Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1911-07-21
ANNIVERSARY OF RULL RUN.


Probably the most interesting gain
er;no since the close OF the civil
war was on the Bull Run battleheiu
today. It was composed OF many
survivors Of that memorable CONNECT
which took place fifty years ago. %
Gather with others who have been
born since those stirring days Inc
hattie Of Bnll Run was the only con
fict OF the civil war which could Do
distinctly heard in Alexandra. Inc
southwestern breezes of that memoir
able twenty. first day of July lool'
bronoht tho roar OF the cannonadlng
n the ears of all Alexandrians, ana
the anxiety experienced by fathers
mothers. sisters and brothers who hao
aaor ones in the Confederate army are
remembered by many now living. vi
course. it was not known upon ~h'ch
side victory would perch, or no"
many were uesltueu W
memorable clash Of arms. The oattie
impressed for some time with neithe'
eide in the ascendancy, when one OF
tba most disastrous and at the same time
,,d;crous retreats of modern times was
precipitated. The federal army Se'zeu
with panic, started on stampede lo'
Washington, and the army wagons
ambulances and open-hacks ana otnef
vehicles OF hundreds who had come
from Washington to witness the battle
piled pell nell in the roads, one .,
the main ones having become oiocSeu
nv the oyerturning OF an ambulance
The next morning Alexandra was
filled with struggling federal soldiers,
wei hungry and fatigued. a co'u
rsin followed the battle, and the tenn
n.rature was so low that fires were
necessary in houses. The sympathies
of the people of Alexandria went out
- the discomfitted soldiers ana the
best spirit was manifest. 10 many
cases our people ministered unto the
immediate wants of the strangers anu
there was no disposition to laugh AZ
,h.;r distress or to show hostlie ue'
meauor. 1t was supposed by Tue
- tho federal soldiers
,h,t the Confederate army woulo AZ
most Immediately occupy TINS Guy
and Washington, and some OF the
soldiers, more firmly impressed WIN
this belief, did not stop in TINS Guy
In, made their way across the river
into MARYLAND. One was drowned III
attempting to swim from Jones,s Point
70 Fort Foote. The Confederates'
however, for some reason never sat-
istactorily explained, did not TOTO"
mn their victory and take Washington
Owl tho war was continued for four
more wears. The participants in this
memorable battle met today unoer
a,fsor,,t conditions and the best oil
feeling prevailed. The cruel war mas
long since passed into history ana
Virginia often has federal soldiers a.
her guests.
In the early days OF the CIVIL VISA
A lrx.
especially after the capture OF Alex
andris, the northern soldiers were
fillod with enthusiasm, and many oil
them dreamed they had come down
here on an excursion frolic similar 10
that experienced by Alexaudrians when
,hev went 10 Harper'S Ferry during
the John Brown exclte"ent. lhefe
we're no postal cards in those days,
and designs were printed upon enSe-
ZONES similar to those which now appear
m cards. Pictures representing federal
soldiers carrying flags and bearing the
words ION to Manassas, were most
common. The Confederates were
equally exuberant. Neither reaiizeu
IN. fact that Jour long years would
;n.errane before the return OF the
dsre of peace.
while the political pot which hns'lS
b,onsht on the internlcene struggle
was seethhg, the northern man os
cartoons and libels, was 'oaae 10
bel;eve the southerne7 was OF a iahc''u'
Tsxas ranger type, with pisto: ano
bow;e knife in his belt holding black
snake whip over a nesro's bare oscN
and wearing Dick Turpln whlsSerS.
On the other hand people south OF
Mason and Dlxon's line painted Inc
northern man as cohsu'iiuia'e
schemer engaged in whiting WOODEN
nntmegs or arming negroes. "hen
the confic. finally terminated oo'n
81. ,othared in social intercourse