The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1902-05-07

daWncu with SLOW crlZZllng rain, as
though weeping over the blood d-stai ned
fields of Manassas. General Pope
during the night came to the conclu-
sion that Virginia, or at least that
portion Of it around Manassas and
Groveton, was unhealthy, and in order
to protect his army decided to march
to Washington city by the way Of
Centrcvillc and Fairfax Court House,
leaving the Confcdcratcs in possession
Of the battlefield.
General Lees army remained on the
field the greater portion Of the day,
burying the dead and paroling the
Federal prisoners. 1t was day long
to be remembered, on account Of the
grucsomc sights l saw.
Early in the morning Tigc Andcr-
sons brigade, or what there was left
Of it, marched on the Fcdcral's s por-
tion Of the battlefield. We first camc
to where a Federal battery had been
posted the day before in an old field
covered with grass. The ground was
strcwn with the dead and wounded,
the grass caught fire from the dis
charge Of the guns and burned all Of
them to crisp. They were the most
horrible looking sights ever saw, or
wish to see again. As we moved on
we saw the dead in all conceivable
positions, some with their hands anu
mouths full Of crackers, as though
tryinc to make away with as much Of
hv'u >'am' 8 provisions as they could
be- departing for the world to
Some were still holding fast to
Their guns with an iron grip, their
muscles never having relaxed.
I'll Of them had been moro or less
deprived Of their clothing, and if they
had on any, the pockets had been
turned wrong side out by some thief
during the night. After going about
one mile our brigade halted near
farm house which the Fedcrals were
using for field hospital. The house
and yard was strewn with the dead
and some wounded who were unable
to be moved when the army retrcated.
Limbs were to be seen oy the wagon
load, numbers Of them dying after the
operation had been performed. | no.
ticed some that must have been dead
before the operation was completed. as
the bandagcs were still white aud clear
of blood stains. The sights would
have been bad enough on beautiful
day but OH Il nasty rainy day it was
simply horrible. We were not far
FROM the famous Henry house on the
first Manassas battlefield, where Mrs
Henry, who was nearly Que hundred
years old and bed ridden, was killed
The first battle was fought on the 2lst
day of July, 1861, and on the Goth I,
with several Of my company, visited
the battlefield We had the good for
tune to meet on the field captain and
several Of his company from the Tenth
or Eleventh Alabama regiment, who
conducted us over the field to points
Of interest. We first visited the place
south of the house where Generals
Bee and Barlow fell, cedar post
marking the spot. Each one Clipped
off a piece with his knife for me-
mento, and before tho summer was
over the posts had been Clipped away
by others for the same purpose. We
next went to the Henry house, made
of round skinned poles. I don re.
collect whether it was one or two
room house. Our troops had been
driven south Of the house, and the
Fcdcrals took position around it,
making it so hot for our forces they
had to turn their artillery on the
house, completely honey -combing it
with cannon balls.
Mrs. Henry was on the bed and her
daughtcr and Il negro woman were I'M
dcrncath the bed. \ cannon ball
KNOCKED out the hcad and foOtboard,
and six minnie balls struck Mrs. Hea-
~, killing her, but the two under the
bed escaped unharmcd. AIrs. Henry
was buried in her garden and at the
sccoId battle three Federal soldiers
fell across her grave. Between the
house and the Manassas road, q trench
was dug six feet wide, six feet deep
and about GO feet long, where the
Confedcrates were buried. 1 was told
with heave and swing the boys
we're pitched to their last resting
place. The Federals were covered
over with dirt wherever found and
barely covered at that. We next went
to piece Of woods west Of the road
and south Of the house, the captain
showing US where Colonel Williams,