The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1907-05-23

ter with Johnston. The audacity with
which Stonewall Jackson and others
moved their brigades to and fro on his
front, the impudence of the Confederate
cavalry led by such noted leaders as
j. E. b. Stuart and Turner Ashby, de-
prest Patterson, and made him fearful
of the responsibility of handling so great
a number as 10000 men in the face of
such perniciously active enemy.
The only real fighting man that he
had about him at that time was Col
Geo. II. Thomas, of the I'd u. S. Cav,
who does not seem to have had much
influence in Patterson's councils. Keim
and Cadwalader We're, like himself, re-
spectacle militia Generals, somewhat
advanced in years, and not, as far as
the records show, filled with any con-
Stunning desire for the carnage Of battle
Gen. Scott finally sent to Patterson
Maj.-Gen. Sanford, of New York, in
hopes of infusng a little more COM
bativeness into the army, but this, I'M
fortunately, did not produce the desired
result. Scott could not entirely escape
blame for any timidity on the part of
Patterson, for he sent to him, with
something of an Endorsement, the fol-
lowing statement, which was supposed
to be obtained from some one who
knew what he was talking about:
Washington, July IL, 1861.
1.-The plan of operations of the Sc
cession army in Virginia contemplates
the reverse of the proceedings and
movements announced in the Express of
yesterday and Saturday. A schedule
that has come to light meditates
stand and an engagement by Johnston,
when he shall have drawn Patterson
sufficiently far back from the river to
render impossible his retreat across IL
on being vanquished, and an advance
In n,,I
upon Mcclellan, and after the conquest
OF him march in this direction, to
unite in one attack upon the Federal
forces across the Potomac with the
army under Beauregard at Manassas
junction and the wing of that army,
the South Carolina regiments chiefly,
now nine miles from Alexandria. Sue
cess in each of these three several
movements is anticipated, and thereby
not only the possession of the Capital
is thought to be assured, but an adj
vance of the Federal troops upon Rich
mond prevented.
The plan supposes that this success
will give the Confederate cause such
prestige and inspire in it such faith as
VIII insure the recognition of its Gov
eminent abroad. and at the same time
so impair confidence in the Federal
Government as to render 1t impossible
Tor II to procure loans abroad and very
dllncult Tor II to raise means at home
Real retreats, which have been an
| ticipated, it will be seen, are by this
plan altogether ignored. According to
II. fighting and conquest are the orders.
'W. Scott"
Spurred on by Scott, Patterson again
crost the Potomac, on July 2, at Will
Transport, Abercrombie's Brigade in
advance, and at Falling Waters met
and drove Stonewall Jackson's Brigade.
! with Stuart's Cavalry, back to Bunker
Hill, nine miles from Winchester. The
work was mainly done by the excellent
battery of Regular artillery, which
quickly overpowered the enemy's guns.
Patterson waited week for his sup
plies to come up. and then advanced on
Bunker Hill, which he occupied with
but little resistance.
| On the Manassas Front.
Early in June Gen. Scott called upon
Gen. Mcdowell for IAN estimate of the
number of and composition of column
TO be pushed forward to Manassas juno
ton and perhaps the Gap, say, in four
or five days, to favor Patterson's attack
upon Harper's Ferry"
! 1t is significant Of McDowell's frame