Evening star., 1938-07-17
By John Clagett Proctor.

UatblcS, anu tildL WlIltcTtlnc Is
entirely too cold, and that If
there should be any preferred time,
1t would be during autumn and spring.
But, apparently, those who arrange
battles and direct them, select the
most opportune time, regardless Of the
season Of the year or the nature of
the weather. Nor does the day of the
week-be it day of rest, holiday
or holy day-have any bearing On a
clash of arms. And this seems to be
true the world over.
In our own country we find George
Washington crossing the Delaware on
Christmas night to attack the Hes
slams. Grant brought about the sur
render of Vicksburg, Miss, on July 4,
and even Gen. Thomas j. Jackson, a
preacher of the gospel, who served
with Gen. p. G. T. Beauresard In the
first Battle OF Bull Run-or the Bat
tie OF Manassas. as 1t is called by the
Confederates, which was fought on
Sunday, July 81. 1851, wher. that ofi-
Ger received the sobriquet. "Stonewall
Jackson"-did not hesitate to fight or
the Lords day. And the record is full
Of such incidents, showing that COM
manding generals pay little or no
attention to such matters, but rely
entirely upon strategy and psychology
to defeat the enemy.
However, one thing that has been
said, and there is certainly something
to,it. is that out of every war comes a
certain amount Of progress and good
North and the South was a horrible
affair, yet, assuming it was impossible
to prevent, to certain extent at
least, both sections profited by it in
the end. And If we were to look
around us here in xhe Nations Cap
ital, it is quite possible We could find
number of institutions, now serving
the public in humanitarian way in
peacetine, that were founded, or
made of greater service through one
of our wars.
ONE of these institutions that comes
to mind, that came to us largely as
result of the Civil War, was the
vell-known Providence Hospital, which
got It's incentive from this same
battle of Bull Run, which was the
first major engagement of the war
and at the time found the Federal
Government almost entirely unpre-
pared to take care of its diseased and
wounded soldiers.
Bull Run, from which the battle |
took its name, is little stream which !
then ran through what was known
at the time as Manassas Junction and |
emptied into the Occoouan River and |
finally into the Potomac. The Orange !
& Alexandria Railroad passed through
Manassas Junction.
Centerville, to the north of Manas-
sss, Is about 20 miles from Washing
ton, and from there to Manassas is
about miles. or now hardly an hours
run in an automobile. from Washing
ton. The battle was brought on by
the Northern people whose cry ."On |
TO Richmond" could not be resisted by
the authorities at Washington. Gen. |
Irwin Mcdowell was then in COM
nand Of the Army of Potomac, and |
the Confederates were under Beaure-
gard. 1t. Gen. Winfield Scott, rank
ing officer of the Army at that time,
regarded the move on the part of the |
Union forces bad one. but public
opinion had forced the issue, and the
battle was fought resulting, as history
tells US, In a partially disorganized re-
treat
NATURALLY the whole Nation was
gravely concerned in this engage
e1ent, but here at Washington, the seat
Of government, the retreat that result
ed was one OF personal contact, for
this was the objective point for all
the troops who left the field of battle
with nothing more on their minds
than how to cover the a miles in
the least possible time, and 1t was a
case OF every man for himself.
After the battle q strict censorship
was clanped down upon all news
regarding the engagement and the
retreat Of the Union Army. and even
The Star toned its remarks down, as
was proper, when the gravity of the
occasion is taken into consideration,
On July %, the day following the
battle, The Star covered the engage
ment rather adroitly saying:
Our Army suffered heavy reverse.
but by no means such an overthrow as
panic-stricken civilians and the SOL
diers who fed in advance of the re-
treat imagine and allege.
HE great body of our troops are
slowly retreating today in remark
ably good order, recovering most of
munitions, baggage, etc. thrown away
by those stricken with panic Heintzel-
mans Brigade is coming in as good
order as that in which it left Alexan-
dria, for instance
The Army will again occupy the
positions from which 1t started out last
week, In and around the intrenchments
and forts constructed for this city's Sc
eurity on the other side of the Poto-
mac.
In the belief of Gen. Scott they are
hnpresnable, and this city Is as secure
from the enemy as it was a fortnight
ago, notwithstanding yesterdays dis
asters at a point % or 30 miles distant
from us.
I'VE may not inappropriately add
that at pm. yesterday the victory
was clearly ours. The retreat move
ment is ascertained to have been
caused by an accidental and trifiing
panic In one of the regiments, to which
1t spread from confusion among its
own teamsters.
The fresh troops under Gen Mans
field and those of Gen. McDowell's re-
serve not on the engagement, together
make an army quite as large, we ap-
prehend. as that under Gen. Med. in
yesterdays engagement.
From sunset last evening up to this
hour they have been steadily getting
into position, as matter of precaution,
and we have ascertained that measures
have been taken to concentrate here
still another great army, now scattered