The National tribune., 1907-11-21


left. and. striking slight trail, COM
menced the ascent had not gone half
way up the side of the mountain when
my guide either missed the trail or 1t
ran. out. At any rate, he seemed TO
know as little as ] did, and told me
that he could guide me no further
Letting him go, ] moved on thru the
tangled woods and huge rocks until the
crest was reached Here we were con-
fronted by natural wall of rock which
seemed impossible. Men were sent out
on both sides to search for some open
ing thru which We might pass. and
crevice was soon found some feet above
our level, where the men could get
thru, one at time. the first one being
man as he got up lending a helping
hand to the next. AS / stood on the
crest and heard the fighting in the Gap
below, and the distant laundering of
Jackson's battle at Manassas, felt the
sound of each gun was a call for help,
and the progress of the men. one by
one, across the rocky barrier seemed
painfully slow. In fact, they got thru
in an almost incredibly short time. AS
soon as the leading regiment was over
q skirmish line was pushed down the
mountain, which on this side sloped
gently, and presented few obstacles ex-
cept a small ravine and stream which
eral batteries at the mouth of the Gap
soon came in sight They were firing
steadily but leisureiy. and seemed as If
they were there to stay. My whole bri-
gade was soon over, the skirmishers In
the meantime pressing forward upon
the flank OF the batteries. which were
less than half mile off.
The Battle Of Mnnassas.
AS shown by the dispatch with which
the last chapter concluded, Pope. at 5
q. m. of Aug. 80. was full of belief that
he had won victory the day before
which gave him q substantial advantage
over the enemy. interfering with his
retreat He was confident that II Por-
ter had attacked Us ordered simulta-
neous with the splendid assaults made
on the other IaTts OF the line that
Jackson would have been overwhelmed
possibly annihilated. II did not shake
this belief that his assaults had been
in the end repelled. since he made the
natural conclusion that II they had been
simultaneous and coordinate with q
heavy blow frem Porter success would
have followed. 1t will be remembered
that he sent imperative orders to Por.
ter to join him with his corps. and re-
port to him personally by daylight. Por.
ter did SO. and endeavored to awaken
Pope to the dangers from Longstreet's
presence on his left flank, but found
his commander SO prepossessed Of the
opposite idea that he could not shake
him. Pope was sure that only a por
tion OF Longstreet's men had arrived
not enough to influence the result. 1
has been claimed that Pope's mind wa.
then in an abnormal condition. and un
fit for the sure. clear grasp that hat
previously distinguished him. He wa
naturally intensely excited over the Sc
we're fighting of the day before. ant
not less wrought up over Porter's dis
obedience. and predisposed to believ
that the iatter's report of the force II
front Of him was an excuse for hi
culpable inaction. Pope sent out re
connoissances north of the pike whicl
seemed to confirm his idea of the enc
my's retreat, and as late as noon o
Saturday he issued the following or
der:
Special order No. -.
Headquarters. near Groveton,
Aug. 80. 1862; IL m.
''The following forces will be imme
diatelY thrown forward in pursuit o