Evening journal., 1904-09-07
FIRST DAY FIGHT
ON BULL RUN FIELD
Brown Army Under Bell Held
Grants Blue Coats In Check.
MIMIC WAR ON FAMOUS FIELD.
Umpire Called Halt TO Fierce Conflict
Between the Two Armies at Crit
ieal Point-story. Of the Opening Ma
neuvers.

neuvers. f e.f
Gainesville, va, Sept, THE blue
and brown armies were in fierce com
bat when halted by tES chief umpire at
3 o'clock In the afternoon. Previous to
this the commanders of the two forces
had spent the time maneuvering for
position. The net result Of the day
was that General Grant. who was
charged with forcing back General
Bells brown army through Thorough
fare gap, had not been able to break
the line Of defense. established by Gen
eral Bell during the early hours OF the
morning. T .-
This line extends north and south,
bisecting the naneuyer zone about
midway of its length. The northern
half of General Bells defense line is
composed Of infantry and artillery.
General Grant opposed this force in
the extreme north early in the day. but
with no success. After five companies
Of the blue army had been ruled of
the field for attacking in the open a
strong concealed defense hostilities
ceased for nearly three hours. During
this time General Grant swung the
bulk Of his infantry and artillery to
the south in an effort to flank General
Bells line Of infantry on the right
General Bell, however, learned Of the
movements Of his adversary and
rushed up his reserves to the. threat
ened point
The two forces came In contact short
ly after 2 O'Clock. Artillery was brought
into play by the brown army. and rap
i'd fire guns spoke on both sides. while
volley after volley Of musket fire add
ed TO the sound of battle, which could
be heard through the Virginia hills FOR
miles. The battle had proceeded only a
short time when an order from the
umpires was given to cease firing.
Browns Make Dashins Charge.
At this time the forces were practi
cally equal. and the situation was such
that a decision from the umpires
| seemed to be demanded. Instead fif
teen minutes was granted each side tC
rectify its lines. Then at a signal from
the chief umpire the action was re
sumed. The First Vermont. a portion
of the Twelfth New York. the Eight
Massachusetts and the Second Maine
made a charge on the blue position
moving over very open ground and un
der a very heavy fire from the Seventl
\ Virginia. the First Maine and the Firs
J Texas. The brown charging force wa
ordered back after sustaining heav.
loss.
The success Of the blue army at thl
time was but temporary. as an enflad
ing fire Of infantry and artillery iron
the brown troops on the right and lef
made it impossible for the blue TO holi
its position. and an order to fall bacl
was given. General Bell had ordere'
up re-enforcements consisting OF tn
greater part of BaTry's brigade, whicl
had been holding the line still farthe
to the south.
The immediate line of the browns
defense then consisted Of the Seconl
Maine. First Vermont Eighth Massa
chusetts. Fourth New Jersey, Mint
Massachusetts. Twelfth New Yorl
Ninth regulars. Third North Carolin
and Second Georgia. amounting in a
to sixty companies Of infantry, beside
battery of artillery.
Opposed to this force was the Sever
tieth Virginia. First Maine and Firs
Alabama. The situation was critics
for either side The fighting force
were approaching closer and closel
and the firing was growing hotter.
decision from the umpire would hav
been imperative had a halt not bee
called.