Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1920-07-21
FIRST BATTLE OF BULL RUN

Today, July y, is the fifty-nintf
anniversary of the first battle of Bull
Run, in which many Alexandrians
participated, some of whom fell IN the
fierce clash which brought victory
to the Confederate arms.
The din of this engagement was
plainly heard N Alexandria. The re-
po.t CT the :a-non was suggestive o.
ssar-away thunder storm, and the
generation then living were anxious
almost peycnd endurance, realizing
that their loved ;nes were partlclpa.-
inr in a conflict The outcome of Wnlch
was uncertain.
The cannonade continued through
out the afternoon, and It was not until
next day, Monday, July %, that It
became known that the federal troops
had been driven back in disorder
Thousands of federal soldiers, dirt-he-
grlmed, hungry and with their morale
shaken, filled our streets and told OF
.he reverse they had suffered.
The description Of scenes in Alex
andria incident to the retreat OF the
federal troops have often been writ
ten. But few citizens remain who were
eve-witnesses of events here fifty
nine years ago. Alexandrlans who
participated in that battle and who
have so far escaped the scythe of the
great reaper can almost be counted,
upon ones fingers.
George Wise in his interesting bCok.
Campaigns and Battles of the Army
of Northern Virginia" gives graphic
description Of the first battle of Bull
Run. He also gives thrilling incidents
especially interesting to Alexandrlans.
He says: when the fire was the
hottest during the second attack by
the federal General LongstreGt or
dered CAPTAIN Morton Marye, in com
mand of the Alexandria Riflemen. to
"Clean those scCurdrels OUT" AS the
boys of this company, with shout,
plunged into the stream. the general,
barring his head and rising IN his stir
rups, sang out: "Three cheers for
the Alexandria Riflemcn"
In the words of the principal actor.
Private A. d. Warficld Of the Alex
andra Riflemen, the following Incl
dent is given, an incident that oc-
Cured while the company was so gal
lantly charging the enemy. He says:
'SThe order was promptly Cbeycd;
the company crossed the Ford with
yell; upon reaching the l.. opposite
bank. Captain Marye ordered the ccm-
pany to deploy as skirmishcrs and adj
vance About $50 yards from the
stream we came upon the skirmshers
of the First Massachusetts Regiment
stationed behind trees. bushes. etc, At
once attacking them, we had very
nice time, killing Is of them and TAX
ing some 20 prisoners. We were all
tangled up together, and the only
way to distinguish one frcm anothe:
was by the ~. S." on the Yankee
breastplates. In the conflict | orderet!
a Yankee to surrender, but he refused.
| grabbed him by the collar, my gun
beirg empty and his loaded, he cut
my head with the barrel of his gun.
Being in too close quarters to use our
arms. we cliached, and in the strug-
gle rolled down the hill into a spring
branch Yank on top and myself IL
tie mud and watcr,-facc down. was
only relieved from my dIsagrccabie
position by E., CT the Loudoun Guards,
who came up at the time and gave
Yank his bayonet in the left side. At
this, Yank cried out: Good God. Cap
tain Hall. come here!' But told him
that his hide had gone up, and that
Captain Hall could do him no good.
then took him to General Longstreet
who. after finding out who he was.
said to- me: "Well done, old fellow.
this is the first prisoner go back ana
get another" Which command | re-
spectfully declined, as things were
waxing warm Just about that time