davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-04-30

were at close quarters and gallant on
both sides. The batteries of Ricketts, and
Griffin, by their fine discipline, wonder
full daring and matchless skill. were the
prime features in the fight. The battle
was not lost till they were lost. When
in their advanced and perilous position,
and just after their infantry supports had
been driven over the slopes, fatal mis-
take occurred. A regiment of infantry
came out of the woods on Griffin right.
and as he was in the act of opening upon
it with canister he was deferred by the
assurance of Maj. Barry, the chief OF
artillery, that it was a regiment sent by
Col. Heintzelman to support the bat
terry" A moment more and the doubt
full regiment proved its identity with a
deadly volley, and, as Griffin states in
his official report, every cannoneer was
cut down and large number of horses
killed, leaving the battery (Which was
without support excepting in name) per
fectly helpless.'' The effect upon Ricketts,
was equally fatal. He, desperately wound
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-04-30
McDOWELL'S ADVANCE TO b

Dowell carefully examined the Confeder
ate position, and made his plan to ma
neuver. the enemy out or 1t.
Beauregard was not idle within his own
lines. The Confederate president had au-
thoriZed Johnston, Beauregard's senior,
to use his discretion in moving to the
support of Manassas, and Beauregard,
urging Johnston to do so. sent railway
transportation for the Shenandoah forces.
The campaign which Gen. Scott re-
Quired Mcdowell to make was under
taken with the understanding that john
ston should he prevented from joining
both Mcdowell and Patterson, assured
Mcdowell that Johnston should not join
Beauregard without having Patterson
on his heels" Yet Johnston's army,
nearly nine thousand strong, joined
Beauregard. Bees brigade and Johnston
in person arriving on the morning OF the
Goth, the remainder about noon on the
Dist. Although the enforced delay at
Centerville enabled Mcdowell to provis-
ion his troops and gain information upon
which to base an excellent plan of at
tack, it proved fatal by affording time for
a junction. Of the opposing forces.
During the 10th and Goth the bivouacs
of McDowell's army at Centervlle, al
most within cannon range of the enemy,
were thronged by visitors, official and un-
official, who came in carriages from
Washington, bringing their own supplies
They were under no military restraint.
and passed to and fro among the troops
as they pleased, giving the scene the APP
pearance Of a monster military picnic
Among others, the venerable Secretary of
War, Cameron, called upon Mcdowell.
McDowell's plan of battle. promulgated
on the Goth, was to turn the enemy's left,
force him from his defensive position, and,
IF possible. destroy the railroad lead
ing from Manassas to the valley OF Vir-
ginia, where the enemy has large
force" He did not know when he issued
this order that Johnson had Joined
Beauregard, though he suspected It,
Tyler's first division, which was on the
turnpike in advance, was to move at 2:30
am, threaten the Stone bridge and open
fire upon IT at daybreak. This demon
stration was to be vigorous, its first pur-
pose being to divert attention from the
movements of the turning column. AS
soon as Tyler's troops cleared the way,
Hunters second division, followed by
Heintzelman's third division. was to move
to g. point on the Warrenton turnpike
about one or two miles east of Stone
bridge and there take a country road
to the right, cross the run at Sudley
Springs, come down upon the flank and
rear Of the enemy at the Stone bridge.
and force him to open the way for Tyler's
division to cross there and attack, fresh
and in full force.
Tyler's start was so late and his ad-
vance was so slow as to hold Hunter
and Heintzelman two or three hours on
the mile or two of the turnpike between
their camps and the point at which they
were to turn off for the flank march.
This delay, and the fact that the flank
march proved difficult and some twelve
miles instead of about six, as was ex-
pected, were of serious moment. The
banking column did not cross at Sudley
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-04-30

