The Washington times., 1902-07-21
Celebrate Forty-flrst Ami
versary of Manassas.
RECALL TRAGIC MEMORIES
Day Brings to Minds of Old Residents
of Washington Most Troublous Time
in the History of the National Capt.
tal

day to spend yesterday on the fields Of
Manassas, Va. Yesterday was the forty
first anniversary of Bull Run. or the
first battle of Manassas. Most Of those
who went from this city are members
of the Grand Army of the Republic,
though in the wcst-bound trains Of the
Southern Railway there were a number
of Confederates.
| Always on this day q number of gray
veterans from Alexandria Richmond.
Falls Church. Fairfax, and other cities
and towns in Virginia 20 to the his
toric field TO fight the battle over and
to recall the tragic memories of the
war.
Washington in Danger.
All this brings to the mind of the old
| residents of Washington that this day
forty-one years ago was tumultuous
one In the Capital of the United States.
The city had long been threatened by
the Confederate forces. but on July q.
1861, it was felt that the city would
fall an easy prize to the enemy. Firing to
the west of Washington could be plainly
heard by persons in the quieter sec
tions of the city. and at Fairfax Court
house. whence bulletins were dispatched
to papers in the loyal States. the course
of tine battle could be followed in a
measure by the rise and fail in the
volume of gunfre.
The early dispatches received in Wash
ington told that the Union army had won
decisive victory, but during the after
noon of the 21st (Which was Sunday the
af
night the routed army of General Nc
Dowell began to stream into Washing
ton. and the worst was known.
1t was a night of intense excitement
for 1t was feared, indeed. it was re-
ported, that the combined armies of
Beauregard and Joseph E. Johnston
were In pursuit of the disorganized Fed
eral troops, ana that the Confederates
would attack the defenses of the city
on the next day.
Hard-Fought Battle.
The National Intelligencer," on Mon
day morning. July 90, contained the fol-
lowing editorial:
Our advices from the seat of war n
the neighborhood of Manassas Junction,
being up to C o'clock last evening. fur
nish information of hard-fought bat
tie yesterday between that point and
Centerville. The division of General
Tyler was principally engaged on the
side of the National army. and wherever
1t met the secession forces in the openI
field drove them back with loss.
The engagement, which commenced
about 0:30 o'clock in the morning. was
afternoon. when our troops finding their
progress obstructed by masked batteries. |
which large reserves of the enemy pre-
vented them from turning, withdrew in |
good order to Centerville.
"A portion OF our advanced troops, |
however. among whom were the two |
Rhode Island regiments and the bat- |
TALON OF marines. continued 10 hold
their ground, while the powerful divis- |
ion of reserves was ordered up to |
strengthen the position at that point
Union Forces Outnumbered.
The secession forces were at every |
point largely superior in numbers to
those engaged on the side of the Ma
tional troops. and the former were con-
stantly re-enforced during the fight It
Johnson had effected a junction with
General Beauregard
Our informant, who was an eye
witness OF the battle and a volunteer
participant in it, states that some
prisoners were taken by our troops,
among whom he found a captain of the
Palmetto Guard, Of Charleston. who
confessed to him that the battle in its
effects on their side, had been exceed
ingly bloody.
The loss on the side of the Ma
tional army according to the highest
estimate which has reached us, Is fifty
killed and about two hundred wounded.
Among the former We regret to chronicle
the names OF Colone! Cameron. of the
New York Seventy ninth Regiment.
Lieutenant Colonel Fugent. of the
New York Sixty ninth. and Colonel
Slocum. of the Second Rhode Island
Regiment.
Capt. Thomas Francis Measher is
also reported among the killed. General
Hunter is among the wounded and we
learn was brought to this city last
evening, from which we infer hat ,his
wounds. two in number, are not serious.
so far We can learn none of the National
troops were made prisoners. q"
Battle of Artillery. ~
"The battle was mainly .ept up by
artillery at the usual distance of that
arm, though the contendiDg forces fire.
quently came to closer quarters. when
volleys of musketry were exchanged
IN both sides.
THE engagement of yesterday having
5hown that the secession forces at and
iear the junction are greatly superior
n numbers to those ut present under the
command of General Mcdowell. II may
De doubted whether the battle will be re-
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