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something in this movement, and looking for shallow water, but finding none, we immediately plunged into the stream and swam the river. When within twenty feet of the opposite shore we heard firing and cries of "come back," and on turning round we saw ten or fifteen men, in their shirt sleeves, ordering us back, and firing several shots at us. Of course we did not obey this command, but started off at a good pace into what we supposed was Maryland. We had not gone far before we came to another stream, which we waded.

in motion since two hours before day, which settled the question as to their intention to make the attack. Beauregard, who had studied the whole ground around-knew every hill, ravine, and pathway-had made all the necessary arrangements and planned the battle. Not knowing at what point of a semicircle of ten miles around Manassas the enemy would attack, his forces had to be scattered in such a way as to guard all points, prevent a flank movement on either side, and guard his intrenchments and supplies in the centre.

We got up in the morning at daylight, took a cup of coffee and remained quietly laughing and talking at head-quarters, while the scouts were passing in and out bringing news from the enemy. At a quarter past six in the still, bright morning, we heard the first deep-toned sound of cannon on the centre of our line, about three miles off. We waited till nine for further information, and at nine the generals ordered to horse, and away we dashed to the hill overlooking the point at which cannon, like minute guns, had

We afterwards ascertained that we had crossed Edward's Island about 17 miles from Washington. Before losing sight of our pursuers, Capt. Allen showed his pistol, and shook it in defiance of them. This was the only weapon, with the exception of the knife, we had among us. This was about half-past five Sunday morning. Finding ourselves among friends, we walked five miles to Great Falls, where we laid down and rested till noon. On waking we resumed our march, and reached the arsenal at nine at night, where we found our picket-continued slowly to fire. The enemy could not guard of Second Vermont regiment. They received us kindly, provided us with supper, and furnished us with a bed. The next morning we all hurried on to Washington, and telegraphed our safe arrival to our friends.

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see any of our troops, but were firing at the dust kicked up along the road, which they saw above the low trees. We were for some time at the point they were firing at, and some twenty or thirty balls of their rifled cannons whizzed through the air above us, and I felt very forcibly the remark of Cuddy to his mother Mause, that "a straggling bullet has nae discretion" and might take my head off as well as that of anybody else. The firing, at this point kept up slowly from a quarter past six till eleven, when

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SECESSION LETTERS AND NARRATIVES. we heard a gun fire on the extreme left of the

DOCTOR J. C. NOTT'S ACCOUNT.

semicircle, and we were then satisfied that the firing in front was a mere feint. In a few RICHMOND, July 23, 1861. minutes the cannon firing came in rapid succesDear Harleston: I have seen the great and sion, as if one battery was answering another. glorious battle of Manassas, which brought a The generals then ordered "to horse" again, nation into existence, and the scene was grand and away we rode to the seat of battle, about and impressive beyond the power of language. three miles off. When we arrived on the top of We foresaw the action several days ahead-the a hill, in an old field, we could get glimpses of enemy were known to be advancing in immense the fight through the woods. The cannons masses from Arlington towards Fairfax, and the were roaring and the musketry sounded like a master stroke was at once made, to order John-large bundle of fire crackers, and the constant ston down from Winchester, by forced marches, before Patterson could get down on the other side. Johnston's troops marched all twentysix miles, then crowded into the railroad, came down in successive trains, without sleeping or eating, (15,000,) and arrived, many of them, while the battle was raging.

I got to Manassas the morning of the day previous to the fight; and knowing well both Generals Beauregard and Johnston, and their staff officers, I went immediately to headquarters. Zac. Deas, among the rest, was there in full feather, and I of course felt at home in his camp, where I spent the night. General Beauregard determined to attack them in several columns at once the next morning, so as to cut them up before Patterson could arrive but our scouts came early in the morning, informing the generals that the enemy had been

roaring of the big guns, the sharp sound of rifled cannons, Minié rifles and muskets, with the bursting of shells, made one feel that death was doing his work with fearful rapidity.

The enemy had concentrated all his forces on this one point, while ours were scattered around a half circle of ten miles, and the few regiments who received the first onset were most terribly cut up. It was far greater odds than human nature could stand, the regiments were torn to pieces, driven back, and so overwhelmed by numbers that I feared the day was lost. At this stage of the game the enemy was telegraphing to Washington that the battle had been won, and secession was about to be crushed. My heart failed me as I saw load after load of our poor wounded and dying soldiers brought and strewed on the ground, along the ravine where I was at work. Dr.

