The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-08-28

Since about 700 young Alabamians will
be eneamped on or near the battlefield Of
Manassas early in September, it will be
of service to them to be somewhat famil-
lar with the ground and scenes enacted
there in 1862. The government has pub
lished large military maps of the field,
but they are cumbersome, and perhaps
few of the young men have seen them.
There is one set in this city.
One road running slightly south of west
from Washington. and another from Alex
andria come together at Fairfax c. H.,
from which the road runs to Centerville,
twenty-one miles from Washington -Four
/ miles further the road crosses by a stone
bridge Bull Run. a rather deep creek,
/ fordable in few places, which runs in
southeast direction and emptles into the
Potomac.
After crossing the creek the pike runs
southwest passing stone house which
was near the center of the first battle
and the Henry House, which together
were called Manassas, then the road run
ming up Young's Branch for nearly a
mile, passes Groveton, a little hamlet
still DedTillB marks Oh lne Seconu Ddltltt
then passing Gainesville and Warrenton it
crosses the Rappahannock to culpepper.
The railroad, now part OF the Southern,
runs nearly parallel with the pike. distant
about seven miles from the battlefield, and
a branch road runs from the main line
at Manassas junction through Thorough
fare Gap TO the famous valley of Nir-
gina This road passes within about
four miles to the south of the battlefield
and the nearest station and postoffice is
Wellington.
In July 1861, the southern army occu-
pied the southern bank Of Bull Run, thus
facing northeast towards Washington, its
right at Union Mills, it's left at the Stone
Bridge. The northern army occupied the
country beyond Bull Run, having its
headquarters at Centerville. Beauregard
was In command of the southern army,
but Gen Joseph f.. Johnston, in command
of the forces near Harpers Ferry sue
cessfully eluded Patterson, who opposed
him and transferred part of his forces by
the Manassas Gap railroad to Beaure-
gard, accompanying them in person, but
although having the oldest commission,
he declined to disturb Beauregards plans.
The Ninth. Tenth and Eleventh Alabama.
those regiments which afterwards became
famous under Wilcox. were on their way,
but an engine broke down and they did
not arrive in time to participate in the
battle. Above Stone Bridge about three
or four miles is ford called Sudley from
a church of that name, and General
Scott planning after his battles in Mex
leo, designed to march by that ford and
throw McDowelrs army on our flank, and
this was actually done. Beauregard had
planned to do the same thing by throw
ing wells brigade, which contained the
! 4, o. I.av, cu
the creek at Union Mills and attacking
the enemy's left
Thus 1t will be seen that each army was
preparing TO attack the left flank of the
other. Mcdowell made his attack first.
and after Ewel had marched several
miles he was recalled in double-quiek, his
men threw away their blankets and ar
rived at the scene OF action just at the
close of the battle and never fired
gun Thus 1t was that only one Ala
bama regiment. the Fourth, participated
In the engagement. Having crossed at
Sudey's ford at day break the federals
marched down Bull Run by the road
which crosses the Warrenton pike near
the Stone house, but our cavalry had
given the warning and Bees brigade
composed of five regiments, one being the
Fourth Alabama, and Barlow S, contain
ing the Seventh and Eighth Georgia,
were thrown back from the creek and
formed to oppose them, forming a line at
right angles to Bull Run. If the federals
drove our forces past the pike at Stone
Bridge their whole army could cross and
be In the rear of Beauregard.
The papers say the Alabanians are to
camp in September near Sudley Ford, on
the ground over which the thanking move
ment was made. Warned by our cavalry
Bees brigade was hastily thrown forward
to the edge of the woods about half
mile west of the pike on the Sudley road
In order To engage the enemy, delay
them and thus gain time to bring troops
to form a new line, assisted by the Louis
lana Tigers altogether but a weak force,
oar men armed with smooth bore muskets,
assailed by an overwhelming force armed
with Minnie rifles, sustained the attack
for long time, the enemy meanwhile ex
tending his line until he got in the rear
of the Fourth Alabama, and 1t was com
PEELED to retreat towards the Stone
House through the open field under a
heavy fire. Bartow's brigade and Hamp-
tons Legion had meantime come up and
formed in the field west of the Stone
House. and they withstood the enemy un-
til nearly surrounded, losing heavily,
when they retreated across the pike to the
plateau at the Henry House. In rallying
the troops bee ana bdrtoW DOlH zen d.
this spot, Jacksons brigade of Virgin
ians came mp and sustained a heavy fire.
earning the sobriquet which immortalized
"Stonewalr' Jackson. The victorious en-
envy came shouting on with cannon
sweeping the plateau and the engagement
became very fierce
The plateau on which was the Henry
House, parallel with the pike. was the
scene of a fierce conflict. If the southnons
were driven from this, Stone Bridge
would be open for the passage of the
balance of the federal army. Jackson's
Storewall brigade stood firm, the REM
nants Of Bees and Bartow's brigade rail-
lied and other troops came up.
Just as the federals met the most stub
born resistance Kirby Smiths brigade
which ha- peen hastily unloaded off a
train at Wellington depot on It's way
from the valley appeared ON the right
flank of the federals and they broke and
fled In confusion. Smith and Wilcox were
wounded and there are boards there now
showing the spot. Owing to an epidemic
of measles the Fourth Alabama carried
only 55S men into action and lost forty
killed and 151 wounded, or about SO per
cent.
In August, 1862, Lee faced Pope across
the Rappahannock above Culpepper and
Jackson was sent through Thoroughfare
Gap to Bristow and Manassas Junction,
directly in Pope's rear compelling him to
retreat On his approach Jackson retired
west passing directly through the bat
tefeld on the Sudley road. taking his
nnsition along an unfinished railroad nis