Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-06-12

as shown by the demoralized and fleeing
United States troops at the first battle
of Manassas? II has been some consOla-
ton TO us old Confederates who have suf-
fered so long and patiently since the close
of the civil war to know that the army
Of General Mcdowell on the 21st day OF
July. 1861. composed Of several thousand
old regulars and 5000 volunteers were
badly whipped by the southern troops,
who numbered not over 1900, and OF that
number only about 1900 were actually en-
gagged. They had every advantage of us
in means. ammunition. provisions, trans
portatton. etc. Our regiments were mace
up Of all grades and conditions of men,
educated and uneducated. In the ranks
were lawyers, doctors, merchants and
A. MS alongside OF our sturdy mountain
GERS. The latter were accustomed to hard
ships and with his rife the head Of a Wild
turkey at 100 yards was knocked on nine
times out OF ten. Just before entering the
army I was out hunting with my rine.
had found a squirrel and was trying 70
get a shot at him. but as fast as would
move quietly around the tree he would
keep out OF my sight by moving around to
the opposite side. Suddenly 1 heard the
crack Of a rife and the squirrel fell 70
the ground. shot through the head. To
my surprise. I found that a young man
(our overseer's SOM had shot him from
up the mountainside some $50 yards from
where I was standing. These men were
independent and courageous, and OFTEN
paid but little attention to the discipline
imposed by their officers. While Colonel
Strange, OF Charlottesville. Va, was drill
ing his regiment in that town a short
time before being ordered to the front,
he said:
Mr.. Jones. stand square. sir!'
Mr.. Jones Immediately replied:
Colonel Strange. I are squar. siri'
Mr.. Jones was a splendid specimen OF
the mountaineer and OF such material as
many of the best Confederate soldiers
were made.
Yes, we whipped them badly at Manas-
sas. sometimes called the battle Of Bull
Run by the Skedadlers, for It was the
battle OF Manassas that gave 10 the Eng
lish language the new word ''Skedaddle."
So much has been written about this bat
tie that I VIII not attempt any special
description OF the disposition of the
troops or their maneuvres, but give you
extracts from papers and reports from
men who were engaged in the battle. that
these facts may be before the eyes OF our
citizens, and not rely. as did a young
lady 10 a friend Of mine few weeks ago
In Philadelphia, when asked some ques-
ton about the civil war, she replied after
some historian: About what war. Oh,
yes. remember now" she said: you
mean the war in which they hung Jeff
Davis on a sour apple tree?" was only
Is years old when I visited the camps Of
Beauregard's army at Manassas. 1t was
my first sight of such a scene. I was
with my brother-in-law- Catlett F1tzhugh,
and rode horseback about the camps wit
Messing the drilling OF troops and seeing
everything that was to be seen about a
large army. General Winfield Scott was
too old TO command, hence General Nc
Dowell was in charge OF the United States
troops on the 21st with the following
brigadiers under him: Generals Burnside,
Porter. Wilcox, Franklin, Howard, Sher-
man, Keys. Schencks, Richardson, Blenk-
GERS and Runyon. while General Beaure-
gard had under him Generals Bonham. ID.
r. Jones, Longstreets Hampton, Ewell
and Holmes. General Joseph Z. Johnston,
who was in charge OF the Army of the
Shenandoah. reinforced Beauregard on the
21st after a forced match from the Valley
Of Virginia, his brigadiers being T. ].
Jackson, Bee. +. X. Smith. The twelve
companies Of cavalry were commanded by
Colonel ]. z. B. Stuart.
In examining my file Of papers the
Louisville Daily Courier. find the follow
ing letters In the evening edition of Au-
gust S. 1861. The first is copied from the
Atlanta (Ga-) Confederacy. 1t reads as
follows:
The battle was a decided success. and
was fought with distinguished gallantry
by all our troops who participated in 1t.
IL Is but Just to say, however, that the
Fourth Alabama regiment, Colonel Jones;
the Seventh Georgia. Colonel Gartrell, and
the Eighth Georgia. Lieutenant Colonel
Gardner, both under acting Brigadier Bar
tow; the Fourth South Carolina. Colonel
Sloane; Hampton's Legion, Colonel Hamp-
ton; the Sixth North Carolina, Colonel
Fisher, and the Eleventh and Seventh
Virginia did the hardest fighting. suffered
most and bore the brunt of the battle
Colonel Kershaw's and Colonel Cash's
Is. c. regiments came into action late,
but did most effective service in the pur-
suit which continued nearly to Center
VILE General Z. K. Smiths brigade
reached Manassas during the battle and
rushed TO the field. a distance of seven
miles. through the boiling sun at double
quick. AS they neared the field from a
double-quick they got fairly TO running,
their eyes flashing. the officers crying out
On, boys, to the rescueP and the men
shouted at the top OF their voices. When
General johnson saw Smith he exclaimed:
The Butcher Of the day has come They
soon arrived in front of the enemy and
with a shout that might be heard from
one end OF the battlefield to the other
they launched at the adversary like a
thunderbolt. They delivered but two
fires when the enemy began to give way,
and in a few minutes they began to give
way and were in full retreat. The bril-
gade Is composed Of one Tennessee and
one Mississippi regiment and a battalion
from Maryland. AS they rushed into the
fight. could but recall with an appre-
citation. / never felt before the words Of
Holy writ, as terrible as an enemy with
banners The artillery companies did
good service also. Those engaged were
the New Orleans washington artillery,
Latham's battery from Lynchburg. limbo
den's from Staunton. Kemper's from Alex
andria. Thomas from Richmond. Pendle-
toms from Lexington. Rogers from Lees
burg and the Wise artillery. Captain Ar
burtus. The Washington artillery and
Latham's battery and Kemper's were in
position TO do most. but all the companies
maneuvred well and delivered their fires
with great effect.
I do not believe that have informed
you in any OF my letters that Colonel
Cameron, Of one of the Pennsylvania reg
iments. had been killed. and that his
brother, Lincoln's secretary Of war. had
sent a friend. one Arnold Harris. lobby
member about Washington 10 ask for his
body. AS he did not come under a flag
OF truce. General Johnston ordered him
into custody and sent him TO Richmond.
The Republican secretary chose to ignore
the existence OF our authority and the
rank and position OF our officers by send
ing a verbal message and without a flag
Just as the ministers OF King George were
wont 20 act towards General Washing
on and the continental congress during
the fret revolution and therefrOm our Of