Fanthray, who belonged to General Johnston's staff, and myself were just getting fully to work, when an old surgeon, whom I do not know, came to us and said the enemy were carrying every thing before them, and ordered us to fall back to another point with the wounded, as they were turning our flank, and the battle would soon be upon us. Accordingly the wounded were taken up and we fell back, but after following the ambulances for a mile, we found that they were to be taken all the way to Manassas about four miles-where there were hospitals and surgeons to receive them, and we returned to our position near the battle.

details which will reach you through print long before this.

The victory was dearly bought, but still blood is the price of freedom; and we can at least, while we drop a tear over the graves of | our fallen friends, feel the proud consolation that they have died like heroes, and given liberty to unborn generations.

At this juncture I saw our reinforcements pouring in with the rapidity and eagerness of a fox chase, and was satisfied that they would drive every thing before them. No one can imagine such a grand, glorious picture as these patriots presented, rushing to the field through the masses of wounded bodies which strewed the roadside as they passed along. For half a mile behind me the road passed down a gradual slope, and through an old field, as I looked back, I could see a regiment of infantry coming in a trot, with their bright muskets glittering in the sun; then would come a battery of artillery, each gun carriage crowded with men and drawn by four horses in full gallop. Next came troops of cavalry, dashing with the speed of Murat; after these followed, with almost equal speed, wagons loaded with ammunition, &c., screaming all the while,

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Our troops are pouring in every day from the South, and if Beauregard and Johnston choose to lead them, they can plant the hated Palmetto tree beside the Bunker Hill monument, which was erected to commemorate the same principles for which we are now fighting, and to which a degenerate race has proved recreant. They have forced this fight upon us, and after exhausting every thing but honor for peace, it is their turn to sue for terms.

I never had any idea of military science before. Beauregard and Johnston played it like a game of chess without seeing the boardwhen a messenger came and told the enemy's move, a move was immediately ordered to put him in check.*

The times are so exciting here that I cannot yet foresee my movements. I found that they had surgeons enough for the wounded in the hospitals at Manassas, and having no commission, I left and came up to Richmond to send down many things needed for the patients, thinking I could serve them better in this way than any other. -Mobile Evening News, July 30.

*The position of the Confederate forces is thus given in the paper:

2

R. ROAD

5

3

push ahead boys," "pitch into the d-d Yankees," "drive them into the Potomac." This kept up from about mid-day till dark, and I felt as if the Alps themselves could not withstand such a rush. The cannon and small-arms were roaring like a thunder storm as they rushed to the battle-field. One regiment, which had been driven back by overwhelming numbers, was now supported, and I soon perceived that the firing was getting further off, as I had expected, and I knew that the "pet lambs" now could only be saved by their superior heels. About this time, too, the last of General Johnston's command arrived on the cars, opposite the battle-ground, to the number of some three or four thousand, and although they had been two nights without sleep, they jumped from the cars and cut across to the field. By this time we had collected about 15,000 against their the centre of the Confederate lines. 35,000, and, from all accounts, no red fox ever made tracks so fast as did these cowardly wretches. They were all fresh and better accoutred in every respect than our men, one half or more of whom had to make forced marches to get at them. They had selected their position coolly and deliberately in the morning, while ours were scattered over ten miles and had to run through the mid-day sunshine. If our men had been equally fresh they would have gone straight into their intrenchments at Arlington. But I will not speculate on the future and weary you with

EXPLANATION OF SKETCH.

A. The columns of the enemy making the feint attack on

B, B. The columns of the enemy, 85,000 strong, making the real attack on the left of the Confederate lines.

1. Manassas Junction, with Confederate troops holding the fortified camp.

2. The 15,000 Confederate troops who fought the battle and defeated the 35.000 Federals who attacked them.

3. The centre of the Confederate lines; a battery in position.

4. 4, 4, 4. Positions of troops forming the Confederate lines, where they were kept in line to meet an advance from any quarter. It is understood that some reinforcements were sent down from these positions to join in the fight on the left.

5, 5. Railroads which make the junction at Manassas, NOTE-From the extreme left to the extreme right of our lines, which formed nearly a true semicircle, the distance was ten miles; but whether this distance was measured by the arc or directly across from right to left, is not clear.

