Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1904-09-06
The Nfanassas .sRattIe y

night last night, General Bell. who is
supposed to be on the defensive in
Thorughfare Gap, broke camp aud sent
out the Brown troops towards Manassas
to meet the pproaching enemy. Before
daybreak the outposts of the two armies,
extending along line several miles in
length, met and general firing began.
The movement of the Blue troops under
General Grant, who has the aggressive
side of the first problem, which is the
forcing of passage through Thorough
fare Gap, has been as follows:
The First brigade, commanded by
Brig. Gen. I. J. Whit, U. S. A., consist
ing of five companies of the Fifth U. s.
infantry, First Georgia infantry, Fifth
Massachusetts, infantry, Fifth New jersey
infantry, Seventy-fourth New York
infantry, marched out on Sudley Road to
a point between Stone House and Sud-
ley Springs and thence west across Little
Bull Run where position was taken up.
Forming on the left of Gen. Whit
was the Third brigade, commanded by
Col. Butler d. Price, of the Sixteenth
U. S. infantry, consisting of six COM
panies of that infantry, the First Ala
bama infantry, the First Maine infan.
try, the First Texas Infantry and the Sew
entieth Virginia infantry. This position
was gained by march from cam p by
way of Little Georgetown, aud thence
northwest until the junction with Gen.
Whit was effected.
Gen. Russell Frost has command Of
the Fourth brigade, consisting of four
companies of the Fifth infantry, the
First, Second and Third Connecticut
infantry, the First separate company
Connecticut infantry and the reserves of
artillery and engineers. He marched
to the front by way Of New Market
Cross Roads, Chinn House and Grove
ton, and took up position on high
ground on the west of Lewis lane, and
north of the Warrenton pike,
The Second brigade, commanded by
Brig. Gen. Tasker II, Bliss, U, S. A.,
and consisting of four companies of the
Sixteenth infantry, the First Florida in
fantry, the Fourteenth New York infan-
try, the First South Carolina infantry and
First Tennessee infantry, marched by
way of the Manassas and Gainesville
road aud took up a position in the
vicinity of Wellington.
The cavalry, consisting of eight troops
of the Fifteenth and two troops of First
Squadron, New York cavalry, pro-
visional, was commanded by Col. Wal
lace and, with the exception of small
detachment which accompanied General
Whit, covered the left front and patroll-
ed as far as Broad Run.
The Brown army, which, according to
the problem, was placed on the defen-
sive, was disposed of by Gen. Bell by the
establishment of a general line Of de-
tense running through auckland, Hay
market and Woolsey, the line being in
the direction of and near the Carolina
road. To form this line the Second Bril-
gade, commanded by Brigadier General
Thomas II. Barry, U. S. A, and con-
sisting of four companies of the Ninth
infantry regulars, the Second Georgia,
Eighth Massachusetts infantry, Twelfth
New York infantry and Fourth New Jer-
sey infantry was made the right of the
line and stationed on high ground near
auckland, extending along the Carolina
road towards Haymarket. On Barry's
left was the brigade of Col. James Re-
gan, of the Ninth United States infantry,
consisting of four companies of the Ninth,
the First Maryland, Ninth Massachusetts,
Second New York and Third Tennessee.
Its line extended from Haymarket to
Little Bull Run, although the greater
portion of his brigade vas held in re-
serve. The Fourth brigade under the
command of Col. F. A. Smith, Eighth
U. S. infantry, and consisting of five
companies OF the Eighth regulars, one
battalion Delaware infantry. Second
South Carolina infantry, Second Yer
mont infantry and two battalions West
Virginia infantry was extended from
Regan's left to Snow Hill. The First
brigade, commanded by Brigadier Gen
eral J. NJ. Lee, U. S. A., was held in
reserve near the centre of the line.
Throughout the entire morning there
was brisk skrmishing all along the line.
On the extreme left of the Brown army,
there was some severe fighting for about
half hour which resulted cOnstruc-
lively in the total destruction of four
companies of the Sevelty-fourth New
York infantry, and one company Of the
Fifth U. S. regular infantry, of the Blue
army. General Bell has taken posi-
ton with the Browns, which military
stragists think will prove impregnable.
This afternoon it was learned that the
main Blue army was marching against
General Bells left, where he is weakest
When this information was conveyed to
Bell by his scouts he Immediately rushed
two regiments of infantry and one Of
cavalry from his reserve to meet the pro-
spective attack on his left
Actual fighting occurred this morning be-
tween the 7tli and the 18th regular cavalry
regiments. These two organizations, which
are respectively Of the Brown and the Blue
armies, met IN the road midway between the
two camps and charged one another. They
fought with their fists and the fiat Of their
swords for several minutes before they could
be separated. No ole was hurt, but much re-
greet has been expressed at the occurrence.
There has been great rivalry between these
regiments and some hard feeling.
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Preparing for Strike.
New York, Sept. GA final confer
ence will be held this afternoon between
August Belmont, president of the Inter
- To,.nonu and tho onp, iffaa ~