Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1906-11-24

the stream of Bull Run, about three
miles north of Manassas, and the
courses of the stream was generally
wooded and bordered with small fields
and pastures, giving very few open
stretches. / was not at all sanguine
that / would be able to render any
valuable service, but fortunately had
the time to make a thorough search
of the whole country, and as will be
seen, one line which I opened up dis
closed the vital secret of the enemy's
strategy in time to allow it to be sue
cessfully met.
About a mile east of the little vii |
Iage of Manassas, on the farm of a |
Mr.. Wilcoxen, 1 found a high rocky |
point, covered with cedars, but having |
a good outlook over a valley to the |
northwest. I made this point CEN
trail station, and by cleaning 1t on
and by clearing at some other points,
1 got two straight six mile ranges,
northwest to a bluff over Bull Run
valley on our extreme left, short
way above the stone bridge Cby which
the Warrentown pike crossed Bull
RUM, and the other north to Center
vile, about three miles beyond the
run, opposite our center. Another
station was found near the run, OPP
posite our right center, and a fourth
near our headquarters in the village.
| This was the utmost that the topo-
| graphy permitted and / established
| them and set the men to practicing
| by day and by night. 1t is not neces-
sary for me to refer to the operations
| preceding the 21st. Early that morn
| ing McDowell's turning column was
| approaching Sudley ford, two miles
| above the confederate left at stone
| bridge; and after a very early break
fast Gems Beauregard and Johnston,
with their united stats, started to
the front, opposite their center.
AS the rather large party, with an
escort of couriers, moved down the
road soon after breakfast. Gen. Beau
regard called me to him and directed
me to take a courier and go to my
central signal station on the hill near
Wilcoxen's house, and remain there
in general observation and to send
him messages about anything that
could be seen. 1 was far from pleased
at the receipt of the order, for had
hoped to accompany the two generals
throughout the day, and the chances
of seeing anything important from
this place seemed infinitely small
| L
and Beauregard deserves credit foi
the thought of taking every possible
means of acquiring prompt informa
ton. If he had had a balloon thi
| would have been the time to sent l
up.
By rare good luck the Wi1coxen hill
had a particularly good outlook be
yond the Stone bridge From
could be seen our signal station on tn
bluff in the rear of Stone Bridge, 81
miles off, and then beyond that TO
miles the level valley of upper Blu
Run, with it's fields, fences, pastures
etc, was foreshortened into one ma
row band of green. l arrived on WI
coxen hill about eight o'clock. Ate
a careful study of the whole field wit
the glass, 1 fixed the glass upon tn
Stone Bridge station and got from tn
operator there some details about tn
| DEVELOPMENTS of the morning. Will
! was reading the motions OF MS ma
the sun being low in the east and
looking toward the west, from up
the narrow band of green above tt
flag the faintest twinkle of ligl
caught my eye. My eyes were alwa!
- remarkably quick and good and 1 hs
~ long training with the glass. 1t w;
III but a single flash. The color was tn
of brass and the shape a horizont
GU line. 1t could be but the reflection
the morning sun from the side OF
ns brass gun 1 brought my glass We
la carefully to bear exactly, and preseI
u.s. ly made out a little swarm OF st
at fainter glitters, and l knew that
ed was a column of bright musket BE-
lp rels and bayonets-
It was about SAB a. m, and 1 h
- discovered McDowelFs turning c
=! umn. the head of which at this no
- was Just arriving at ,Sudley, e1g
~, miles away. At once appreciati
how much it might mean. l thong
- it best to give Gen. Evans, in co
. mand at the Stone bridge, immedls
W nosice. even before sending word
- Beauregard So I signaled Eva
-. quickly. Look out for your left; y
are turned" Gen. Evans afterwa
told me that the picket which ne d
W. at Sudley, being driven in by the
ian vance guard of the enemy. had sc
q messenger, and the two messenge
Tau one with my warning and one W
~, the report of the picket, reached n
Tai simultaneously. The two reports fr
nol different sources, coming togeth
NY thoroughly impressed him with
airy gravity of the situation, and he ac'
.no Immediately and with excellent 1u
Nv ment.-Chicago Inter-Ocean-