Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-10

left and strike decisive blow. This
force at the junction was a thorn In our
side which could not be ignored. Gen.
Lee was quite disappointed by my re-
port against immediate attack along the
turnpike. and insisted that by throwing
some of the brigades beyond the Federal
left their position would be broken up
and a favorable field gained.
Stuart reported the advance OF heavy
forces from the direction OF Manassas
Junction against my right. 1t proved
to be Mcdowell and Fitz John Porter.
! called over three brigades. under Viii
cox. and prepared to receive the attack.
Battle was not offered, and l reported
to Gen. Lee some time afterward that |
did not think the force on my right
was strong enough to attack US. Gen.
Lee urged me to go In. and. of course
same time / wanted. more than anything
else. to know that my troops had a.
chance to accomplish what they might
undertake. The ground before me was
greatly to the advantage of the Federals,
but If the attack had come from them
it would have been a favorable oppor-
tunity for me. After short while Nc
Dowell moved toward the Federal right
leaving Porter in front OF my right with
5000 men. My estimate of his force at
the time was 10000
Gen. Lee, finding that attack was not
likely, again became anxious to bring on
the battle by attacking down the Grove
ton pike. / suggested that. the day be-
ing far spent. it might be as well to ad-
vance just before night upon a forced
reconnaissance, get our troops into the
most favorable positions and have all
things ready for battle at daylight the
next morning tn this ha IA 4 lx-
gave consent. and our plans were laid
accordingly. Orders We're given for an
advance to be pursued under cover of
night until the main position could be
carefully examined. 1t so happened that
an order to advance was issued on the
other side at the same time. so that
the encounter was something of a sur
prise on both sides. A very spirited en-
gagement was the result, we being sue
cessful. so far, at least. as to carry our
point, capturing a piece of artillery and
making our reconnaissance before mid
night AS none of the reports received
of the Federal positions favored attack.
so explained to Gen. Lee. and our forces
were ordered back to their original posi-
lions.
When Saturday. the Both; broke we were
a little appfehensive that Pope was go
ing to get away>f from us. and Pope was
afraid that We were going to get away
from him. He telegraphed to Washing
ton that I was in full retreat and he was
preparing to follow. while we, thinking
he was trying to escape. We're making
arrangements for moving by our left
across Bull Run. so as to get over on the
Little River pike and move down parallel
to his lines and try to interpose between
him and Washington. We had about
completed our arrangements. and took it
for granted that Pope would move out
that night by the Warrenton and Cen
treville pike, and that we could move
parallel with him along the Little River
pike. Gen. Lee was still anxious to give
Pope battle on Manassas plains but had
given up the idea of attacking him in his
strong position.
Shortly before on the Both Pope's ar
tillery began to play a little, and not long
afterward some of his infantry force was
seen in motion. We did not understand
that as an offer of battle but merely as
a display to cover his movements to the
rear Later considerable force moved
out and began to attack us on our left
extending and engaging the whole Of
Jacksons line. Evidently Pope supp osed
that / was gone, as he was ignoring me
entirely. His whole army seemed to
surge up against Jackson as if to crush
: At the critical moment / happened to
be riding to the front of my line to find
A place where l might get in for my share
of the battle. l reached a point a few
rods in front of my line on the left of
the pike where l could plainly see the
F'ederals they rushed in heavy masses
against the obstinate ranks of the Con-
federate left. 1t was a grand display of
well organized attack, thoroughly con-
cemrated and operating cleverly. So ter
sent to me and begged for reinforce
ments. About the same time l received
an order from Gen. Lee to the same eff
feet
To retire from my advanced position In
front of the Federais and get to Jackson
would have taken an hour and n half.
had discovered a prominent position that
commanded a view of the great struggle.
and realizing the opportunity l quickly
ordered out three batteries, making
twelve guns. Lieut.. William III. Chap
mans Dixie Battery of four guns was
the first to report and was placed i'm
position to rake the Federal ranks that
seemed determined to break through Jack
of shot and shell was being poured into
the thick columns of the enemy, and in
ten minutes their stubborn masses be-
gan to waver and give back. For mo-
ment there was chaos. then order re-
turned and they reformed, apparently to
renew the attack. Meanwhile my other
eight pieces reported to me- and from
the crest of the little hill the fire of
twelve guns cut them down. As the
cannon Numbered the ranks broke, only
to be formed again with logged determi-
nation. \ third time the batteries tore
the Federals to pieces, and as they fell
back under this terrible fire I sprung
everything to the charge. Ny troops
leaped forward with eXultant yells, and
all along the line We pushed forward.
Farther and still farther back we pressed
them. until at 10 o'clock at night we
had the field; Pope was across Bull run