NOTES TAKEN ON THE BATTLE-FIELD.

BULL RUN, Sunday Morning, July 21-10 o'clock. It seemed to be conceded that this was to be the day of trial for which we have been working for many months past, and, in common with the immense mass of men assembled here, I have taken my position upon Bull Run, to share the fortunes of the contest.

regard, Johnston, and Bonham have just come to the hill where I have been standing. The whole scene is before us-a grand moving diorama. The enemy have sent a ball from their rifled cannon at us. Another. They pass over us with a sound that makes our flesh crawl. All have left the spot but Gens. Beauregard, Bonham, and Johnston, and their aids. The firing has ceased at the head of our flanking column. It is renewed again, nearer, I think, to the enemy. Another ball exactly over our heads. A very sustaining force follows our flanking column. The enemy, firing at our generals, has dropped a shot among the wagons in the edge of the woods below, and they dash off. Another shot follows them as they fly, and plunges in the ground but a few feet behind one of them.

11 o'clock.

them, and they stand stationary for a long
time; but at last the enemy's column goes
back-a column of dust arises in their rear-a
shout rises that roars loud as the artillery from
our men-the enemy's fire slackens-our re-
serves advance-the dust rises on to the posi-
tion lately occupied by the enemy-we tri-
umph, we triumph, thank God!
rises in the rear of the enemy, as though they
were retreating rapidly.

The scene a moment since, and yet, is unutterably sublime. Upon the hill, just one and a third mile off, the enemy are placing their artillery. We see them plunging down the Centreville road to the apex of the eminence above Mitchell's ford, and deploying to the right and left. Dark masses are drifting on with the power of fate in the road. We see the columns moving, and, as they deploy through the forests, we see the cloud of dust floating over them, to mark their course. When the dust ceases we are sure that they The firing has been awful. The heads of have taken their position. The firing now the flanking and resisting columns are distinctcommences from two batteries to the rightly visible from the smoke that rises above and left of the road. It is constant, and another has been opened about a mile lower down. That, however, has been firing for an hour past. The guns are served with great rapidity and precision, and, as we are within range, and uncertain, therefore, when they will favor us, there is quite an interest in the position. Our own troops are in the dense forest that lies below us on Bull Run. They are still, not a gun has yet been fired, and there would seem to be nothing to indicate their presence. Of their presence and their readiness the enemy is advised, however, and is making all the headway he can. Of the precise position, however, they are still unadvised; and in every clump of trees, and all along the line, they are plunging shots. So far, however, none have told. Our own batteries are in reserve, ready for a spring to any point that may come to be available. The hospital is again the object for their fire; and the battery I mentioned as a mile below the ford, having heavier guns than mere fieldpieces, and one at least rifled, is now playing

upon it.

The object, however, of the most intense interest is a line of dust that begins to rise above the mass of forest lying for miles away to the right of the enemy. That it is a moving column is evident, but whether of our own or the enemy is the principal question. If ours, we are taking the enemy in flank; if theirs, they outflank us. It moves towards the enemy, and a courier that joins us reports that it is the brigade of General Cocke. On it goes. There is no corresponding column of the enemy. The movement promises success. The enemy may have stationed a force in anticipation, but if not we fall upon their flank.

Half-past 10 o'clock, A.M. There is firing on our flanking column. The enemy have opened their battery upon it halfway. The column responds. The firing becomes rapid-musketry-rapid. Gens. Beau

The dust still

Quarter before twelve o'clock.

The enemy make another stand. Again, there is the roar of musketry, long like the roar of distant and protracted thunder. Again the roar, but always at the head of the enemy's column. A column of dust rises to the left of our forces and passes to the enemy's right. It must be intended to flank them. It is fearful to think how many heart strings are wrung by the work that now goes on-how many brave men must be mangled and in anguish.

Again the enemy has fallen back to another point, half a mile in the rear; and the spirals in the background. The whole scene is in the of the smoke curl up the side of the mountain Piedmont valley, which I have often noticed to have slept so sweetly to the west of Centreville, and sweeping on down to the south. It is nearly level, or seems so, and the Blue Ridge rises to form the dark background of a most magnificent picture.

