The National tribune., 1904-09-01

The grand manuvers on the plains Of
Manassas, which begin in a few days, at
| tract general attention to section which
at one time was of the most supreme intei-
est to the people of the United States. For
| three years the Plains of Manassas were
the scene of mighty movements and awful
| battle by great armies, and the news was
waited from day to day with interest SO
| intense as to be almost sickening.
better field could not be selected for
the first of the grand manuvers and drills
which are intended for the instruction of
the Regular Army and National Guard of
the country i'm the science of war. 1t is
the first time that the Government has at
tempted to do Il thing like this. which is
considered vitality necessary in this era of
great armies. The force which will be as
sembled, though only 10000 men. is very
much larger than ever brought together be-
fore, except for actual conflict
Undoubtedly the manuvers will be fruit
full of immense good outside of the instruc-
ton in the art of war Troops will be
brought together from sections as remote
from one another as Connecticut and Texas.
The interminging of citizen soldiers from
each will undoubtedly be very fruitful in
the familiarity, acquaintance. and higher
estimation of each by the other. 1t all
tends greatly to the solidfication of our
entire people into one homogeneous COM
ideals, and high standards of patriotism.
The Plains of Manassas are an ideal
manuvering ground. They are large enough
to admit all of the most varied move
ments of great bodies Of men. and are suf
ficiently diversified in character to bring
out the most varied features Of strategy
and tactics.
TIE IERRAINE.
On the west is the range Of the Bull
Run Mountains, with the much higher wall
of the Blue Ridge, and many gaps, afford
ing widest opportunities for successful
f1anklng movements.
The first great feature south of Wash
ngton is the line of the Occoguan-or more
familiarity Bull Run. Cedar Run, Broad
Run and Bull Run-all considerable
creeks, unite to form the Occoquan River,
which empties into the Potomac some 25
miles below Washington, and with their
high, steep banks make a strong line of
defense. Their passage is everywhere more
or less difficult, and must be strongly
counted in any movement of bodies of
troops.
From 80 to 40 miles still farther south
is the still stronger line of the Kappa
hammock, with its important tributary, the
Rapidan.
This misunderstanding some 65 miles,
or little more. due south from Washing
t0n-and extending from the Blue Ridge
and the Shenandoa Valley eastward to
the Potomac it's breadth cut clear
across by the Rappahannock and Occoquan
and their tributaries the theater of
operations of the two great Armies of the
Potomac and Northern Virginia from the
beginning of the war. until the two forged
| over toward the James in the bloody Crap
| pling begun in the Wilderness when the
war was three years old.
| In the manuvers a great many of the
| movements of those eventful days will be
| repeated for the instruction of the troops
and their commanders, and consequently a
review of some of the principal events will
be useful and timely in order to compre-
hend better the meaning of the operations
| which are to be executed
TIE IMPORTANCE
of the Plains Of Manassas during the war
OF the rebellion consisted in their being
| the terraine upon which to defend both the
| rival Capitals-Washingto and Richmond.
| They made the approach by which the
rebels threatened Washington and by which
the Union army advanced against Rich
mond They covered the approach to the