The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-07-20
FOURTH ALABAMA REGIMENT AT BATTLE
OF MANASSAS, SUNDAY, JULY 2n, 1901
BY WILLIAM c. WARD.

battle ever fought on the American con-
tinent, to that time, had been
won by the Southern Confederacy
and lost by the United States
of America So widespread and
deep was the exultation of the southern
people, and so profound was the depres-
sion of the north, that everywhere an
easy achievement of southern independ-
ence was confidently anticipated.
In June 1861, General Patterson, with a
large and well-equipped army, crossed
the Potomac in the vicinity of Martins
burgh Va, and confronted the army of
the valley of the Shenandoah command
ed by General ]. f. Johnston, making
such demonstrations as to indicate an
immediate battle. After awaiting the ex-
pected attack for about ten days. GEN
eral Johnston withdrew to Winchester,
Va. and his troops resumed drilling, of
which they stood in need General Jack
son, however, with his brigade and some
cavalry remained in the presence Of the
enemy, concealing the movements Of his
commanding general.
In the meantime General Beauregard,
flushed with the cheap laurels won In the
capture of Fort Sumter, was in command
of a splendid though not large army,
along the line Of Bull Run creek, about
three miles north of Manassas Junction.
He was q splendid military engineer, and
with the creek to protect his front mad
we'll entrenched position. General Nc
Dowell with the flower of the Federal
army, strong in numbers and with all
the most modern equipments of war, oc-
cupied a strong position confronting
Beauregard. On the 18th Of July, Nc
10 fr-a n
along BeaEregards front justly creating
the impression that he intended to give
battle. Over Beauregard was the short
est line of march to Richmond with
railroad to carry supplies. 1t thus be-
came manifest that Patterson had not
seriously intended to attack the army of
the Shenandoah. but had made a strate-
gle demonstration to amuse General
Johnston. AS soon as General Johnston,
on the 18th, had information by telegraph
that Beauregard had been attacked, the
army of the Shenandoah was modified
and at once marched toward Manassas
leaving Winchester that afternoon. In
fantry, artnery, commissary and quarter
master wagons filled the highways all
crowding toward the point of attack.
At noon, on the Goth of July, we reached
Manassas and bivouaced in the woods
about one mile north of the Junction. We
were very tired and very much exhausted
cars, and the excessive heat. Early Sum
day morning. off to the northwest, an oc-
casional report of artillery could be
heard, but soon that most alarming of
signals, the dropping fire Of skirmishers
was heard. Directly a courier dashed up
to General Bee, our Brigade commander,
who Immediately mounted his little chest
nut horse, and the order came to fall in.
Sooner than it takes to write 1t, we were
headed to the northwest at a double-quick
guided by the artillery and skirmish fire.
OF the Third brigade commanded by Gem
eral Bee, composed of the Fourth Ala
bama, Second and Eleventh Mississippi,
First Tennessee and the Fifth North Car
DINA regiments, only the Fourth Afs-
bama, Second Mississippi, and two COM
panies of the Eleventh Mississippi were
present in this movement, the others fol-
lowing later in the day. General Bee was
at the head of the Fourth Alabama and
ever moving toward that slSirmish firing.
So rapid was the march, that many of the
men, weak from measles were being left
behind, afterwards to take their places
when the battle was on. Imbodens rock
brigade artillery, had unlimbered on a
plateau, just nor,.l of the Robertson
plateau, just north of the Robertson
Ricketts, battery, 500 yards over the hill
and beyond the valley intervening. Ar
irving at the point of attack, ii was found
that General Evans (ShanlO in command
of an outpost numbering about 600 men,
had been struck by McDowelrs right
brigade engaged in turning Beauregards
left. Wheats battalion of Louisiana III
gers deployed as skirmshers, moved
at right oblique across our front
and disappeared in the timeber.
The Fourth Alabama was fronted
into line of battle and ordered to
load. 1t was then marched to the south
west for q short distance partially behind
NJ tfoha
side, when again fronting In line of bat
tie marched up the hill and halted behind
low fence just in the edge of the tim
Der.
General Bee from the left, rode along
our front and commanded, up Alabam-
ians." At once, every one sprang up and
forward into the corn field about one hum
dred and fifty yards, halted and laid down
in the corn, then about two feet high.
Over a little ridge, just out of sight, was
Ricketts, battery, near enough for us to
hear the commands. Load, aim. firer'
and the sound Of the hammer as 1t drove
the shot home, and the swab as 1t follow
ed the shot sent across the valley to I'M
boden We could on our right, see our
men as they rose to fire and lay down to
load. We could hear the commands of
the Yankee officers as they urged their
men to advance. Every time the right
of the Yankee regiment Immediately in
We fired and the Yankees would fall
back On our right the men were more
exposed, and the slaughter was terrible
The roar of musketry was fearful, and
without intermission. 1t was, load, aim,
fire, at will, The Second Mississippi had
disappeared from our left How long we
were there, We never knew but long
enough to be left alone, and for jackson
to reach the plateau near the Henry
house. half mile in our rear and take a
strong position; long enough for Barlow
great of soul, to form line to the right Of
the Robertson house, supporting Inbo-
denis battery and long enough for Hamp-
ton. with his legion of infantry, cavalry
and artillery TO arrive from the right and
long enoug to leave on the battlefield
nearly one-thrd of the ESQ men who went
into battle.
Just who did II, was never known, but
some one gave the command retreat.
| The regiment rose and faded as II were
to the rear. Some men ran-as they went