Twelve o'clock, Noon. The batteries first opening have been silent for half an hour, and the whole extended valley is now the thick of the fight. Where the enemy last took his stand retreating, the fight is fearful; the dust is denser than the smoke. It is awful. They have been repulsed three times so it is reported by a courier-and now they have taken their bloodiest and final stand.

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Quarter before one o'clock.

The fray ceases; Generals Beauregard and Johnston dash on to the scene of action, and as we cannot doubt that the enemy has again fallen back, it looks as though they were on their way to Washington.

One o'clock.

Column after column is thrown in from all along the line of Bull Run to fall upon the left flank of the enemy, and the firing is again renewed, as though nothing had been done. An effort would seem to have been made to outflank us, and it has brought on another engagement further off, but on a line with the first. The cannon established on the hill was a feint at Mitchell's Ford, while of both armies the effort was to outflank. These guns now but play at the columns of dust as they rise from the infantry and cavalry as they tramp past; and as those columns are near the point where I stand, they have brought a dozen balls at least within 100 yards.

Fifteen minutes past one o'clock.

The firing has almost entirely ceased, but still our reserves are pouring in. The enemy seems to be making an attempt to cross at Mitchell's Ford. All at Mitchell's Ford is a

feint, and it is now certain that the grand battle-ground for empire is now to the west, beyond the Stone Bridge, on Bull Run, and I go there.

Evening.

At two o'clock I arrived on the ground; but of the further scenes of this eventful battle I have nothing more to say, save this only, that at five o'clock the enemy was driven from the field, leaving most of the guns of Sherman's battery behind them, with an awful list of dead and wounded.

It will be evident to any one who becomes familiar with the events of the day that I misapprehend many of the occurrences. The attack was made at a point above the Stone Bridge, on Bull Run, by the whole disposable force of the enemy, led by General McDowell. The importance of the movement was not at first estimated, and it was met by Gen. Evans, with only the Fourth South Carolina regiment, Colonel Sloan, the Independent Louisiana battalion, Major Wheat, and two guns of the Washington Artillery. The charge of the enemy was met with an intrepidity that was beyond all praise, and the whole column of the enemy was held at bay until reinforcements came. These were led on by Colonel Jackson, Colonel Bartow, General Bee, and General Jones. The conflict went on in a fierce and terrible struggle of the Confederate troops against great odds and amidst terrible slaughter.

At the crisis of the engagement two regiments of South Carolinians-Kershaw's and Cocke's were ordered to advance. Kemper's battery was attached to Kershaw's. As these troops advanced, they were joined by Preston's regiment of Cocke's brigade. A tremendous charge was made, which decided the fate of the day. After acts of incredible valor, the enemy was driven

off far to the north. As they retreated on the Braddock road to Centreville a charge was made upon them by a portion of our cavalry, and I think of the Radford Rangers. They dashed upon them about a mile away, and dust above them for ten minutes rose up as from the crater of a volcano. The punishment was severe and rapid.

Colonel Hampton's Legion suffered greatly. It came last night, and marched directly into battle. When I went upon the ground I heard that Colonel Hampton and Johnson were both killed, but afterwards I met Colonel Hampton riding from the field, wounded badly, but exhilarated at the thought that his men had exhibited surpassing intrepidity, and that General Beauregard himself had relieved him and led his legion into battle.

Colonel Sloan's Fourth regiment South Carolina Volunteers suffered as much. They stood decimated at every fire until reinforcements came, and they exhibit a sad remnant of the noble body of men that entered into battle.

did

The Second regiment, Colonel Kershaw, fearful execution at the crisis of the contest,

but suffered less.

and the Eighth Georgia regiment, Col. Gardner, The Fourth Alabama regiment, Col. Jones, suffered greatly.

Wearied and worn, and sick at heart, I retired from the field whose glory is scarce equal to its gloom, and I have not the strength now to write more. I send iny field notes as they are.

President Davis came upon the ground just as the battle ended, and the wildest cheering greeted him. He rode along the lines of warworn men who had been drawn off from action, and he seemed proud of them, and of his right to command such noble men, but it was tempered with a feeling of regret that their right to his respect had been vindicated at so dreadful a sacrifice. Many wounded still stood in the ranks, and exhibited the unalterable purpose to stand there while they had strength to do so.

