The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-08-03
A STORY OF BULL RUN
sEAUREGARD's TWO WOMEN SPIES
IN WASHINGTON.

Battle of Manassas to the Confederate
Communicative Latter Relates the In
cident In n Personal Letter.
The battle of Bull Run, as 1t is known
In history, called Manassas by the south,
was fought in July 1851. It was planned
and won by Beauregard. 1t was the great
est victory gained by the Confederates In
the entire war. Yet there was time In
the midst Of IL when the southern com
mander's heart failed" him; when be
"felt as though all was lost" and when he
wished che had fallen In battle" before.
These revelations ee made in a personal
letter of Beauregard, written to Miss Au-
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 plans 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 1t
q personal letter. He wrote as follows:
Miss Augusta ]. Evans, Mobile:
1 beg to thank you for your letter Of the 18th
inst, and am at last able to answer your in
quiries 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 Duval Of
Washington) brought, about the 10th OF July,
1861, to Fairfa.; Court House, headquarters of
General Bonham, the first message from Mrs.
Greenhow of the intended positive advance Of
the enemy across the Potomac then lmme-
diately commenced making my preparations
to receive his meditated attack, and sent one
Of my aids-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-a Mr.. Donnellan-the second dis
patch-in cipher also-of Mrs. G., telling me
that the enemy-55, 900 strong, / believe-would
positively commence that day his advance
from Arlington Heights and Alexandria on to
Manassas, via Fairfax Court House and Center
vile. Early the next morning l telegraphed
that information to President Davis. About
noon l 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
u feared it was then too late, but still would
telegraph and send a messenger to General
Johnston" The latter arrived about noon on
the 20th. At about 80 a. m. on the 2lst sent
orders to all the troops to hold themselves in
readiness to move at moments notice, and
at about a. III. sent my final orders to COM
mepce 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 $3.50 a. m, having given all
| preliminary orders, left my headquarters
| with General Johnston for the scene Of action
| near Mitohell's Ford, on Bull Run. At about
| 10 30 a. m. was informed by a message from
| General Ewell-a gallant and meritorious off,
cer-that he had not yet received directly my
| orders to advance, but would do so 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-
ypent to change my whole plan of battle, with
troops which had never yet fought and could
scarcely maneuver. My heart for q moment
failed mel l felt 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 diel
| smmeulately eNcrytuluB dppehreu again Clear
| and hopeful, although the worst was yet to
co.le. About p. M, finding that the enemy
had retaken the plateau Of the Henry house,
I ordered my reserves (three regiments) for
ward and charged at the head of one of them.
| We drove back the enemy, about Ave times
| our number, and held the position until the
re'enforcements from our center and extreme
right Of the morning had arrived and decided
| the fate Of the day. The enemy commenced
| flying about 4:oO p. m, 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 full history Of it than g
| mere report, which would have contained only
the leading facts. Moreover, had not much
| experience in such matters. / am happy tc
hear that you appreciated well and truly
my two most worthy friends, Johnston and
Price. / would serve with pleasure under
either one of them. hope you will yet meet
also with another one, Breckenridge, than
whom there is not q nobler soul.
With my kind regards to all at homo, 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 the tremendous advantage tho Con.
federates 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.
The Great Bastard.
The great bustard (Otis tarda), bird
still found in the southern provinces OF
Russia, is the heaviest European fowl. In