column would be fatiguing. and when by
a sturdy fight 1t had cleared the W arren-
ton turnpike for the adance OF IEier
division it had. in fact. done more tnan
its fair proportion of the work. But ~
Ter did not attempt to force the passage
of the Stone bridge, which, after ABOUT
Z O'Clock, was defended by only Tour
companies of infantry.
Having sent the order to Tyler to press
his attack and orders to the rear or the
turning column to hurry FORWARD NC
Dowell like Beauregard. rushed In per-
son into the conflict, and by the force
IF circumstances became for the time
the commander Of the turning Column
and the force actually engaged, rather
than the commander OF his whole army.
Unlike Beuregard, he had no Johnston In
the rear with full authority and knowl-
edge Of the situation to throw FORWARD re-
serves and achievements
It was not until II o'clock that Col. w. I.
Sherman received orders from Tyler 10
above the Stone bridge. sherman re-
ported to Mcdowell on the field ana
Joined in the pursuit of Bees forces
across the valley Of Young's branch.
x
The line taken up by Stonewall Jack
son upon which Bee, Barlow and Evans
rallied on the southern part of the pla-
teau that was a very strong one. The
ground was high and afforded the cover
of a curvelinear wood with the concave
side toward the federal line of attack.
To carry this formidable position, Nc.
Dowell had at hand the brigades OF
Franklin. Wilcox. sherman ,,, and Porter Porter;
and ricketts, and Grifin's regular bat
teries The men. unused to- to field service t,,;
march from the Potomac, had been un-
der arms since midnight The plateau.
boueVer WAS Dromptly assaulted, the
northern part of 1t was carried, the bat
teries of Ricketts, and Griffin were plant,
ed near the Henry house, and Mcdowell
clambered to the upper story of that
structure to get glance at the whole
field. Upon the Henry house plateau, of
which the Confederates held the south
ern and the Federals the northern part,
the tide of battle ebbed and flowed as
Mcdowell pushed in Franklin's, Wilcox's,
Sherpans. Porter's and at last Howa-d's
brigades, and as Beauregard put into ac-
ton reserves which Johnston sent from
the right and reinforcements which he
hurried forward from the Shenandoah
valley as they arrived by cars.
The several struggles for the plateau
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-04-30
A Son to Be Proud Of.
A AMBASSADOR JAMES BRYCE at ,

A AMBASSADOR JAMES BRYCE ct 8
- dinner in Washington said OF the
American spirit:
But you have not a monopoly OF thte
independent, this democratic spirit. I Sef
example, once knew an Cxford de4
whose father was humble carpeptera
LAS the don stood conversing ono usy
before the Mitre with a group or disttns
guished visitors the old man, his Work.
ing clothes, skunk by on the other side ct
the street, thinking he would spare his
SON the modification Of salute.
But the son, breaking on his converea-
ton, called out In the good Hampshire
dialect of his childhood:
"'Eh, feyther! II thee haint hshamso
of I. hain't ashamed Of theer"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-04-30

1901
- -

favor of the enemy's accepting battle
between this point darlington Va.) and the
junction, and that the consequences Of
that battle will be of the greatest i'm
portance to the country. as establish
ing the prestige in this contest, on the
one side or the other, I think it of
great consequence that as for the most
part our regiments are exceedingly raw
and the best of them. with few eX-
ceptions. not over steady in line, they
be organized into as many small fixed
brigades as the number Of regular col
onels will admit-so that the men may
have as fair a chance as the nature of
things and the comparative inexperi-
ence of most will allow"
This remarkably sound report was
approved, and Mcdowell was directed
TO carry the plan into effect July g.
But the government machinery worked
slowly, so that the troops to bring his
army up to the strength agreed upon
did not reach him until the 10Th.
X \
Mcdowell marched the afternoon of
rations in their haversacks; provision
wagons were to follow from Alexan-
dria the next day. The morning of
the 18th his forces were concentrated
at Centerville, a point about twenty
miles west Of the Potomac and six or
seven miles east of Manassas Junction.
Beauregard's outposts fell back with
out resistance.
Bull run. flowing southeasterly, is
about half way between Centerville and
Manassas Junction, and owing TO it's
abrupt banks, the timber with which it
was fringed and some artificial de-
lenses at the fords. was a formidable
obstacle. The stream was fordable, but
all the crossings for eight miles from
Union Mills on the south to the Stone
bridge on the north, were defended by
Beauregards forces. The Warrenton
turnpike, passing through Centerville,
leads nearly due west. crossing Bull
road from Centerville to Manassas
crosses Bull run at Mitchelfs ford,
half mile or so above another cross
ing. known as Blackburn's ford. Union
Mills was covered by Ewells brigade,
supported after the 18th by Holmes
brigade; McLean's ford, next to the
north. was covered by D. r. Jones bri-
gade; Blackburn'S ford was defended
by Longstreet's brigade. supported by
Early's brigade; Mitchelfs ford was
held by Bonham's brigade. with an out
post of two guns and an infantry sup
port east of Bull run; the stream be-
bridge was covered by Cookies brigade:
the Stone bridge on the Confederate
left was held by Evans.
Mcdowell was compelled to wait at
Centerville until his provision wagons ar
rived and he could issue rations His
orders having carried his leading division
under Tyler no farther than Centerville,
he wrote that officer on the 18th 800
serve we'll the roads to Bull run and to
Warrenton. Do not bring on an en-
gagement. but keep up the impression
that we are moving on Manassas"
Tyler, presumably to keep up the i'm
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-04-30

