The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1902-10-08

Level Greer" Where the
Federal Officers Held Head
quarters and Brought Their
Ladies and the Government
Officials to Witness the
Battle The Old Tavern a
Resting Place for Many a
Weary Soldier = = =
Continued from Eighth Pagc.)

20 time during the war by the commands
IN either side. The four chimney house
was evacuated by its owners at the be-
ginning of the strife. and has not since
been occupied. On the walls are written
The names OF a great many soldiers who
coupled Il at various times.
But, returning to the forks OF the
road. there is an index board 10 direct
The traveller. Il points up the Warren
ton Pike and reads. s'2I miles 10 War
renton. 8 miles TO Bull Run" The lat
.er refers 10 the present Bull Run post
,fice. where the stone bridge crosses the
run being almost three miles farther.
At the Bull Run possofs,ce a road
crosses the warrenton Pike, and it is
here that a portion of McDowell's force
left the main road. turning TO the right.
to reach Sudley Ford and strike the left
flank of Beauregard's army. 1t was this
move. and the failure of an order of
Beauregard to reach its destination, that
changed the result of the battle.
An Incident at Hanging Bridge
Continuing toward the stone bridge
the road crosses Cub Run over small
bridge, referred to in the war records as
Hanging Bridge" 1t was to this bridge
that some of the spectators had come 10
witness the battle. and it is said that
large wagon was brought along which
had been fitted out with stove and
utensils for cooking. The stampede,
which was general from the time the
army rushed through Bull Run. became
a panic at this place. A cannon ball
struck a caisson and broke 1t down on
the bridge, thus blocking traffic. The
drivers ripped the harness of the horses,
and, mounting them. rushed with the
frantic throng toward Centerville. Those
coming up after tho blockade plunged
into the stream, leaving behind every
thing that tended to retard progress.
The stone bridge will doubtless appear
the same to the veteran as when he
crossed it in 81, for, though the bridge
was later in the war blown up. 1t has
been rebuilt practically as it was at the
time of the battle. At this bridge the !
bank on thr Centerville side is high
perpendicular cliff twenty feet high. 1t
was on this hill that the Federal battery |
was planted and shelled the Confederate
forces on the opposite side of the stream,
and on the plateau at the Henry house. |
A long-range gun. afterward called /
Long Tom" by the Confederates, was
planted here.
The Federal detachment sent around
by Sudley Ford found no opposition un-
til they had nearly reached the bridge.
and having strong force was able TO
clear the way for the army to cross.
On the Scene of Battle.
On the right of the road and near the
cross roads is the '.stone house.
Several hundred yards to the left on
the plateau, along the foot of which runs
Yuung's Branch, is the Henry house.
On the plateau at the rear of the stone
house is where Beauregard's skirmish
ers made their first stand, and then
withdrew across Young's Branch to the
Henry place.
In the vicinity of the stone house the
battle ragged fiercely. and the house 1T
self afforded protection to the sharp
who were picking off the Con-
federate advance on the brow of the hill
on the opposite side of Young's Branch.