The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1904-09-02
AT MANASSAS AGAIN.
The Historic Field Upon Which
Troops Will Manoeuvre
IN GRAND MIMIC BATTLE ARRAY

/ &As ~ @sAAAsO ~ 4AAAO Ia i A3s "a Ah a
"A Field Upon Whioi, the Confederate
Soldiers Twice Whipped the
Federal Soldiers During
the Civil War.
The announcement that there are
to be increasing army manoeuvres
near Manassas in the early future nat
urally turns the attention at least OF
the old timers TO the first great battle
In the War Between the States, which
was fought In July, 1861, upon that
famous battlefield.
The Confederacy had changed its
capitaltto Richmond, the last session
OF it's congress having been held in
Montgomery on May 2lst. President
Davis followed five days later, and
Gen. Beauregard arrived on June lst
and assumed command of the Confed-
crate troops in the department. OF AL
exandrias 1t soon became apparent
that the. first struggle would take
place innorthern Virginia, and the
federal government held the Potomac
river initight grasp and Washington
was well guarded. Gen. Mcdowell
had union army Of about 45, 900
troops In camp south of the Potomac
ready for the fray. Gen. Beauregard
with a Confederate army was posted
near Manassas Junction, 33 miles
from Washington. Gen. Joseph e.
Johnston, with Confederate army,
was entrenched at Winchester, his
task being to prevent any advance by
Gen. Robert Patterson, and to keep
him fromFjoining Mcclellan At the
same time Mcdowell was assured that
Patterson with his 200 men, would
prevents J Johnston from joining Beau.
regard. But, as it afterwards turned
out, Patterson was not in. Johnston'S
way. IbWas planned that Mcdowell
should march to Fairfax Courthouse,
then turn south, cross the Occoquan
river, and attack Beauregard's line OF
communication with Richmond. That
was the situation just before the IA
nous battle.
THE advance of the union army"
says q northern writer, was looked
upon as a holiday, for none at the
north doubted that 1t would be sue
cessful. A large number of congress
men and crowds of civilians rode out
from Washington to witness the
novel and Inspiring sight. In many
OF tue carriages were ladies who Sc
cured favorable position from which
to I,yiewS through, their opera glasses
the overthrow Of the rebel forces" !"
By }the day closed Linden
2..s Il. ,ls. SO q.
quite different In the last act of the
tragedy from what this gay crowd
from the north had expected.
The Confederacy had gathered there
Its finest troops, many Of the privates
Icing young men out OF the colleges
and universities, clothed in the finest
uniforms, with glittering arms, but
nothing about them so bright as the
flash OF their eyes, The nobest COM
manders OF the Confederate forces
were there. Beauregard was there
and Johnston was there, as has al
ready been said. Thomas j. jackson
was there, and when Gen. Bee looked
upon him and his gallant men he ex
claimed: Look There stands Jack
s. like stone WALL" and from that
day this great soldier was affection
ately known as 'Stonewall" Jackson.
Kiily Smith was there, coming In
the rick of time with 1, 900 Confeder-
ates coming in time to receive John
ston'I order to attack McDowell's
right and make the Confederate vic
tory bure.
Stuart and his cavalry were there
and Joined In the impetuous charge
whicA threw the federal troops into
panii.
Ewell was there, that crusty old In
dian fighter, 4 diamond in the rough,
and John B. Gordon was there.
DR.. Hunter Mcclure OF Richmond
was there and dressed tie wound
whiclsStonewall Jackson received.
WeSiave not space to mention the
whole list, but must add that even
President Davis himself was there,
and Id his misgivings suddenly turn
ed qjo the gladness of triumph.
"Wffe was dressing Gen. Jackson's
hand9' said DR.. Mcclure, In one of
his addresses, saw President Davis
ride p from the direction OF Manas-
sas. He had been told by stragglers
that tur army had been defeated. He
stopped his horse in the middle of the
strea "a, Young's branch, stood up in
his pirrups (the palest, sternest face
| eur saw and cried to the great
croHt of soldiers, am President
DavJ, follow me back to the field. ""
Mr.. Mcclure told Gen. Jackson who
1t WIS and what he said, when Jack
son Mood up, took or his cap and
cried we have whipped them; they
ran Ike sheep. Give me TO-, 900 men
and ! VIII take Washington city to-
morrw." And If the men had been
forthcoming, he would have kept his
prOi.ise and the entire fortune OF the
war night have been changed.
t we are too fast. Let us 90
backa step In the narrative and re-
late the closing act In the tragedy.
Let IS go back to the point where
Kirly Smith arrived with his rein.
fore mentS and attacked McDowell's
righ, and let the story be told by a
northern writer, who refers to the
soutlerners as rebels and insurgents.
We iuote: The situation Of Beaure-
gart was critical. He was fighting
desperately, but was pressed steadily
backward. AT the moment when
defelt seem inevitable, he was strong
| 1V ripforpnd. An o6yopco a olonc, tho