Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-08-04

Il FlIIy years ago slOady NNCACAetA
E. Lee was transferred from the mill
tary service Of the state Of Virginia to
that of the confederacy and Gen. Irwin
McDoweIl took command of the union
department of northeastern Virginia,
SO termed since the union forces en-
tered Virginia from Washington on
May "a. Eaa
These events had a peculiar relation
to the history of the first campaign in
the war. The men thus brought face TO
face were to bring the contending forces
into the field in the first great battle
Mcdowell in person and Lee as the
strategist OF the confederacy
Generals Lee and Mcdowell were not
lstrangers. Both were West Point grad
yates. and both had served In the Mex
lean war Lee was the older by IL
years, being 81. He was an engineer Of
thigh ability At the beginning of the
war he was a colonel of cavalry in the
United States army.
Mcdowell was a tactician, and hac
served four years at West Point as an
Instructor in that branch of the mill
tary art. At the beginning OF the war
The was assistant adjutant general anc
inspector OF troops on General Scotts
STAFF, with the rank of major. He was
pIOI1OlCQ MAY Ii ~ ehC $3.50 - ~--o--
der general
In inaugurating his campaign Gen
eral Mcdowell was subordinate to GEN.
eraI Scott, commander of the army, who
had been the chief of both Lee and Nc
Dowell in Mexico.
With the machinery of an organized
war department behind him, with men
and money in abundance at his COM
mand, General Mcdowell was rated as
4 tn Ian 1uc q
| movements in Virginia. Yet 1t was
said there was not at the time single
reliable military map Of Virginia in the
war department.
General Lee had the advantage OF
knowing this part of Virginia's geog-
raphy as he did hts own estate; of hav-
ing maps, and also of having subordi-
mates who knew the state as well as
| he
BOTH GENERALS AFIELD.
1t CHANGED that so years ago today
both these generals were ateld, one
studying the countrys opportunities rol
military defense, the other for agrees
sion. General McDowell--whose head
quarters, by the irony of fate, were at
General Lees estate at Arlington
Heights--was riding along his lines to
Alexandria, and General Lee guiding his
horse through the country roads that
cross Bull Run, considerable stream
some 80 miles southwest of Washing
| ton. sass
AS they rode, each general. from long
experience. had in his mind an outline
of what the plan of operations in this
region must be- Given certain military
conditions, the geography of the country
must largely shape the program of OPP
erations. 90
The ultimate object of the union army
/ nj. n
come the Confederate capital, and cap
ture the Confederate army. The object
Of the Confederates must be to defend
Richmond and escape capture. To ooth
sides Richmond was the objective or the
campaign now opening.
The union army that had been gath
cred in washington numbered between
30 900 and $4,000 men so years ago this
time, and about 10000 of its men had
crossed the Potomac in the advance on
May "a
These were now engaged in throwing
up earthworks on he heights command
ling Washington, and pushing skirmisn-
ing parties back into the Virginia coun-
4 try to feel out the strength Of the Con-
federates. $50
This strength was concentrated be-
hind Bull Run. at Manassas Junction,
about 81 miles out from Aiexandria on
the railroad leading south to- Richmond
The fact that a Branch road from the
great valley of Virginia. lying beyond
the Blue Ridge mountains, Joined the
main line here, made this point of the
greatest value to the south. With this
| lost, the northwest part of the state
would be cut off, so far as railroad COM
munication went.
virginia's troops, first in the field,
therefore gravitated toward TINS point
and here, so years ago today, they were
assembled to the number of about 5000.
BY the 10000 federals encamped along
the Potomac, this Confederate army at
Manassas was believed to be much larg-
er than it actually was.
i GENERAL LEES FOREBODING.
During the six weeks he had been in
the service Of his native state General
Lee, besides organizing and drilling the
states volunteer forces, had served in
\ the capacity Of military adviser to Pres
ident Jefferson Davis.
Both President Davis and General Lee
had recognized from the first that Vir-
ginia must be the battle-ground. and had
shaped their plans accordingly. These
were outlined in General Lees first in
structions to General M. L. Bonhanh
commanding at Manassas.
"The policy of the state at present"
he wrote, lis strictly defensive +.
but every attack Will be resisted to the
extent of your means. The Manas-
sas Junction is very important point
in your line, as it commands the COM
munication with Harper's Ferry, ana
must be firmly held. Alexandria,
in its 'front.' will of course claim your
attention as the first point of attack.
and as soon as your force is sufficient.
in your opinion. to resist its occupation.
you will so dispose it as to effect this
object. If possible, without appearing to
| threaten washington city"
The occupation of Alexandria in the
union advance had, of course, upset this
part of the plan, but the necessity of