The Dillon herald. [volume] (Dillon, S.C.) 1894-????, 1911-11-09
The Battle of Manassas
Cd. I. Hargrove, of Clio, in Colun,-
bia Statel

On July II, 1861, your CORES
pondent, a member of Company X,
Eighth regiment South Carolina
Volunteers, was with the advance
Iorces, Army of the Potomac, sta
toned at Fairfax Courthouse, Va.
Very early in the morning quiet was
broken by report of the near ap-
proach of the advance of the Fed
eral army from Washington AS
the Federals approached picket
posts were withdrawn, tents were
taken down and the advance forces
men withdrawn to Centerville, a
church and a few houses on the
main road leading to Manassas
junction, where We lay around on
The hills watching the signals which
were new to us and their spelling
entirely unknown.
AS the Federals approached the
Contederates were Withdrawn across
Bull Run at Blackburn and Mitch
els forus. The Eighth South Car
DINA regiment was left at Center
vile, as rear guard, and remained
there until some IIme after dark,
when Col. Cash was informed that
the Feoerals were on three sides of
the regiment ana il must be with
drawn if possible without a whis-
per, and we were quietly Withdrawn
across Bull Run, where we slept as
best we could.
On the morning Of the 18th we
we're moved down the run and
given position near Mitchel's ford
to hold at all hazards, as we were
told. Picks and shovels were dis
tributed, but before we could begin
work che boom OF cannon gave tie
F'ederals a hint TO look out. A few
shots were exchanged by the artil-
lery and the Federal army was
ha.-ed. With picks, shovels and
logs We soon had built our first
breastworkS on the Southern banks
of Bull Run, where we slept and
felt comfortably safe.
The Confederate army lay quiet
on the 18th, while Mcdowell was
planning TO turn Beauregards left
flank and was moving troops to
the right for surprise attack.
Meantime Beauregard was prepar-
ing to turn the Federal left on Cen
terville and force Mcdowell away
from his base and cut him off from
Washington. General Johnston was
on the field with Beauregard, and
although he was in a higher rank
and virtually in command, he was
SO we'll pieoseu with Beauregard' s
plans that IN his gallantry and Mil
itary sagacity he gave his APPROX
al and aid to Beauregard with
neither bigotry nor jealousy.
At this time on the morning of
of OF the 21st, Beauregard's army
consisted of 21,S33 mcn, with 20
light cannon the heaviest of
which were siX-pounders. Johnston
had brought S,334 men and 20 can
non from the Army OF the Shenan-
hnf 70 Of rSrir
{ ians, was placed on the right rear
as a guard.
About sun-up Evans, who held
the extreme left at Stone Bridge,
sent a courier to Beauregard. in
forming him that the Federals had
crossed the run above him and had
opened fire on his little command
consisting OF the Fourth South Car
olina regiment and Wheat S
battalion of Louisiana Zou-
aves, with 30-pound gun. With
his six-pounders Evans could do
nothing but throw out skirmishers
to take the place of the Virginia
scouts, whose lynx eyes had discov-
- Grad the approach of several regi-
ments of Federals with 10 and H.
pound guns. Evans received orders
to hold every inch of ground. He
SO deployed his men as to meet the
advancing hordes as best he could.
Barlow, with his Georgians and
Kentuckians, and Bee with part of
his brigade that was up went
the assistance of the hard-fighting G
troops of Gen. Evans, who wree to
hold in check the advance of the
Federal divisians of some $4,000
men of all arms, with Is rifled can
non, according to their official
hn n ki of
ind placed a part or his own and
Bartows brigade advantageously
and met a withering fire, but like
Spartans the whole line stood to
their guns until beaten back
by overwhelming numbers.
Jackson, with his sagacious mill
tary eye, saw where he could be of
greatest service. He posted his ar
tillery in concealed places and form
ed his brigade to receive the on
slaught of the Federals, who had
been 50 fiercely fought by Evans.
Barlow and Bee that a halt and re-
adjustment of their broken lines
was necessary, which gave Jackson
tt opportunity of forming his line.
Beauregard had to abandon his plan
of the early morning and meet the
Federals as best he could, and
went hurriedly to the real battle
ground. Johnson forwarded troops
to the left and Johnson placed
them in position, encouraged the
almost annihiliated command which
had fought one to half a dozen so
valiantly and had seen SO many
'-r,Lrades fall. Two other Federal
divisions came on the field. Long
street and Bonham were ordered
from the right to the left and arriv-
ed dust-covered and painting for
water, but had no time to rest as
our two South Carolina regiments,
the Second and Eighth came on the