Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1899-07-13
THE FIRST BATTLE OF MANASSAS

THE FIRST BATTLE OF MANASSAS
Some Interesting War History for Spec
tator and vindicator Readers.
Having given a short detailed &C
count of the experience Of the Roanok
Greys in the early days of Confedera
cy in former article, venture t.
pursue the narrative up to and includ
ing the First Battle of Manassas
Sometime during the month of June
1861, we broke up camp at Manassa
and moved about eight miles furthe
towards Washington, passing through
the little town of Centreville, an(
camped in beautiful grove, which W,
called Camp Mason From this poin
we did picket duty, going sometimes
in sight OF Washington. The enemy
gradually grew more aggressive, and
about the 10th of July we found il
necessary to strike tents and recede ii
the direction of Centreville, where we
had been fortifying. and where we ex
pected to fghf.. Much to our chagrir
and modification we found it necessa.
ry to fall back from this highly appre
ciated place of protection from shot
and shell, going still in the direction
of Manassas. When we arrived at Bull
Run We halted, and now it seemed that
we were to have an open field encoun-
ter-a mystery hard to explain to the
primitive soldier, as we then were.
Our line of battle being formed along
this run we awaited the approach of
the enemy. On the 18th Mcdowell,
general in command of the finest army
that was ever on the continent appear
ed on our right, assaying to press on
to Richmond. With no very great
difficulty he was repulsed at this point.
The 28th Va, of which the Roanoke
Greys were part, the 18th and 10Th
Va, being Gen. Cookies brigade, were
stationed at United States Ford, half
mile east of the stone bridge. McDow-
ell being foiled in his attempt on the
right, 'dilly dallied' about and did not
come to general attack until Sunday
morning the 21st-a disastrous delay
it proved to him-thus giving Gen. Joe
Johnston time to come from Winches
ter where be was confronting Gen. Pat
terson. On the morning of the -21st it
soon became evident that flank move
ment to our left was going to take
place. The Roanoke Greys had been
detailed the evening before for picket
duty and took position in a grove, and so
near the enemy that they could hear
the commands of their officers. We ex-
pected to be called on to open the ball
and to the disappointment of our cap
tain they passed around us. Pretty
soon old Long Tom, the largest gun
IN the Federal army. commenced to
belch forth his shot and shell across
the stone bridge half mile to our left.
The Yankee infantry coming on to the
attack were held in check by GeLs.
Longstreet, Bee and others, of whom
Wheat's battalion of Louisiana Tigers
contributed no little. This battalion
was armed, in addition to a soldiers
usual equipment, with the hideous
looking bowie knives spoken Of in my
former article, and it is said made good
use of them. This battalion, dressed
in red shirts with striped pantaloons.
made very loose, and leggins skin
tight, knee high, gave them a dare
devil appearance that would terrorize
the stoutest hearts. This battle ragged
furiously all day, the Confederates
being several times almost overcome,
but under Gen. Beauregard's order,
conquer or die,' we managed to keep
the field until Jackson's g force arrived.
Gen. Jackson being always in the right
place at the right time, formed his
brigade in line of battle and gave such
stubborn resistance to the enemy that
Gen. Bee in rallying bis worn out aud
shattered forces, exclaimed: Behold
Jackson's Virginian's 3 standing like a.
stone WALL This rallying cry, the
frmness of jackson and the coming of
Gen. Cooke and his three regiments on
the field at this critical moment saved
the day to the Confederates. Under
this combined effort the Federals gave
way in confusion and being hard
pressed became panic stricken and de-
moralized, literally strewed the road of
their retreat with army equipage;
artillery, army wagons loaded with
supplies. tents, blankets, clothing,
food, in such variety that it was diff
cult to keep the poor Confeds from
pillaglng instead of pursuing the flying
foe, guns and ammunition-of the
latter two articles Cubs Run was al
most filled, being pitched in as they
crossed the bridge in their flight. The
Black horse cavalry, of which Turner
Ashby was captain, got in some good
work on this stampede. The door to
Washington was thus thrown open,
we had but to press forward and oc
cupy the capitol of the country; but,
strangely as it seemed to many of US,
We were commanded to halt. The
mistaken policy of the chief executive
of the Confederacy was to fight on our
own soil, and not set foot on that Of
our invaders. This policy at this early
date of the wal lost to the Confederacy
her independence. This was her gold
en- opportunity. Our foes profited by
their disaster. and we lost by our mag
niicent success. They made haste to
repair their misfortune, and we, feel
ing our power, with an over amount of