Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1907-07-20
SATURDAY EVENING. JULY 20, lsC7.


TOMORROW will be the foriy-sixth
anniversary of the battle OF Bull Run,
or "the first Manassas" as it is also
called. The percentage of Alexandrisns
who hesrd the roar of the conflict on
that memorable Sunday is now c1mpaia'
lively small. Two generations have
since appeared on the stage OF life and
the crandfatheis of some now living have
no recollection of the stirring scenes IN
this city which preceded and followed
the battle. While the dogs of war were
at each others throats, there were men
and women in Alexandria who remem'
bered the capture of the city by the
British in 1914, the bombardment oil
Fort McHenry, and the battle OF North
Point. All such have paid the debt
Of nature and the recollections of the
oldest now living can only testify con-
corning the war with Mexico and the
war between the States. The wheels Of
dime continue to revOlve. Ere many
wears the contemporaries of those who
participated in the Mexican war will have
passed from the scene, while the eye
witness Of the civil conflict will be &t
the lean and slippered pantsloon regal
ing grand snd great-grandchildren with
scenes in connection with the battle Of
Boil Run. At the outbreak of the wal
between the north and South one OF the
frat storm centres was 10 this vicinity.
In fact the vortex WAS in Alexandra.
The disturbance, however, was short
lived and when cur people vensured
from their storm cellars they found the
city in the hands of the federal army
There had been double tragedy at the
Marshall House. The proprietor was
weltering in his own blood, having for
geited his life in defending his house
on which a Confederate flag had been
placed. The colonel OF the regiment
which had entered the hOstelry was
also corpse, and was being borne
on the guns of soldiers to a steamboat to
be forwarded to bis northern home. This
dual tragedy was followed two months
later by the ssnguinary battle Of Bull
Run and the discOmfit of the federal
army which fell back upon Washington.
The streets of Alexandria on the day
following the battle were filled with
hungry struggling soldiers, many of whom
had previously left the city with the cry,
"On TO Manassas ~ on their lips. They
had returned cres -'sllen and d jected,
with their clothes despatched with mud.
They were realizing the truth Of General
Sherman's famous observation. Most OF
them were three months men whose
term of enlistment was drawing to
close, and their first baptism of fire was
a sufficient taste of war. The survivors
of the New York Fire Z)naves, whose
colonel had fallen in the Marshall House
on the 2ith of May, were among those
who returned to Alexandria, and sought
their previous quarters. While the de-
fested soldiers were dOcile and orderly,
there was no disposition on the part of
southern sympathizsrs in this city to
exult over their repluse, but as The gov
eminent had made no provisions for
furnishing rations to the soldiers, many
Alexaudrians peled their houses and
relieved the temporary needs OF the
wearers of the blue. The battle OF Bull
Ran, however, proved to be but the
first act in the conflict destined to
continue four years. This portion OF
the world has for over two-score years
been exempted from martial scenes. The
dogs Of war continue chained, and the
DIVE Of peace still hovers over the coun-
try. That such conditions may continue
ia the earnest wish of all whose lOtit has
BEEN to enter into the clash of war or to
witness its horrors.