Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1911-07-28
THE BLUE AND THE GRAY AT
\ MANASSAS.

4
| To give full description OF whs
took place at Manassas on last Frida,
the fiftieth anniversary of the frs
battle of Manassas would requir
more space than we have at our dis
posal.
Leaving Woodstock on the s:10 P
M. train Thursday night, was met a
Strasburg by Mr.. Geo. M. McClana
han, comrade OF fifty years ago
He entertained ne for the night ant
the next morning at $40 A. NJ. W
boarded the cars for Manassas. A
Front Royal, Gov. Mann, escorted b.
a military company entered the train
He wore the Confederate gray and wa
very entertaining. He left the trair
at Hay Market and proceeded to the
! battle field in an automobile. We die
! not go with him, because we were moi
invited
Fearing tina: we could not get a
| conveyance at Manassas, we left tn:
train at Wellington and secured seats
in ?. road wagon which conveyed us tc
the battle field. Ga arriving there we
first went to the point where the SD Va
rec iment met the Brooklyn Zuaves
ard Western regiment. We stood
upon the knoll where Griffin's battery
was stationed, when the 81 regiment
charged It, drove away the cannoneers
ard killed the horses. Then il was all
excitement, many of the enemy and
many of our men fell around that
battery. 1t was there that Marcus
McInturff, Thos. Snuff, Aaron Shipe,
VIM. H. Bowers, Jos. Iayman, Sam
uel P. Hickman, Jacob Mcdaniel
Joseph Boly and Isaac Wymer, all of
Co. c. gave their lives in defence of
their country and IS others were wound
ed, The other seven companies of the
regiment also met with heavy losses.
On that spot the advance of the enemy
met their first repulse and it was then
that Gen. Heintzelman afterwards said
he first thought there was a possibi!i-
ty OF defeat.
AS we stood upon the same ground
with comrade McClanahan and two
friends, our mind reverted to the
scenes of fifty years ago. Leaving
this spot, we passed over the ground
where Ricketts, battery after severe
struggle was taken by the other regi-
ments of Jackson's brigade. l stood
at the grave of Mrs. Henry who was
killed in her house by shell. saw
the monument erected in the yard of
the Henry House to the memory Of the
field, heard Gov. Mann speak and met
number of old acquaintance and
made some new ores.
Next in order was the drill OF Unit
ed States Cavalry. The evolutions
were far in advance of those of 1861,
and tie horsemen evinced skill in
which have never seen
surpassed, even by the COWBOYS of the
West
An effort was then made to form the
veterans in two lines facing each
other. The men did not fall in'' as
quickly as they did on that memorable
day fifty years ago. The Northern
men were formed il single rank but
the ranks on the Southern side were
thr sc or four deep. 1t required the
efforts Of the cavalry, and the COM
miitee wearing flashing badges to get
them in order, and whea it was an
nounced that their picture was to be
taken it seemed that nearly every man
wanted to be in the front row, and
there was more confusion. Finally they
were gotten still enough FOR the photo
grapher to get IN his work, and then
the great hand shake was INDUCED in,
while the photographers took the fl ms
for moving pictures.
Next in order was the lunch which
was abundant and the old veterans
were treated to sumptuous repas'
such as the Prince William ladies
know how to prepare.
Then | tried to get back to Manassas
First l applied to the automobiles.
There was no show, from every enc
the answer came, I'VE are full" Next
I applied to the hacks and met wi b
same reply. Now the rain commenced
falling and | was we'll drenched.
began to fear that would be compell-
ed to walk to Manassas a distance of
five miles. Every road wagon had its
load engaged. After being refused by
number, 1 applied to the driver of
road wagon and he said he had al
ready been paid to haul Is to Manas
sas, l persuaded him that his wagon
would haul one more and he reluctant
ly accepted the half dollar. Then we
had to wait an hour or more for his
Is passengers, most of whom had
taken refuge in the barn.
After long slow drive, we reached
Manassas and found the veterans oc
cupying reserved seats in front OF a
stand at the Court House, upon which
sat Gov. Mann and his large staff
dressed in beautiful white uniforms
with gilt trimmings-their uniforms
did not suggest war-Mr. Geo. c..
Round, Master of ceremonies, the
Grand Commander of the G. A. R.
several Congressman and other dis
tinguished guests, anxiously awaiting
the arrival of the President of the
United States. The Commander of the
G. A. r. and Congressman from Iowa
Texas and Missouri made speeches to