Year: 1861

4 o~A "'S IL 'Soe iHSuiO tHC SOupact-


ness Of the line, and presently we all pass


ed across q wooden bridge in quiet, no


challenge being made that might prevent


US from reaching the deepest eutangle-


ment where the foe desired to give US


more bitter battle. Onward We went,


the soldiers cursing the rough road, won


deriog when they would have breakfast,


or vowing to get even on the fellows who


had put them to all this trouble. The
day broke mildly as We pushed along and
many soldier thought from the dead 81


lenee Of the woods that lined the road at
intervals. We should have no battle after
all. Presently We struck the path that
branched off to the right, and here the
column, under Hunters lead broke of,
while the central column, Mcdowell at
its head, went directly on.


THE MAIN ATTACK.


AS the circuit of the fankipg column
was to be a wide one, and as it could not
reach its destined point and come into ac-
ton with effect, in less than two or three
hours, our first attention must be given
to the main column accompanied by the
Commander in. Chief. 1t was broad day
when We parted with the fanking col
uIn, and We proceeded along with an ca
sy step, With our skirmishers we'll in ad-
vance, and watchful, on the look tout
No traces of the enemy appeared, how
ever, and the extraordinary quiet Of the
scene, coupled with the fact that our en-.
tire column had been allowed to cross
the wooden bridge unmolestsd, induced
many to believe that the enemy, consult
ing prudence, would yield the defenses
Of the Run, and give US battle only at
Manassas. But this idea was formed in
perfect ignorance of the extent of the
Confederate defenses. for We were alresdy
within range of some of their batteries,
and at the close of the day they landed
their she'll upon the bridge with murder
Gus effect. In short, their whole strategy
was decoy, and their hasty retirement
from Fairfax, and pretended abandon
ment Of camp furniture. as we'll as the
sh allow obstruction of our advance by
leveled trees. were merely portions of
we'll digested plan, to coax our army,
step by step, into their gigantic trap
OF all places, therefore, on the whole
continent. Manassas, and its miles of
densely serried batteries, was the last
with which the Federal Army had any
business; yet, there we were, "going it
blind, with the vain confidence of fools,
on perfectly good terms with ourselves,
and exhalting in advance the profound
military leader, who was thus giving US
a chance to develop his keen foresight
and commanding genius. After We bad
got about mile and half beyond the
wooden bridge, the road began gradually
to slope toward the Run, and to be more
closed in with trees; and even at that ear.
ly hour the GOODNESS of those leafy aisles,
was felt as relief from the already hot
and dusty path. After We emerged from
this pleasing shelter, the column pro-
ceeded along to the distance OF, perhaps,
a quarter of mile, descending all the
while toward a ravine which harbored
sluggish stream crossed by a stone bridge.
From that point the enemy's defenses
rose. spreading and thickening at easy
and surmouuted by powerful
batteries where the line met the horizon;
and ] may pause here to say-with pow
erful batteries packed. and extending be-
hind that line for miles along. Sudden
ly, an excam alton of There they arel"
from member of Gen. Tyler's staff,
brought our column to stand. Every
field officer at once brought his glass to
bear. and the consciousness that We were
surely to have fight ran in an electric
whisper along the entire column. Th.re,
indeed, they were, the Rebels. down in
meadow, still distance of, and not bold
ly perceptible, because Of the dark back.
ground of the woods. 1t was . body of
infantry drawn up in line of battle, it's
full strength concealed from being enten.
ded partly in the forest. 1t was now me-
cessary that we also should take battle
order; so We deployed into the adjoining
fields, Gen. Schenck's brigade consisting
Of the ID New. York and lst and I'd Ohio
Regiments, being extended to the left,
aud Shermsn's brigade, composed of the
New. York 6sth, 10, 18th, and I'd Wis
cousin, stretching on the right. The
large riaed 80 FOUNDER was then brought
forward through the center, and put into
position in the middle of the road. The
enemy evidently saw this movement With
their glasses, for they suddenly fell back,
whereupon the big gun, giving out its
thunder, flung q she'll toward the spot OF
their retirement.


The fuse was short, however, and after
plowiDg its roaring progress just over the
proper spot, it burst harmlessly IN air
But the echoes of that solemn challenge
announced to d hundred and fifty thou
sand armed men that the battle had be.
gun. The silence that followed was pro-
found; but it was broken BY no answer
from the enemy; SO, after pause of SOW
eral minutes, our iron monster spoke a


gain, this time leveling itself at battery
higher on the hill, and dropping its com /.
pliment directly inside the works, to the