The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1904-08-31
AT MANASSAS AGAIN.

AL MANAOOAO AU AIN
The Historic Field Upon Which
Troops Will Manoeuvre
IN GRAND MIMIC BATTLE ARRAY
A Field Upon Which 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
capital to 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
exandria. 1t soon became apparent
that the first struggle would take
place in northern Virginia, and the
federal government held the Potomac
river In tight grasp and Washington
was well guarded. Gen. Mcdowell
had a union army Of about $4,000
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 a Confederate army,
was entrenched at Winchester, his
task being to prevent any advance by
Gen. Robert Patterson, and to keep
him from joining Mcclellan. At the
same time Mcdowell was assured that
Patterson with bis $4,000 men, would
prevent Johnston from joining Beau
regard. But, as it afterwards turned
out, Patterson was not in Johnston's
way. 1t was 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.
1.-THE advance OF the union army, "
says a 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 the carriages were ladies who Sc
cu:ed favorable position from which
to view through their opera glasses
the overthrow Of the rebel forces. :"
But before the day closed Linden
saw another sight" The show was
quite different in the last act OF the
tragedy from what this gay crowd
from the north had expected.
The Confederacy had gathered there
it's finest troops, many of the priVates
being young men out Of the colleges
and universities, clothed in the finest
uniforms, with glittering arms, but
nothing about them so bright as the
fash OF their eyes. The noblest COM
manders Of the Confederate forces
were there. Beauregard was there
and Johnston was there, as has al.
ready been said. Thomas ]. Jackson
was there, and when Gen. Bee looked
upon him and his gallant men be ex
claimed: Look! There stands Jack
81 like stone WALL" and from that
day this great soldier was affection.
ately known as "Stonewall" Jackson.
Kirby Smith was there, coming in
the nick of time with 1000 Confeder-
ates, coming in time to receive John
ston's ordcr to attack McDowell's 8
right and make the Confederate VIC
tory sure.
Stuart and his cavalry were there
and joined in the impetuous charge
which threw the federal troops into
panic.
Ewell was there, that crusty old In
dian fighter, diamond in the rough,
and John B. Gordon was there.
DR.. Hunter Mcclure Of Richmond
was there and dressed tie wound
which Stonewal Jackson received.
We have not space to mention the
whole list, but must add that even
President Davis himself was there,
and had his misgivings suddenly turn
ed into the gladness Of triumph.
"While I was dressing Gen. Jackson's
hand" said Dr.. Mcclure, in one OF
his addresses, II saw President Davis
ride up fron the direction OF Manas-
| sas. He had been told by stragglers
that our army had been defeatsd. BE
stopped his horse in the middle OF the
stream, Young's branch, stood up in
bis stirrups (the pale>t, sternest face
ever saw AID cried to the great
crowd of soldiers, l am President
Davis, follow me back to the field. D
Mr.. Mcclure told Gen. Jackson who
it was and what be said, when Jack
son stood up, took of his cap anc
cried, "We have whipped them; they
ran like sheep. Give me 10000 mer
and will take Washington city to-
morrow" And if the men had beer
forthcoming, he would have kept his
promise and the entire fortune OF The
war might have been changed.
But we are too fast. Let US g
back step in the narrative and re-
late the closing act in the tragedy
Let US go back to the point where
Kirby Smith arrived with his rein
forcements and attacked McDowell''
right and let the story be told by
northern writer, who refers to the
southerners as rebels and insurgents
We quote: ''Tne situation of Beaure
| ,,oe or;+io,1 Ho uae fphtinp