Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1904-08-06
To Fight Bull Run Again.

To Fight Bull Run Again.
Every veteran of the civil war, to
say nothing of the studious, up-to-date
dedglings of West Point, will be great
ly interested in the reproduction of
the battle of Bull Run, for which the
War department now is making ar
rangements. Though the plans at
Washington are not yet completed, it
is learned that probably $4,000 troops
will participate in the mimic fight, and
that no less distinguished an officer
than Major-General Corbin personally
will direct the movements on the old
Virginia field.
Fighting Bull Run over again is
merely part of grand series of
army maneuvers to take place in Sep
TENDER, in which the militia of more
than twenty states will be privileged
to act in cooperation with regulars.
President Roosevelt and officers of
high rank in the army have been con-
ferring on the plans, and the Presi-
dent has stipulated that the civil sol
diers be afforded every opportunity to
profit by the experience and training
of the regulars.
In all, as far as the plans are made,
there will be about $4,000 regulars
and militia soldiers on each side, con-
sisting of infantry, cavalry and artil-
lery.
While the naaneuvers will not be Off
cially scheduled as following the pre-
else movements of the Northern and
Southern soldiers on that memorable
occasion, this particular field was
chosen for the strategic lessons to be
learned from that great battle.
The intention of the War depart
ment is to make the disposition of
the troops on both sides conform as
closely as possible to the presentment
on that memorable Sunday, July 81.
1861, when McDowells army, $4,000
strong, advanced on Manassas juno
ton from Blackburn's Ford, in three
divisions, commanded by Gems. Tyler,
Hunter and Heintzelman.
1t will be recalled that Gen. Beau
regard, who commanded the Confeder-
ates upon that occasion, had about
80 900 men, and later was reinforced
by Gen. Joseph E. Johnston with 5000
fresh troops from the Shenandoah val
ley.
Bull Run is where Gen. Thomas ].
Jackson, commanding a Confederate
brigade, stood like a stone wall
against the assault of the enemy" and
thereafter was called "Stonewall Jack
SON. And many veterans on both
sides remember, too, that Jefferson
Davis was present at the battle. and
afterwards sent joyous telegram to
the Confederate officials at Richmond.
A good part of the country around
Manassas Junction has changed since
81, but the relative positions of the
-
armies are known almost exactly, and
the War department expects no diff
Guilty in making an accurate reproduc-
ton
There were two fights at Bull Run.
The second occurred on Aug. 30, 1863,
when again the Union force, this time
under Gen John Pope. was compelled
to fall back to Washington. The bat
tie of July FL, 1861, however, was real
ly the most important one The bat
tie opened about IL O'Clock in the fore
noon. when Hunters division, which
had crossed at Sudley Springs, made
the attack. The cannonade soon ex-
tended down the stream to Black
burns Ford, five miles away. The
severest fighting was between Tyler's
division and the Confederates, near
the Stone bridge. on the Warrenton
road, about two miles south of Sud
ley Springs For four hours the ter
rible conflict ragged. and the Confed-
crates seemed likely to be defeated
when up came Johnston, from the
Shenandoah valley with his 5000 men,
fresh and ready The Union forces
could not Withstand the increment
and retreated toward Washington,
with a casualty list of 5000 and the
loss of twenty-seven cannon and a
large amount of ammunition, equip
ment and supplies The Confederate
loss was about 1000 men,
The old battlefield, which extends
ten miles in one direction and five in
another, is in private hands The
owners are farmers, and from them
the government has obtained lease
for fifteen days, the period covered by
the maneuvers- The fields are now
under cultivation, but the crops will
have been gathered before the time
set for the maneuvers-
The states invited to send guards