The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1903-08-13
RELIC OF BULL RUN.
A valuable Souvenir of the LIST Michigan s
Share in the Battle.

Hon. Chas. +. Joy, a Member of Con
gress from St Louis. celebrated the 42d
anniversary of the battle of Bull Run in
Il very unique way, by shipping to the
Michigan State Capitol Il souvenir of the
heroic part which the LIST Mich. and its
Colonel took in that engagement. Michi-
gan has always been Justly proud of her
share in the battle of Bull Run. The LIST
Mich, which was sent to the field under
the command of Col. Orlando Z. Wilcox,
was made up of the best blood in the
State, and it had an experienced soldier
for commander. 1t was put into a bri-
gade with the Fire Zouaves, the 3Sth
\. y, and a battery of light artillery, and
Col Wilcox was promoted to the COM
mand of the brigade
With this force he drove forward to the
farthest point reached by any Union
troops, but encountered a fire which was
so deadly that the brigade had to fab back.
In this part of the engagement Gen. Will
cox was severely wounded, and when our
men were driven back by charge of the
18th Va, G. s. a.. he was taken prisoner
and retained 13 months.
Upon his exchange he returned at once
to active duty, became Division Com
mander of the Ninth Corps, and at times
commanded the corps. The casualties in
the fierce fighting were so great that the
LIST Mich. was taken off of the field in
good order by a Capt. Ira c. Abbott. who
in course of time became the Colonel of
the regiment and Brigadier- General.
He and Gen. Wilcox, both now over
80 years old. are still alive. and last year
were OH the field on Bull Run. where they
were under the guidance of Col. Geo. w.
Z. Rounds, of Manassas. They readily
found the point to which Willcox's Bri-
sade had advanced and the tree under
which the General had lain when wound
ed.
Representative Joy bought the tree from
the owner, and had it prepared for preser-
v"tion; On one side of the log is a bronze
with the following inscription: presented
to Maj.-Gen. Orlando b. Wilcox by Chas.
f. Joy, Member of Congress of st. Louis.
and by Gen. Wilcox to the 1st Mich. Vol
unteer Association
1t is proposed to put on the stump of
the tree from which the log was cut the
following inscription:
ITO this tree Gen. Orlando B. Wilcox
was brought after being severely wound
ed and captured by Preston's Virginia reg
iment, G. S. A, in the extreme Union ad-
vance. He was afterward confined as a
hostage for the privateers, ETC. A log
from this tree is preserved as relic at
the Michigan State Capitol, Lansing"
In an open field near the woods where
the stump stands is tree which the
gentlemen who are i'll charge of the field
consider the turning point of the battle.
Later this tree will probably be marked
with placard. On the side looking TO-
ward the Confederate lines it will read:
The most advanced line of the Union
army was repulsed near this tree by Gen.
Robert PrestOn's regiment. 2Sth Va, C..
). A. part of Gen. Joseph E. Johnston's
endorsements" From the side of the
Union advance it is proposed that it Shall
read: This tree marks the most adj
yanced line of the Union army, July 81,
1851, where Gen. Orlando Il. Willcox's
LIST Mich. engaged the COnfederates under
Gen. Thomas ]. (StOnewalD Jackson This
was the turning point of the battle"