Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-11-23

take that Of mine. But they must not throw
their responsibility On my shoulders"
THOSE Of Us who were not living during
the Civil War, or especially in 1861, can
little realize what the battle Of Bull Run
amounted to, particularly as to Washington.
Naturally the whole Nation was gravely con-
cerned. but the Capital City seemed to be the
objective point for all the retreating troops.
It was not good story to tell at the time,
and naturally The Star toned the conditions
down as much as possible, but here 10 just
one paragraph of the issue of July %, 1851,
that in itself speaks volumes. It says:
The scene all the roads leading to the
Long Bridge. yesterday, beggars description.
Artillery and Infantry were struggling along
In the greatest confusion, the men completely
broken down for want Of food and sleep, and
BY the fatdgues Of q long march. Regiments
and companies were mixed in inextricable con-
fusion in most cases, but occasionally a column
OF one, two, three or four regiments would
cOme along in perfect order. Stragglers were
stopped ia Fort RHnyon for some time, and
at that point the scene was painful The men
came in jaded and tired. and sitting or lying
down m the pelting rain, only protected by
blankets or oilcioths, were fast asleep in
moment after assuming q recumbent position.
Many OF the Army officers and artilierymen
would fan asleep ON their horses. The want
Of food was almost forgotten, although many
of the men had been fasting for "a hours.
Lieut.. watson Of the commissary department
distributed q large quantity Of provisions from
the storehouse in Fort Runyon 10 the famished
troops throughout the day. Many wanted food.
but most only wanted shelter to lie down.
Many laid down and went to sleep In the road.
For long ttme the approach TO the Long
Bridge was damned by ambulances with the
wounded, Army wagons, artillery wagons etc.
TWO secession prisoners were put in q wagon
and brought to the city; they incensed the
troops very much by their merriment at the
confusion which for short time prevailed"
porters In the field. L. A. Gobrigat a
well known correspondent Of bygone DAYS
in his "Fecollections,' tells us In q few words
how every one in the city was deceived over
the outcome Of this battle. He tells us that:
The writing was completed by IL or half
past IL O'Clock. Everything looked beautiful;
we had conquered the rebels and won a splen-
did battle. And this I'D to the hour the cor
respondent left the vicinity Of the field, ap-
peared TO be true. A hackload Of passengers
had just aiighted at the Metropolitan-at that
time called Browns Hotel. One OF them IN
response to the inquiry for the latest news,
commenced telling what he had seen and heard,
describing, by the light of the moon, the move
mentS Of troops with the aid OF his cane. He
had large audience. We listened very at
news.
Instead Of our troops securing a victory the
fortune OF the day turned, and they met with
defeat! We commenced second edition.
or rather addition, with something like the
following:
"'At this point there was a sudden change
In affairs; stampede commenced; and we
went on, describing the subsequent disasters"
Indeed the shock must have been great
statement Of the activities of the reporters
at the front, made by Ben: Perley Poore, has
always been Of more than passing interest to
the writer because It relates to his father who
was then reporting for q Phfladelpkda paper
MIR. Poore says:
Zone Of these 'enterprising' individuals Sc
cured his first beat by riding in from the
first Bull Run defeat On o horse not his own
and taking news q the disaster 70 Phflade4pfria
by rail before an Injunction was laid on the
transmission OF the truth"
Mr. Poore gives here q correct statement
except as to the imputAtion that the horse was
not pEUperly acquired, since % o mMtAer %
family history the nnbae steed was hired from
. Georgetown livery stablD Cor The purpose, aAA
No doubt Yves returned. ,.-, .,1',jTls -"
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