The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-08-19
The Manassas Manoeuvres.


The Manassas Manoeuvres.
s$5 The announcement that there are arr to
i be Increasing army r,anoeuyres near Ma Ma
nassas in the early future naturally
n turns the attention at least OF the Old
& timers to the first great battle In the
war between the states, which was fought hit
July. 1861, upon that famous nous battle tai1.te
n field. II.
IN The sConfederacy had changed its CAPT
II tal#to Richmond. the last session OF ITS
Congress having been held in Mont gem.
n cry on May 21st President Davis fol-l
u lowed five days later and General Beau
regard arrived on June list and assumed
command OF the Confederate troops in
4 the Department of Alexandria It soon
i became apparent that the first stru sgle
s would take place in Northern Virginia,
& and the Federal government held ~ the
y Potomac River In tight grasp and Wash
ineton was well guarded. General Nc
II Dcwel, had a Union army OF a bout 4o,,-
4 ot0 troops in camp south of the Poto-a
IS mac ready for the fray. General Beau a'ps
regard. WIN Confederate army. was
trrycsts.d near Manassas Junction, thirty
,hres miles from washing ton. General
Joseph E. Johnston. with a Contederate
( army. was entrenched at Winchester, his
3 task being 10 prevent any advance by
General Robert Patterson, and 70 keep
4 him from joining Mcclellan q the the
i same time mcdowell was assured that
"a Patterson. with his Is, 90 men, would
prevent Johnston from joining Beaure-.
gard. But, as 1t afterwards turned out
4 Patterson was not in Johnston's Eay.
II was planned that Mcdowell should
march 10 Fairfax Courthouse, then turn
# south cross the pccoquan River and
Ii attack BeaureEard's lines Of communi-
y cation with Richmond. That was the sit
uation Just before the famous battle.
.The advance OF the Union army"
says Northern writer, was looked
upon as a holiday. 4 for none at the North
doubted that it 4woy ld. be- successful. A
large number of congressman and crowds
of civilians rode out from Washington
NH to witness the novel and Inspiring sight.
4 IN many of2the carriages were ladies
who secured favorable positions from
II which to view through their opera
glasses the overthrow Of the rebel
forces" But before the day closed
IL Linden saw another sight" The show
was quite different in the last act OF
tho tragedy from what this gay crowd
from tho North had expected.
The Confederacy had gathered there
Its finest troops, many Of the privatcs De-
ing young men out of the colleges and
M universities, clothed In the finest uniforms,
with glittering arms, but nothing about
them 30 bright as The flash OF their
eyes. Tho noblest commanders of the
Confederate forces We're there. Beaure-
gard was there and Johnston was there.
as has already been said Thomas j
jackson was there. and when General
Bee looked upon him and his gallant
men he exclaimed: Look! There stands
jackson like a stone WALTZ and from
that day this great soldier was affcc,
uonately known as 'stonewall" Jackson
Kirby Smith was there, coming in tht
nick of time with. 1000 confederates
coming In time to receive Johnston's or
S der to attack McDowell's right and max,
Il the Confederate victory sure,
Stuart and his cavalry were there an,
Joined in the impetuous charge which
threw the Federal troops into panic.
IEwel was there. that crlisty old In
dian fighter, q diamond In the rough
II and John 3. Gordon was there, and jus
W. before the battle Ewel said to Gordon
'Come and eat a cracker with me; W
will breakfast together and dine TO
gether In hell
Dir. Hunter Mcclure. of Richmond, wa
ia there and dressed the wound whic
Stone wall jackson received,
We have not space 10 mention III
whole list, but must add that even Pre-!
ident Davis himself was there. and ha
his misgtyings suddenly turned into IL
gladness OF triumph. 'Whiie WI
dressing General Jaekson's hand" sa
pr. Mcclure. In one Of his addresses.
: ss3 saw President Davis ride up from Il
direction OF Manassas. He had be.
told by stragglers that our army hi
S been defeated He stopped his horse
the middle of the stream. YOUNG
Branch. stood up in his stirrnps q
paiest sternest face eYsr SAW a
cried 70 the, great crowd Of s0ldiers,