The National tribune., 1898-04-28

| almost instantly fell from his horse,
wounded; but the command of his bri-
gade was promptly assumed by Col.
Arnold Elzey, Ga Marylander who did
not go with his State who pressed
forward, backed by the whole treasured
and exultant rebel host, who felt that
the day was won. Our soldiers, who
had been 13 hours marching and fight
ing, weary. hungry, thirsty, continually
encountering fresh rebel regiments, and
never seeing even company hurrying
to their own support, became suddenly
dismayed and panic-stricken. Elzey's
and Early's fresh battalions filled the
woods on their right, extending rapidly
toward its rear, firing on them from
under cover, and seeming, by their shots
and cries, to be innumerable. Two or
three of our regiments recoiled, and then
broke, rushing down to the run.
JEFF. DAVIS ON THE FIELD.
Jefferson Davis, who had left Rich
mond at 6 a. M, reached the junction
at 4, and galloped to the battlefield
just in time, it was said, to witness the
advance of his cavalry, 1900 strong.
under Lieut.-Col. Stuart, on the heels Of
our flying troops. He telegraphed that
night to his Congress as follows:
MANASSAS JUNCTION, Sunday night.
Night has closed upon a hartl-fought field.
Our forces were victorious. The enemy was
routed, and fled preciptately, abandoning
large amount of arms, ammunition, KNAPP
sacks, and baggage. The ground was strewed
for miles with those killed, and the farm
houses and the ground around were filled with
wounded.
Pursuit was continued along several routes,
toward Leesbnrg and Centerville. until dark
ness covered the fugitives. We have captured
several field batteries stands of arms, and
Union and State flags. Many prisoners have
been taken. Too high praise cannot be be-
slowed whether for the skill of the principal
officers, or for the galantry of all our troops
The battle was mainly fought on our left.
orr force was ID 900; that of the enemy esti-
mated at 5000.
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
Had Davis been aware of the utter de.
moralization of our soldiers by panic, he
would doubtless have had them pursued,
not only toward Centerville, but, if pos
sible, into and beyond it; and he would
not have needed SO grossly to understate
the strength of his army in order to
magnify his victory.
NO PURSUIT BY THE REBELS
Before 8 p. m. there had been ftful
cannonading and skirmishing, but no
serious engagement, on our left. But,
when our defeat on the right became
manifest, Gen. Johnston again ordered
Ewell to advance and attack which he
did, but was received by the Second
Brigade, Col. T. A. Davis, with SO rapid
and spirited fire of grape and canister
that he precipitately retreated.
There were still more than three
hours of good daylight when the rebels
saw our routed right rushing madly
from the field, like frightened sheep,
yet their pursuit amounted to nothing.
They came across Bull Run, preceded
by their cavalry, and seem to have
taken deliberate. though rather dis
tant, survey of the Fifth Division,
drawn up in good order along the slope
west of Centerville, and eagerly expect
ing their advance. But they appeared
to have been aware that their victory
was lucky accident, and they did not
choose to submit its prestige to the
chances Of another fray.
Having gratified their thirst of knowl-
edge, considerably out of musket.shot,
they returned to their previous hiding
places in the woods skirting Bull Runs |
During the foreparr of the night, some
of our men, who had not been stam-
peded, went down toward the battlefield |
and brought away one or two guns,
which had been abandoned in the flight,
but not captured by the enemy Our
friends and brothers in camp and field for |
,hree months-reappeared, and made one
)ther desperate struggle to obtain the van
age-ground. ElZey's Brigade of Maryland
ers and Virginians led the charge; and |
light manfully did they execute the |
work."
Beauregard, in his official report, thus
amely explains this mOdesty:
. Earlys Brigade, meanwhile, joined by
he 18th Va, l. eut.-COl. Strange of Cookies
3ricade, pursued the now panic stricken,
fugitive enemy. Stuart, with n $ cavalry
md ReckhaEl, had also taken up the pur
suit along the road by which the enemy had
,ome uron the field that morning; hut,
.oon encountered by prisoners, WHO
hronged his way, the former was unable
o attack the mass of the fast fleeing
rautic Federalists. Witherss r. j. Pres
on's, Cash's, and Kershaw's regiments, !
1ampton's Legion and Kcmper's battery
ilso pursued along the Warrenton road by
he Stone Fridge, The enemy having OF
,Ortunely Olered a way for them through
he heavy atatis which my troops had
made on the west SIDE of the bridge,
several days before. But this pursuit was
oon recalled, n consequence of n false re-
,Ort, wink h unfortunately reached us, that |
he ener1y's reserves, known to be fresh
lni OF considerable strength, were threat
ming the position of Union Mills Ford"