FTER the firing OF
the first gun upon
Fort Sumter north
ern forces had has
tened to Washing
ton upon the call
of President Lin
coin, but prior TO
May "a, 1861, they
had been held rigid
ly on the north side
of the Potomac. On
the night of May
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-04-30

THE Story of the First
L Great Campaign and the
First Great Battle of the
Civil War-Told BY Maj.
Gen. James B. Fry, at the
Battle of Bull Run, Captain
and Assistant Adjutant Gen.
eral On McDowell's Staff.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-04-30

ton all along their front on the other
side of Bull run. and ordered the re-
serves, Holmes brigade with six guns.
and Early's brigade to move swiftly to
the left" and he and Johnston set out
at full speed for the point of conflict,
which they reached while Bee was at
tempting to rally his men about Jack
sons brigade on the Henry House
plateau.
Mcdowell reached the scene of actual
conflict somewhat earlier than Johnston
and Beauregard did, and, seeing the
enemy driven across the valley of
Young branch and behind the Warrenton
turnpike, at once sent a swift aid-de-
camp to Tyler with orders to press the
iattack'' at the Stone bridge. 1t was Ty-
ler's division upon which Mcdowell re-
lied for the decisive fighting of the day.
He knew that the march of the turning
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-04-30

WHER TTIEF FOUGHT
O
ISSUE r
OFG
DRIyEN
WAS BATTERY OPPOSED TO
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-04-30

descriptions by participants In the charge.)
Springs until $50 instead of Z, the long
march. with it's many Interruptions, tired
out the men, and the delay gave the
enemy time to discover the turning move
ment.
Tyler's operations against the Stone
bridge. We're feeble and ineffective BY
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-04-30

o'clock Evans was satisfied that he was
in no danger in front, and perceived the
movement to turn his position. He was
on the left of the Confederate line, guard
ing the point where the Warrenton turn
pike. the great highway to the field
crossed Bull run, the Confederate line of
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-04-30

defense. He had no instructions to guide
him in the emergency that had arisen.
But he did not hesitate. Reporting his
information and purpose to the adjoin-
companies of infantry to deceive and hold
TYLER at tEet bridge, Evans turned his
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-04-30

