The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-07-21
TODAY IN HISTORY
The First Battle Of Bull Run.
THURSDAY, JULY 21. 1910.

More than three months had passed
after the capture OF Fort Sumter before
anything OF much importance In the way
OF show OF strength between the north
and south was accomplished. and the
patience OF the people. on both sides. was
becoming strained TO its utmost tension.
In the north the cry was ION to Rich
mond! but the government responded,
with what?" The pressure, however.
became so great, that finally General
| 1861 the first really important engage
inent between the union and confederate
forces took place on the banks OF a
stream called Bull Run, a few miles to
the northwest OF Manassas Junction. Va.
and about thirty miles south Of the Po-
| tomac at Washington. The confederate
army was well ntrenched here and about
a week previous to the day OF the battle
the union army began slowly moving to-
ward this point
On the evening of July 20 the two
armies were about seven miles apart.
Early In the morning Of the 2lst they
began approaching and the outposts cam
nonoded one another. BY 10 o'clock the
The confederate force numbered about
| 30. 900. while that Of the federal was not
more than 10000. Both armies were made
up. for the most part. OF raw troops, In
| experienced in war.
| So well intrenched were the confed
crates, and so skillful were their gem
erals In mancuverlng the battle, that
| after several hours Of hghting the federal
| army was compelled TO give way at one
point after the other until finally the re-
| treat had dceenerated into disorder.
| Every effort was made to rally the troops,
even beyond the reach of the enemy s
| fire. but in vain The plain was covered
with the rctreatlng soldiers, and they
seemed to infect those with whom they
| came in contact. The retreat soon be-
came rout. and this eventually degen-
Grated into a panic.
The onset of that tumultuous retreat
is described by those who witnessed II
| Terrible three Oc fej
erai troops-all detached from their regi-
ments, all mingled In one disorderly rout
were fleeing along the road, but mostly
through the lots on either side The flight
did not slaclSen In the least until Center
Vile was reached. There the sight OF the
reserve-Mlles's brigade-formed In order
on on the NIL seemed somewhat TO reassure
| the van,
In the great race for shelter all di-
visions and all regiments We're mingled
perfect frenzy was upon almost every
| man. Even. the sentiment OF shame had
gone. There was no stop to the retreat
Ing army until they reached the Potomac
and felt themselves safe back again 10
The loss of the federals in killed and
wounded was about 2900 that of the
confederates about 100 The battle
greatly Inspired the south and at first
however. devoted itself with renewed Wig
or and determination to preparation for
what, as then became apparent. would
probably be long and severe struggle
Te Deums were sung in the churches
OF the south over their victory, and a day
of thanksgiving was observed.
The second battle OF Bull Run was
fought on nearly the same field on August
29 and 30, 1862, between - 900 confe6- =
crates under General Robert T.. Lee and
about 10000 federals under General Pope.
the latter being again defeated. The CON
federates were greatly superior I'm lead
ership. Lee being an even match for Pope,
ana Lees two corps commanders, Jack
son and Longstreet. giving him more eff
clent support than Pope's corps COM
manders. The federal loss in killed and
wounded In this battle was about 1850,
while that of the confederates was only
about 5000 Bull Run was n rather un-
lucky fghting ground for the union army,