Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1906-11-16

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very many medium sized ones and
very much second growth pine. Our
line OF battle had been chosen along
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
| stretched / 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 1 opened up dis
closed the vital secret of the enemy's
strategy in time to allow 1t to be sue
cessfully met.
About mile east of the little vii
lage of Manassas, on the farm of
| Mr.. Wilcoxen, l found high rocky
| point, covered with cedars, but having
good outlook over a valley to the
northwest. l made this point a cen.
trail station, and by cleaning it off
and by clearing at some other points,
/ got two straight six mile ranges,
northwest to bluff over Bull Run
valley on our extreme left short
way above the stone bridge (by 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, op.
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 McDowells turning column was
approaching Sudley ford, two miles
above the confederate left at stone
bridge; and after very early break.
fast Gems. Beauregard and Johnston,
with their united staffs, 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 courier and go to my
central signal station on the hill near
WileoXen's house, and remain there
In general observation and to send
him messages about anything that
could be seen. 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.
There was no help for it, however,
and Beauregard deserves credit for
the thought of taking every possible
means of acquiring prompt informa.
tion. If he had had a balloon this
would have been the time to sent ii
up.
By rare good luck the Wilcoxen hill
had particularly good outlook be-
yond the Stone bridge. From it
could be seen our signal station on the
bluff in the rear of Stone Bridge, six
miles off, and then beyond that for
miles the level valley of upper Bull
Run, with it's fields, fences, pastures,
etc., was foreshortened into one mar.
row band of green. I arrived on Will
coxen hill about eight o'clock. After
careful study of the whole field with
the glass, / fixed the glass upon the
Stone Bridge station and got from the
operator there some details about the
developments of the morning. While
l was reading the motions of his flag,
the sun being low in the east and I
looking toward the west, from up in
= 80 H.
flag the faintest twinkle of light
caught my eye. My eyes were always
remarkably quick and good and l had
long training with the glass. 1t was
but a single flash. The color was that
of brass and the shape horizontal
line. 1t could be but the reflection of
the morning sun from the side of a
brass gun. 1 brought my glass very
carefully to bear exactly, and present
ly made out a little swarm of still
fainter glitters, and I knew that it
was a column of bright musket bar
rels and bayonets.
1t was about S:45 a. m, and / had
discovered McDowells turning col.
umn, the head of which at this hour
Was JuSL at ouuiCy, SiShi
miles away. At once appreciating
how much it might mean, l thought
it best to give Gen. Evans, in COM
mand at the Stone bridge, immediate
notice, even before sending word to
Benuregard. So l signaled Evans
quickly. Look out for your left; you
are turned" Gen. Evans afterward
told me that the picket which he had
at Sudley, being driven in by the ad'
vance guard of the enemy, had sent
q messenger, and the two messengers,
one with my warning and one with
the report of the picket, reached him
simultaneously. The two reports from
different sources, coming together,
thoroughly impressed him with the
gravity of the situation, and he acted
Immediately and with excellent judg'
ment.-Chicago Inter-Ocean.