Evening star., 1911-06-07
The Bull; Run Jubilee.

The veterans off'61-'65 blue andt gray,
will fraternize on !the fields of Bull. Run
On July q half century will nave
elapsed since that memorable encounter
a small battle as liattles came to be meas
ured during the fcpr years succeeding H.
but saneuinary emo ugh to teach the south
that the north was deadly in earnest IN
its intent to preserveA>the republic intact
and to teach the nortflAthat the secession,
sentiment was supported by troops whot
would stand fire. The political signihcancei
of Bull Run bulks largeiin history. Thea
result elated the south and aroused the{
north to a greater sense of the magnit,de1
of the task before it than 1t had hitherfo]
entertained.
: For weeks before the encounter Nthel
eyes of the world were on that small Sec
ton of Virginia through which Bull run
flows. The south had hit on, Manassas
Junction as a strategic point to cover
Richmond and threaten Washington. A
railroad leading to the south was in the
rear and another connected with th>
Shenandoah valley. where were Johnstoli
and Patterson. Communication was
maintained with the Potomac along the)
line Of Bull run and Occoquan creek.
the Arlington camps. by Fairfax Courtt
House to Centerville, and the preliminary
engagement at. Blackburns ford. where al
road from Manassas to Centerville crosses
Bull run, took place the north and south
stood on tiptoe. Beauregard planned TO
strike the Union left at Centerville by
crossing at the fords below Stone bridge.
and McDoweips plan to engage the Con-
IrfA nd kn
enemy in reverse with the divisions OF
Hunter and Heintzelman by crossing at
Sudley, were examples Of excellent STRAIT
egy. so military critics have decided. But
there were many bitches in the execution
of the plans Ifs and butts are plenti-
fuI after all engagements, and especially
so when armies OF raw troops are IN
volved. Orders miscarried or were mis-
understood. Now the writing and the 1s-
suance of orders tas been. IT is believed,
reduced to a science The distance from
| Centervilie to the Stone house by way OF
sudiey was underestimated. or, at the
rate of march. overestimated. Tyler's
| feint at the Stone bridge was too weak
and this circumstances. with dust to the
northwest. caused the shrewd Confederate
commander on the heights west OF the
| bridge to suspect d tuFHluS
The main Union army coming down from
l Sudley was too slow. and the Confeder-
ates alcng the line Of Bull run were COM
ing fast Then came the collision and
the ebb and flow Of the fight on the Mat
thews and Henry farms and the valley
along the warrenton pike which runs be-
tween them. Johnston, supposed to be
held in the Shenandoah by Patterson,
had already effected a junction with
Beauregard, but Kirby Smiths brigade
/ the rear brigade of Johnston's army
leaving the Manassas Gap railway and
lccming into action on the Union right.
lprecipitated the rout.
The determination of the veterans or
that hard but unxkilful fight will mark
the beginning of long series OF semi
centennials of the battles Of the civil
war. The veterans preparing for this re-
union have determined upon calling 1t the
Manassas national jubilee. and 1t Is goina
to be an event which will attract wide
J notice throughout the United States.