The National tribune., 1901-03-21

1t is not necessary for me to follow the
subsequent operations in West Virginia,
as my duties were connected with Gen.
Mcclellan, and his campaigns in that dis
trict ended with the death of Gen. Gar
nett and the dispersion of his army. About
a week afterwards he was called to a new
field of duty at Washington City, and it is
not my purpose to touch upon events in
which | took no part. 1t is enough to
say that, with somewhat tluctuatinG
changes, the rebels were gradually forced
back from the Great Kanawha Valley,
and eventually left West Virginia IN
possession of the Federal troops, her
own inherent loyalty having contrib
uted largely in producing this condition.
The Union sentiment of the people was
everywhere manifest, and the new State
Government was consolidated and heartily
sustained, ending in her ultimate admis-
sion as a separate member of the Federal
Union in June, 1868.
AS | am not attempting to write his
tory of the civil war, but merely relating,
as best | can, the leading incidents con-
nected with my labors in the Secret Ser
vice, | shall not dwell upon the details
of the military movements of the war, ex-
cept as they are necessarily connected
with my own movements. 1t is neces-
Sary, however, to make curSory mention
of that remarkable chain of circumstances
which followed Gen. McClellanS cam
paign in West Virginia, resulting in entire
and unexpected change of circumstances to
him, and a consequent enlargement of my
own field of operations. Therefore. with
out pausing to describe the various move
ments and enterprises in West Virginia
during the remainder of the year 1861,
or detailing the campaign of the three
months volunteers under Gen. Patterson,
and their bloodeSs victory at HarperS
Ferry, | will pass ON to other scenes and
events.
Patriotism in the North was excited to
such pitch that the people were impa-
tient of delay, and eager to strike { de-
cisiye blow-a blow that would at once
annihilate treason and wipe out the insult
to Il Nations flag, and maintain Il Ma
tons honor. The resounding echoes of
the rebel guns that had done their work
of destruction on Sumter's walls were
still vibrating in the air.
The Confederate seat of Government
had been transferred from Montgomery to
Richmond, Immediately after Nirginia's
Endorsement of the secession ordinance,
and this enthronement of rebellion SO close
to the very stronghold of freedom caused
patriotic resentment to blaze up with fresh
intensity.
ADvAHCE ON MANASSAS.
In the month of June a determined
movement against Manassas was resolved
upon at Washington.
As a preliminary step to the advance
upon the rebel Capital, Gen. Scott
gave Patterson orders to offer Johnston
battle, or detain him in the Shenandoah
Valley by other demonstrations, in order
that his army might not unite with
Beauregards and defeat the movement
But Patterson failed to perform the task
assigned to him, and his failure lost to
the Union cause the first great battle Of
the war.
Gen. Beauregard was in possession Of
with 6,000 men, and this force
was being very materially increased by
the arrival of reinforcements from time
to time; but Notwithstanding this fact it
was believed that every chance of success
would be provided for by the strength of
the Union army at the Capital, if only
Johnston could be held in check for q few
days.
Delay in starting this expedition against
the enemy's works was unavoidable, and
it was not until the afternoon of July 16
that the march of McDOwell's army com
menced. Even then the progress was pain
fully slow, owing to inexperience and lack
of discipline on the part of the troops.
Manassas Junction was defended by
about 1000 rebels, with IA or 10 heavy
guns, while at Bull Run, some three miles
east of Manassas, was stationed Beaure-
CARDS main army, over 10000 strong,
posted at the various fords of the stream,
in a line fully eight miles long. Mellow
ell, as a strategic movement to conceal
his real purpose directed his march upon
Centerville, at which place Tyler's Divi-
sion arrived on the morning of July IS,
to find that it had been evacuated by the
rebels, who were behind Bull Run.
From Centerville. which is situated on
a hill, Tyler and his men had view of
the whole valley spread out before them,
with Manassas on the high plateau be-
yond. 1t has been limited that Tyler was
inspired with ovcr-cOnfidence by the utter
absence of opposition to his advance, and
was thus betrayed into the indiscretion Of
4 further advance and an experimental |
assault. This provoked a skirmish, which |
speedily eliminated in the battle of Black
burns Ford, the result of which was much |
oss and Generalization.
BATTLE OF BULL RUN.
Two more days elapsed before the great |
fight occurred. Those two days were Oc-
cupied by the engineers in efforts to find |
an unfortified ford over Bull Run, which |
was accomplished in time to permit Nc |
Dowell to call his officers together on Sat
urday night and announce to them his |
plan of battle for the following day This |
brought the main contest on Sunday, July |
Il, and before daylight on the morning of |
that eYentful day both armies were I'D |
and astir, each intending to take the ini- |
tiative. There was much unnecessary con- |
fusion and delay, mingled with undue ex- |
element and impetuosity, showing that |
was raw and awkward on both |
sides. Perhaps no troops ever engaged |
n warfare with as little knowledge of the |
Drivations, hardships and dangers of sol |
iier-life as did the Union and Confcder- |
ate armies on this bloody field.
The day passed; the shades of evening |
fell, and the battle Of Bull Run had been |
fought and lost! Victory had perched |
itself on the rebel banners, and the Union |
army was in full retreat toward Washing |
Ton. The engagement had been well CON
.csted, and fought with equal courage and |
persistence by both sides, and the result |
was quite as unexpected TO the COnfeder-
ites as to the Federals.
But Johnston had not been kept out Of |
he fray, as it was calculated he would |
De. His army had been permitted to ar
rive on the battlefield in the nick of time |
20 take n decisive part in the famous CON
at a moment when the signs Of victory |
were all i'll favor of the Federal troops. |
Totally unconscious of the fact that they |
had been fighting Johnston all day, the |
Union soldiers had not once lost conf
ience in themselves, and fully believed |
that they must win; but when fresh as |
Sault from new quarter convinced them
that Johnston,s forces had arrived, the |