The National tribune., 1907-11-14

Pope, but succeeded only in losing him.
self, ard most unfortunately could not
be found for the rest Of the day. In
the meanwhile his troops mad started
ito execute the order, with Gen. King
bringing up the rear of McDoweli's col
umn. King started his bands playing
to cheer the weary troops, with no
/ thought OF any enemy, and left his posi-
ton about 5 o'clock to march down the
| Warrenton pike toward Bull Run.
Hatch's Brigade led, and passed over
the Groveton Ridge. followed by Glib
bon's famous Iron Brigade-2d. 5th and
| 7th Wis. and the 18th Ind. With this
brigade was John Gibbons old Battery
B, 4th u. S. Art. 1t was the only ex-
clusively Far Western brigade then
serving in the Army of the Potomac,
and this was its first fight. AS Gibbons
Brigade came out of the shelter of the
woods on the open slopes it was opened
upon by JacksOns artillery. The Con-
| federate General wanted a fight, and
Kings Division was in the best heart to
accomm modate him for all that it was
worth. Gibbon at once put the artillery
in position to answer Jackson's guns,
and placing himself at the head Of the
| I'd Wis, rode off into the woods to flank
and capture one of the batteries. Pres
emily Indications made him think it well
| to deploy the regiment, and 1t struck
| 4 strong skirmish line in the tall grass.
| The firing that opened up at once show
| ed Gibbon that he had something seri
Gus on hand, and he brought up the
| rest of the brigade to the aid of the I'd
| Wis, and Jackson, trying to deliver one
| of his usual swift, crushing blows,
hurled upon the brigade six magnificent
brigades of infantry, four of Taliaferro's
and two of Ewell's. The Wisconsin and
Indiana boys were not made of the stuff
to run at the first fighting; they were
too green to recognize the sOldierly duty
of retiring before such an immense
force, and for long hours the brigade
stood its ground, pouring its shot with
desperate energy into the enemy's
ranks, not yielding an inch to the sea-
soned veterans that Jackson pushed
against them. Jackson himself speaks
of its holding this position with 'obsti-
nate determination" and it certainly
was obstinate enough to hold at bay.
until night closed the sanguinary con-
fiict, Jackson's best troops. six to one.
During this time it lost 40 per cent of
Its officers and men, but had in its turn
dealt death to its enemies. Ewell lost
a leg, Ta,iaferro was severely wounded.
and the losses in high Confederate Off
GERS killed and wounded was appalling.
lDoubleday's little brigade came to the
assistance of Gibbon and suffered Sc
vereiy, but Hatch, far in advance, and
Patrick, equally far in the rear, did not
participate in the struggle. The demor-
aliZing stroke which Jackson had con-
templated recoiled upon himself. He
had lost a sad number of his best men,
and had not gained the slightest .advan-
| tage except in killing and wOunding
something like the same number of his
enemies King sent word to Ricketts,
of his troubles. asking him to come to
his help. He felt confident of his abil-
ity to hold the ground till Ricketts, could
arrive, tho the prisoners captured told
him that beyond a doubt Stonewall
Jackson was in front of him with from
| 10000 to $4,000 men. Staff officers
were sent to find Pope and Mcdowell
and tell them what had happened. but
| neither of them could be found. They
had heard the firing, but supposed that
Sigel and Reynolds were with King.
leffectually checking Jackson in an at
tempt to retreat thru Thoroughfare Gap.
Therefore Pope busted himself during
the night in bringing up his troops to
deliver a heavy attack upon Jackson in
the morning. Jackson, learning from
his scouts, who had penetrated into the
Union lines after dark, how small was
the force opposed to him, prepared to
crush 1t as soon as day should come.
After a consultation with his brigade
commanders and going over the situa-
tion thorOly. King reluctantly decided
| to retreat and at 1 o'clock in the MORN
| ing his worn-out men groped their way
off to the right in the direction of
| Manassas.
| Mcdowell and Porter.
Ricketts,, who had fallen back before
Longstreet's oyerpowering advance upon
learning from Gen. King of his move,
followed him back to the railroad,
reaching Bristoe Station early in the
morning of Aug. 29. The road thru
\ VI Cor orI
Jackson was out of the tightest place
| he had ever gotten into. King and
| Ricketts, have been strongly criticized
| for this movement, and it has been said
that they should have held their ground,
knowing that Sigel was close to the
fight, Reynolds but short distance in
the rear, and that in the morning
Heintzelman and Reno would be sent to
their assistance. Kings health broke
down completely the next day, and it is
alleged that his nerves had already CIV
en- way, and that ne imposed his judg-
ment upon Ricketts, Reynolds had only
small division, and could not hope to
maintain his place after his flanks were
uncovered by the retirement of King
and Ricketts,.
| Accepting the sound of Kings guns
as confirmat ton of his belief that Jack
son was trying to escape, Pope, at 9:05
o'clock p. m, Aug. %, sent from his
! headquarters near Bull Kun TO Gen.
kearny the following order:
Headquarters Army of Virginia near
Rull Run, Aug. %, 1862; sos p. m.
: General: Gen. Mcdowell has inter-
:epted the retreat of the enemy, and is
2ow in his front, Sigel on the right of
IcDowell. Unless he can escape by by
paths leading to the north tonight, he
must be captured. desire you to move
/ forward at l o'clock tonight, even If
! you can carry with you no more than
| 1000 men, tho I trust you will carry
the larger part of your division. Pursue
the turnpike from Centerville to War
| renton. The enemy is not more than
| three and one-half miles from you.
Seize any OF the people of the town to
guide you. Advance cautiously, and
drive in the enemy's pickets tonight,
and at early dawn attack him vigorous
ly. Hooker shall be close behind you.
Extend your right well toward the
north, and push forward your right
wing well in the attack. Pc sure to
march not later than 1, with all the men
| you can take.
John Pope. Major-General Command
ing.
"Maj.-Gen. Kearny"
He also sent an order to Heintzelman
to move Hooker's Division to Center
vile, and thence by turnpike to where
he could act as reserve to Kearny, and