back upon the point he was set to guard
marched mile away, and, selzins tra
high ground to the north OF doui!s
branch of Bull run, formed line OF pa,lte
at right angles to his former line, ms Ielt
resting near the Sudley Springs roao' ny
which Burnside, with the head oil tne
turning column, was approaching, mus
covering the Warrenton turnpike and OPP,
posing a determined front to the Federai
advance upon the Confederate LETT anu
rear. Evans action was probably one Oh
the best pieces of soldiership on either
SIDE during the campaign. In his rear
to the south lay the valley OF Young
branch, and rising from that was the
higher ridge or plateau on when the
Robinson house and the Henry house
were situated, and on which the main &C
ton took place in the afternoon.
Burnside, finding Evans across his pain
promptly formed line of battle and at
tackled about 9:45 am Evans not only
repulsed. but pursued the troops that
made the attack upon him. Andrew
Porters brigade of Hunters division Ioi-
lowed Burnside closely and came to ms
support In the meantime Bee had form
ed Confederate line of battle with MS
and Bartows brigades of Johnston army
on the Henry house plateau, stronger
position that the one held by Evans, anu
desired Evans to fall back to that line.
But Evans insisted that Bee should move
across the valley to his support Whlch
was done.
Il
After Bee Joined Evans, the preliminary
battle continued to- rage upon the ground
chosen by the latter. The Confederates
were dislodged and driven back to the
Henry house plateau. where Bee had
previously formed line and where what
Beauregard called 1.-The mingled remnants
of Bees, Bartows and Evans COM
mands'' were reformed under cover of
Stonewall Jackson's brigade of John
Stons army.
The time of this repuse, as proved by
so accurate an authority as Stonewall
Jackson, was before II: 80 am, and this
is substantially confirmed by Beaure-
CARDS official report made at that time.
Thus. after nearly two hours stubborn
fighting with the forces of Johnston,
which Gen. Scott had promised should be
kept away, Mcdowell won the first adj
vantage; but Johnston had cost him
dearly.
During all this time Johnston and
Beauregard had been waiting near Mitch
ellis ford for the development of the at
tack they had ordered by their right
upon Mcdowell at Centerville. But the
heavy firing the left soon diverted
Johnston and Beauregard from all
thought of an offensive movement with
their right, and decided them, as Beaure-
gard has said, Ito hurry up all avail
able reinforcements, including the re-
serves that were to have moved upon
Centerville, to our left, and fight the bat
tie out in that quarter Thereupon
Beauregard ordered "Ewell, Jones and
Longstreet to make strong demonstra-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-04-30

preston that we were moving on Man
assas," went forward with a squadron
of cavalry aud two companies of infan-
try for the purpose of making recon-
noissance of Mitchelrs and Blackburn's
fords along the direct road to Manassas.
Reaching the crest of the ridge over
looking the valley of Bull run and a mile
or so from the stream, the enemy was
seen on the opposite bank, and Tyler
brought up Benjamin's artillery, two 20
FOUNDER rified guns. Ayres' field battery
of six guns and Richardson's brigade Of
infantry. The 20-pounders opened from
the ridge and a few shots were ex-
changed with the enemy's batteries
Desiring more information than the
long-range cannonade afforded. Tyler Or
dered Richardson's brigade and a section
of Ayres' battery. supported by a squad
ron of cavalry, to move from the ridge
across the open bottom of Bull run and
take position near the stream and have
skirmishers "scour the thick woods"
which skirted Ii. Two regiments Of in
fantry, two pieces of artillery and a
squadron of cavalry moved down the
slope into the woods and opened fire.
driving Bonham's outpost to the cover of
intrenchments across the stream.
The brigades of Bonham and Long
street, the latter being reinforced TO:
the occasion by Early's brigade. respond,
ed at short range to the fire of the Fed
eral accommodating force and drove it
back in disorder. Tyler reported that
having satisfied himself that the enemy
was in force" and ascertained 1.-The po-
sition OF his batteries" he withdrew
The Confederates, feeling that they had
repulsed heavy and real attack, were
encouraged by the result. The Federal
troops, on the other hand, were greatly
depressed.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-04-30

