The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-09-04
SENTINEL SHARP EARS
FIRST DETECTED ENEMY
How Palmetto State Pickets Got Earliest Init
nation of Presence Of Union Army at Ma
nassas and Gave Information That May
Have Turned the Tide of That Battle.
Earliest Init

antchells Ford, across Bull Run--and
, while on post you came to US and
asked us what the enemy were doing
and we told you they We're moving up
the river 10 our left You asked how
we knew II. and we said: by the noise
of the wagons, artillery. etc., and
you thought we were mistaken. You
got off your horse and went forward
a few steps in front of our lines and
lHstened for short time, and then
came back to us and said what we
thought about the enemy was correct.
that the general commanding the army
must know of it at once, and asked
why we had not reported II before
that time, etc. We told you we had
no Instructions TO report anything, but
to shoot any one coming from the d.
rection OF the nemy. You mounted
your horse and made off in great haste
to report the movements OF the enemy.
which have no doubt you did.
saw you eeverai times next day
! Sunday, az you attended to your
duties, but is has never been my
| pleasure TO speak to you since that
Saturday night, yet have often
thought of the occurrence and wanted
| to know, did the commander of the
gave 1t to him. Would 1t be asking
| too much of you 10 give me that In
y formation. AS j have said before. prob
ably you have forgotten all about 1t.
but II is fresh in my mind.
| was quite a boy then-slxteen
years oid-and did not feel quite at
home and happy. afy conrade was
/ killed near Richmond. / was kept
from injury through the entire war.
/ occasionally meet Miss Meta Lythgo
and ask about you. and / ask our law
yers when they come back from Column
hia, II they have seen you. how you
are, etc.
II you remember this occurrence. ard
If ever nave the opportunity of talk
ing with you about IT, II would be
livery pleasant, indeed.
/ have. now taken too much OF your
time and Will close. hoping that your
life may be long spared TO our State
Truly, your unknown friend.
c. K HENDERSON.
| General MCGOWAN tells US this Is
| true In every particular except one
and that is that it was not half OF
/ the whole truth The officers did re-
port TO the General (Bonham).
| /. Then he sent his acting Adjutant-
General (McGowan) with the report
Ito headquarters at Manassas Uhree
| miles,, and he aroused General Beaure-
| gard about 2 or o'clock in the morn
ing and gave the information to him.
2. Then General Beauregard sent
| General MCGOWAN to General jack
son, at McLain's Ford
/ 3. Jackson sent the same officer and
aroused Colonel Walker. of the New
| Orleans Artillery.
/ When the staff officer on his re-
turn reached Mitchell's Ford, the sun
was just rising. and the first gun OF
the great battle OF Manassas was fired.
The, general says he has often Won
dered as 10 how much the work OF
those faithful sentinels, far out on the
Hines. contributed to our first great
success a Manassas Plains.
| Privates gave battle. but officers
reap the reward.--Press and Banner. Il
James Kadle was killed at the bat
tie of Gettysburg.
Benjamin sharpton was killed at
Cold HaIbor.
smithheld Radford died short time
4 after the war.
Company r. OF the Seventh Regiment
] was mustered in at Graniteville.