The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1901-09-26

upon every part of this memorable ground;
and wherever one walked perfect skele-
| tons presented themselves TO the eye, some
still clad in uniform, and others, in
crumbled state of fallen glory, still re-
tain vestges of the livery in which they
fought and died. They are principally
the skeletons of Southern soldiers, who,
in charging across the plain, fell in hun
dreds under the fierce fire that flashed
from the guns of our gallant men.
The field of Bull Run was one of the
most memorable in the history of the war
for the desperate yalor of the combatants
and the tenacity with which, for Il whole
day, the ground upon which they fought
was contested; for the gallant men who
foil there; for the blow which for a time
retarded our progress upon the Confeder-
ate Capital. We rode to the spot at
Chantilly, upon the west side, from out
of which Kearny advanced to reconnoiter
the enemys position, and where lie re-
ceived the fatal wound which cut him off
in the zenith of his glory.
| The 9th was encamped upon one of the
hills referred to, and for hundreds of yards
graves ran out in every direction. Deep
hOlows pointed out the spot where the
dead lay sleeping in their glory.
THE OLD BATTLE-GROUND.
The ground had fallen in over the flesh
| less forms and bleaching skulls, and rough
pieces of board were the unwritten obitu-
aries of the gallant fallen, who had
stemmed the tide of battle up to that spot
where they made their last stand, and
sighed out their last breath for their coun-
| tryi
! A few horses were scattered among the
hills, shattered by the shot and shell of
the contendinS forces, dumb witnesses of
the struggle in which they had occupied
SO distinguished a mart
| We rode into the woods which circled
the place, for the purpose of watering our
horses. The moon glimmered down
through the interstices of the trees, and
the wind sighed gently among the
branches, and off on the hills the camp
| fires of the soldiers burned while the gal
liant, weary fellows profoundly slept be-
side them.
| We dismounted and led our horse to a
spring that dubbed up in the moonlight.
He darted aside in alright We looked
to ascertain the cause of his fear, and be-
held, in sitting attitude, with his back
to a tree, the form of a man. He was so
silent and motionless that we approached,
after vainly calling to him, and placed
our hands upon his shoulder; they rested
there heavily for a second; we shook him,
and the form crumbled to dust under our
touch.
1t was the skeleton OF Southern cav
alryman, in full dress, who had, doubtless,
crawled there to assuage his thirst, and,
exhausted, had leaned against the tree,
with his dying eyes upon the rich, COOL
crystal stream that ran murmuring at his
feet, which, in his helpless, dying agony,
he had been unable to reachi Alone in
death he had sentineled that stream, the
dead faithfully performing the duties of
the good soldier, until from strangers
touch he assimilated with the dust from
which he sprung!
| The country for miles about Bull Run
| is undulating in character, covered with
brush, and crossed by streams in many
places. A few ruined houses still are
standing, riddled with ball and shell, in
dexes of the fierce nature of the artillery
fire during that memorable fight. Cart
ridge boxes, bayonet scabbards, and gun
stocks are strewn in every direction, fallen
from the nerveless hands of dying men,
or lying complete upon the skeletons of
the dead. One could scarcely contem-
plate the scene without feelings of sadness,
mingled with pride, at the glorious valor
of our people, and the reckless heroism
they ever display in defense of whatever
cause OR principle they may espouse.