could not be put across the run were
abandoned and blocked the way, and
stragglers broke and threw aside their
muSketS and cut horses from their har-
ness and rode off upon them.
In leaving the field the men took the
same routes, in general way. by
which they had reached it. Hence when
the men Of Hunters and Heintzelman's
divisions got back to Centerville they
had walked about twenty-five miles.
That night they walked back to the Po-
tomac, an additional distance of twenty
miles; SO that these undisciplined and
unseasoned men within thirty-six hours
walked fully forty-five miles. besides
fighting from about 10 am. until pm.
on hot and dusty day in July.
Mcdowell in person reached Center
Vile before sunset. He consulted the
division and brigade commanders who
were at hand upon the question OF max
ing stand or retreating. The verdict
was in favor of the latter, but a de-
cision of officers one way or the other
was or no moment; the men had already
decided for themselves and were stream
ing away to the rear. in spite OF all
that could be done. They had no in
their hearts were not there. Their tents.
provisions. baggage and letters from
home were upon the banks of the Po-
tomac and no power could have stopped
them short OF the camps they had left
less than a week before. Mcdowell &C.
cepted the situation, detailed Richard
sons and Blenker's brigades to cover
the retreat, and the army. a disorgan-
lied mass, with some creditable excep-
lions. drifted as the men pleased away
from the scene of action.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-04-30

When Mcdowell reached Fairfax
Courthouse in the night he was in COM
munication with Washington and ex-
changed kilograms with Gen. Scott. in
one of which the old hero said: I'VE are
not discouraged but that dispatch did
not tighten the gloom in which it was
received. Mcdowell was SO tired that
while sitting the ground writing
dispatch he fell asleep, pencil in hand,
in the middle of a sentence. His ad-
jptant general aroused him; the dis
patch was finished and the weary ride
TO the Potomac resumed When the
unfortunate commander dismounted at
Arlington next forenoon in a. soaking rain.
after thirty-two hours in the saddle.
his disastrous campaign of six days was
closed.
The first martial effervescence OF the
country was over. The three-month
men Went home, and the three-month
chapter of the war ended-with the
south triumphant and confident: the
north disappointed, but determined.
Copyright, 1911. by the Century -Compapyl
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-04-30

pers Ferry, opposed by Gen. Joseph h.
Johnston. The enemy TO be engaged by
Mcdowell occupied what was called the
alexandria line" with headquarters at
Manassas. the junction of the Orange and
Alexandria with the Manassas Gap rail-
road. The stream known as Bull run,
some three miles in front of Manassas,
was the line OF defense. On Beauregards
right, thirty miles away, at the mouth
Of Aqua creek, there was Confederate
brigade of 5000 men and six guns under
Gen. Holmes. The approach TO Richmond
from the lower Chesapeake, threatened
BY Gen. 3. F. Butler, was guarded by
Confederates under Gems. Huger and Ma
gruder. On Beauregard's left. sixty miles
distant in the lower Shenandoah valley
and separated from him by the Blue
Ridge mountains, was the Confederate
army of the Shenandoah under command
of Gen. Johnston. Beauregard's author
ity did not extend over the forces OF
Johnston. Huger, Magruder or Holmes,
but Holmes was with him before the
battle of Bull Run, and so was Johnston
who Joined at decisive moment.
The public demand for an advance
became imperative. June "a, In compli-
\ ance with verbal instructions from Gen.
Scott, Mcdowell submitted plan OF
operations and the composition or the
force required to carry IT into erect
He estimated the Confederate force at
Manassas Junction and It's dependen-
cies at $4,000 men. assumed that his
movements could not be kept secret,
and that the enemy would call up ad
ditional forces from all quarters, and
added: IF Gen. ]. f. Johnston's force
is kept engaged by Maj. Gen. Patter-
son, and Maj. Gen. Butler occupies the
force now in his vicinity. l think they
will not be able to bring up more than
10000 men, so we may calculate upon
having 10 do with about $4,000 men,"
And as il turned out. that was about
the number he had to do with
For the advance, Mcdowell asked "a
force OF 10000 of all arms, with re-
serve of 10000" He knew that Beaure
gard had batteries in position at sew
eraI places in front of Bull run and
defensive works behind the run and at
Manassas Junction. The stream being
fordable at many places. Mcdowell pro-
posed in his plan Of operations to turn
the enemy's position and force him out
Of IL by seizing or threatening his COM
munications. Nevertheless, he said in
his report:
Believing the chances are greatly in
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-04-30

ed, and Ramsay, his lieutenant, killed
lay in the wreck of the battery.