The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1906-10-18

foreshortened into one narrow band O,
green. 1 arrived on wilcoxen bill
about s a. m. After careful study OF
the whole field with the glass, l fixed
the glass upon the Stone bridge sta
ton and got from the operator there
some details about the development.
OF the morning. While 1 was readina
the motions of his flag. the sun beina
low In the east and L looking toward
the west from up in the narrow band
OF green above the flag the faintesi
twinkle OF light caught my eye Ms
eyes were always remarkably quick and
good and had long training with the
glass. 1t was but single flash. The
color was that OF brass aud the shape
of horizontal line. 1t could be but
the reflection of the morning sun from
the side of brass gun. brought my
glass very carefully to bear exactly.
and presently made out a little swarm
Of still fainter glltters, and l knew
that 1T was column of bright mus
ket barrels and bayonets.
1t was about 8 :45 a. M. and l hac
discovered McDowell's turning column
the head Of which at this hour was lust
arriving at Sudley, eight miles away,
At once approaching how much II
might mean, 1 thought 1t best to give
General Evans, in command at the
Stone bridge immediate notice, even
before sending word to Beauregard
So signaled Evans quickly. Look out
for your left; you are turned Gen.
eral Evans afterward told me that tbs
picket which he had at Sudley. BEING
driven in by the advance guard of the
enemy, had sent messenger, and the
two messengers. one with my warning
and one with ire report of the picket
reached him simultaneously. The tive
reports from. different sources, coming
together, thoroughly impressed him
with the gravity Of the situation. and
he acted Immediately, and with excel
lent Judgment. He left four companies
of his command to occupy the enemy
Tyler and his three brigades) In his
own front, and with the remainder OF
his force (six companies of the Fourth
South Carolina and Wheat's Louisiana
battalion) he marched to oppose and
delay the turning column, at the same
time sending word of his movement ia
Colonel Cooke, next on his right
In his official report Evans warmly
thanks Colonel Robert Wheat (wha
had been an old filibuster) for sound
advice on the field. and have no doubt
but that Wheat was consulted and ad-
vised with here. Poor Wheat! h
fought as well as he advised. He fell
shot through both lungs. He recov.
cred, but at his next fight, Gaines Mil
eleven months afterward, he fell lead
ing a charge, and could only exclaim
BURY me on the field, boys"
Having sent Evans my brief notice OF
his Immediate danger, l wrote nots
to General Beauregard, which I can
quote, I believe, verbatim, as 1t was
framed after my idea of what the re
ports of accommodating officers should
be-the exact mathematical truth, the
whole truth, and nothing but the truth
| | kept no copy Of 1t. but Its impression
upon my mind was very vivid, and IL
was about as follows:
II see a body &C troops crossing Bull
Run about two miles above the Stone
bridge. The head of the column is In
the woods on this side; the rear of the
column is in the woods on the other
side. About a half mile of its length
is visible in the open between. car
see both infantry and artillery"
When l had written it, it looked very
tame for notice Of the great event
took it to be; but l gave. 1t to my
courier and sent him OF at gallop.
with some two and half miles to go.
/. General Beauregard, IN his report
of the battle, does not mention the re-
ceipt of this note, but says generally
that l gave him 'seasonable and ma
terial assistance early In the day with
my system Of signals"
General Johnston is more explicit
Chicago Inter Ocean.