable.
and has filled many Southern home with
lifelong sorrow.
Under this memorable stress the retreat
continued until arrested by the energy and
resolution OF Gen. Bee, supported bv Bar
tow and Evans, just in the rear OF the Rob
inson House. and HamptOn's Legion, which
had been already advanced, and was in
position near it.
" Imboden's battery, which had heen
handled with marked skill, hut whose men
were almost exhausted, and the two pieces
of Walton's battery, under Lieut. Richard
son, being threatened by the enemy's in
fantry on the left and front were also
obliged to fall back. Imboden, leaving a
disabled piece on the ground, retired until
he met JacksOn's Brigade, while Richard
son joined the main body Of his battery
near the Lewis House."