The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-10-22
A VETERANS
VIVID NARRATIVE
jackson to the Rescue ell w
His Sobriquet--- First
Manassas.
BY LIZZIE HUGGINs BURCH,
OF UopnOkc,

Tor hundreds OF feet before 4 large
modern hotel reclined picturesque
group OF men whose Individual atti-
tudes were chosen more for comfort
than effect,-an odd bit OF 1850 mosaic
in tho commonplace cement OF the
twentieth century. Some Of tho men
talked and some listened. while from
tho lips OF each curled wreaths OF
blue smoke or shot amber Jets OF the
much loved weed Harmless badinage
and pleasant Jest ncw from ono 10 an
other, creating much merriment, for
these mon were happy In again be-
holding each others wrinkled and
weather beaton features. Every ono
wore his old suit of Confederate gray
or whatever part Of II was lett--for
this was tho season OF reunion for the
Southern soldiers and each wore his
badge proudly. All carried trophies
won upon some hard Tough. Held
muskcts. canteens. tin cups. cartridge
belts-wounds. All. tho wounds, OF
these the veterans were proudest Of
all.
Look at those old fellows how joI-
j. they are" remarked one Of the
young mon sitting upon the hotel yer.
n. da, Tets go over and listen to their
yarns"
With ready assent from the rest Of
the group down came the front legs
OF the tilted back chairs with the
precision o. grounded arms. and the
entire party strolled down the cement
walk and silently seated itself in
.cmi-oircls around the soldiers. So
quietly was this accomplished that
there was no notice taken OF the
the moment deep in "reminiscences OF
tho past.
Apart from the rest sat venerable
man whose rudy. wrinkled face and
Thin white locks bctokened the -four
score" limit honorably past. with the
point OF his old sabre nc was caro-
fully cutting various stripes from the
green sward. Tho principal line had a
slightly northeastern incline. and was
ntrait as tho feeble hand could trace
81. Across this ran various other
cuts. some straight and others OF ir
regular and Jagged outlines. One run
ming tortuously UP from tho southeast
crossed the main line ut right angles
pnd disappeared toward the northwest
"A little to tho west OF this rough cut
ran another straight line In the same
general direction. Another Jagged cut
started in the west. crossed the main
straight line two or three times and
Joined the first tortuous line farther
south. Many minor lines !ntersected
these. but in no wise detra cted from
their evident Importance.
What are you doing over there
Uncle Joe? Blamed 81 I've heard your
voice to-day" The speaker rolled over
on the grass and sat up beside tho
patriarch.
Great scott. Uncle Joe. you had bet
ter be getting away from here: see
what you've done TO this lawn"
Car. Morgan the old man replied
hrmly. II never ran from this place
3n 81 and won't do II now; no, not
u
What place is It? oh. I SEQ: boys.
IT'S Manassas, and Uncle Joe has the
cheek to say no never ran there In
ST. exclaimed Carter Morgan. who
was the wag OF the party and we'll
knew Uncle Joe prided himself on be-
ing a member OF the "Stonewall"
brigade.
Uncle Joo's lip curled with scorn and
his eyes blazed. "Hoar him, boys he
cried Indignantly, "and ne ono OF GEN
oral Bees men,
The hugh was turned upon Nor
gan, who could not deny tho charge,
and the young men sitting around
the veterans called upon the patri-
nrlch to reherse the battle for their
benent.
Uncle Joe rose to his feet and gazed
proudly from ono face to another. and
then upon tho map which lay before
him. In a voice remarkably clear and
strong for one of his ago he said.
Young men, l will do my best to make
you see the battle as we saw 1t that
day-as see 1t now" a strange light
burned in his uplifted eyes. and as he
waved his hand slowly before his face
those gathered around him breathed
softly lest the spell should be brok-
en-.
"It ia the 2tst of July. 1861. SEQ
how bright the sun shines! Birds are
greeting the first arrows of light with
thor Joyous paens Of praise; bees are
humming happily wheresoever fair
flower faces smile; tho sky CLOVIS with
the opal tints of a glorious SUMMER
morn, and all nature seems atuned to
Peace good will toward men, Alas,
that human passions should mar the
freshness OF this. the Holy Sabbath
day; that the red glare or battle should
obscure the suns bright rays and hiss
Ing bullets bestrew the tender grass
with the forms of dead and dying: but
thus It Is destined to be. This small
stream running down from the north
west Is Bull Run and Uncle Joe
touched tn, bold, rugged limo on his
map with his sabres point then drew
1t across the long straight one
This broad. straight road Ia War
renton Turnpike coming from Centre-
Vile on tho east. This road running
up from the south and crossing the
turnpike IS the Sudley and Newmarket
road. while this. little stream coming
from the west and winding itself about
these roads Is YounB's Branch"
Again he waved his hand before him.
hnd the strange light which had van
ished as he explained the tracing upon
the ground glowed deep behind the
silver trimmed spoctacles. "a small
stream with its tributary branches, a
few rolling hills, two roads crossing