The Washington times., 1902-10-11
. REAT battles have always been
history makers. Their effects
are far-reachine., New maps

tired old Earth. shaken with the tread
OF mighty armies and the concussion o.
hie guns. finds new geographical lines
drawn on its ravaged surface, when the
smoke clears away.
An incidental effect of the battles
marking the epochs of the worlds story
is the bringing suddenly to notice OF the
most obscure localities. the making Ia
nous of some hamlet. some insignii-
can. steam, some farm, some house, OF
which heretofore nothing has been
heard.
The Battle of Manassas-so-called by
the Confederates. but more properly
designated by the Union Army as the
Battle of Bull Run. was fought. as all
the world knows. July 81. 1851.
For its scene. it used a neighborhood
in Prince william county. Virginia,
about thirty-five miles from the Nation
al Capital, and six and half rilcs
from the little village, then called Ma
nassas Junction, lying at the branching
point Of the Orange and Alexandria
Railroad. and the Manassas Gap Rail-
road-both now forming part Of tho
Southern Railway.
History in this connection has immor-
talized the small village. Its name is
known over the wide world. although in
its present fourishing condition the town
OF Manassas, incorporated and boasting
of a mayor and other modern improve
ments," hardly recognizes In itself the
hamlet OF war times. But this battle
of Bull Run brought out into celebrity
still more obscure names-"Bull Run.
the ..Stone Bridge" which spanned the
Run. the group Of rural homes. known
as sudley Village. and especially the lit
tie five-roomed frame dwelling where
lived. when the initial encounter Of the
.fratricidal war of the States occurred.
the Henry family. This unpretentious
structure stood on q commanding emil
nence in the midst of farm of 12S
acres, somewhat back in the angle
formed by the country road from Manas-
ses to Sudley and the pike" from Cen
teryille to warrenton, twelve miles from
n chain of blue mountains whose SER
q Ha II, hnxtvnf, ra
of the landscape.
It was its commanding situation
that constituted its fatal charm when
the armies met on that famous day in
July. It was the point of vantage for
which both sides struggled.
In the oficial reports frora officers |
of both armies the Henry house and the |
plateau on which 1t stood find frequent |
mention A rigid Congressional investi-
cation in the spring of 1862 sought ia
determine the causes Of the unexpected |
disaster to the Union forces. and it is |
plainly shown by the testimony of the
participants that 1t was on this plateau |
that the tide turned. Allusions to the |
Henry house in this investigation are |
significant Of fits close connection with |
the events of the day. 1t figures. too.
in many a newspaper account and in
thrilling pages of many private letter.
Concerning nothing connected with the
civil war have so many inaccurate state
ments been made as those most widely
spread relative to the Henry house and
the Henry family in their connection
with the great battle.
The writer had the privilege, after the
war, Of an intimate acquaintance with
Hugh F. Henry. ST., the best known
member of the family, assisting him in
his school IL Alexandra, Va, in the
eos. and enjoying opportunities for con-
versation and correspondence. He was q
quaint and unique character, approx
mating nearly TO the style and charac
school," a descriptive term so full Of
significance when you know what it does
mean.
Tall. gaunt, and grizzled. as the writer
remembers him. he continued to teach
school for boys long after he was too
deaf to conduct his classes we'll, and
then retired to pass the last years of his
life in his humble home, which had been
the center OF carnage and destruction
on the dreadful dies irae.
That day found the house occupied by
his brother John. their sister and aged
mother. together with a colored SER
want girl. He himself was in Alexan
dria at the time. The doomed spot was
coveted by both sides in the conflict, and
in the climax OF action became the hot
test point Mrs. Henry. bedridden and
helpless, was removed to the ravine near
the dwelling for safety; but. as this
place of refuge was presently found to
be uptenable from the fire OF Ricketts,
Battery, she was taken back to the
house. where. in a little while. the
building was fairly riddled by shot and
shell. and the aged lady. wounded in
four places, died in brief space of
time. The colored girl was at the same
time wounded in the foot. while the es-
cape of the other inmates was littlo
short OF miracle. Miss Ellen Henry.
the sister. die receive permanent injury
10 her hearing from concussion
Sensational versions Of the incidents OF
This tragedy have for forty years sp-
reared in public print. many of them.