How many of the enemy were killed we have no means of knowing, but it must have been much greater than our own. Our men shot with the utmost possible coolness and precision, and they must have claimed this compliment.

We took Sherman's battery, sixteen guns, and three guns from those batteries that opened upon us first above Mitchell's Ford.

These are facts reported to me on the ground at sundown, but they are not necessarily correct. I have hesitated to state any thing, but upon the whole have thought it best. I will send a corrected list of our casualties to-morrow.

There was an engagement at the batteries above Mitchell's Ford, in which the Fifth, Seventh, and Eighth South Carolina regiments were engaged, but the facts have not transpired beyond the taking of guns. -Charleston Mercury.

ANOTHER SOUTH CAROLINA REPORT.

ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,

CAMP PICKENS, Monday, July 22, 1861.} I gave you yesterday, as well as the circumstances would permit, my first impressions of the great battle at the Stone Bridge, and, after a day of constant inquiry, and as much reflection as was possible, I will attempt to give a more perfect outline of that most brilliant military achievement.

As I stated, the battle was expected. All things indicated the approach of an impending crisis. The moral atmosphere was heavy with its awful import, and without being able to say what it was precisely that induced conviction, yet conviction of the contest had become a faith with all, and men rose in the morning to a day pregnant of death to men, and of the fortunes and the fate of the Republic.

plain of battle at Stone Bridge. The rest, in reserve at the several crossings for five miles down, were inactive, suspended on contingencies for movement, until too late for a direct movement on the enemy's position.

The action, as I have stated, was commenced by a feint on the hills above Mitchell's Ford, upon the top of which the enemy industriously exhibited large masses of his forces; and the demonstration was followed up, as I have stated, by a movement round by Stone Bridge to our left flank. This movement was anticipated by a like movement of ours to take him upon his right flank; and thus the two flanking forces meeting, monopolized the interest, and became the leading actors in the splendid military drama. Our force, however, was a detachment; theirs was their main body. They had determined to force a crossing at that Nor did the realization of this conception de- point-to conquer fate to that object; and to pend upon the action of the enemy. They that end they had sent forward, it would seem, took the initiative, and came to meet us; but if their entire force, beyond that necessary for they had not, we would have gone to them. It the demonstration, and as the letter which is now reasonably certain that matters here was found on a prisoner, and a copy of which were so matured that the military authorities I send you, states their force at 130,000-too were ready and determined to advance, and it much, perhaps. It is certain it was large, and was with a feeling of relief, perhaps, that the that not less than 80,000 were despatched upon first booming of the cannon at McLean's Ford this mission. To meet this, we had only the removed from us the responsibilities of that brigade of Gen. Evans, consisting of the Fourth movement. We were not entirely prepared- South Carolina, and Wheat's Louisiana Batas well prepared, at least, as we might have talion, and two guns of the Washington Artilhoped to be. The forces of Gen. Holmes, from lery, sustained by Col. Cocke's brigade, conFredericksburg, and of Gen. Evans, from sisting of Cols. Cocke's Nineteenth Virginia Leesburg, were in the battle; and so, also, regiment, Wither's Seventeenth Virginia, and were the most of those from Gen. Johnston. Preston's Twenty-eighth Virginia. The disadBut two brigades of Gen. Johnston's force-vantage, therefore, was in the fact that the Gen. Smith's and Col. Elzey's-had not arrived. Hampton's Legion and Wynder's Sixth regiment of North Carolina had not arrived the night before. Many that had arrived from the sources mentioned above were without the provisions of a military life, and were too wearied for the most efficient military service; but still our forces had been greatly strengthened. At least 15,000 men had been added to our too small force. The enemy, in not renew-lieved, were in the action, as also some three ing the attack, or offering to bury their dead, would seem to have been demoralized; and under the circumstances, therefore, it would seem that our generals had resolved to strike and drive the invader back, or challenge fate upon the open field of battle.

To this end it would seem to have been their purpose to lead an attacking force directly on the road to Centreville, by Mitchell's Ford, where Gen. Bonham, with his brigade, had been posted, and a flanking force by Stone Bridge, and along the line which the enemy himself selected for a flanking force on us. This action of the enemy induced a necessary change in our plans. From attacking, we were forced to a defence, and it may be a question whether the result was better than it could have been. Our whole available force would then have been in action. As it was, only those were in that could be thrown upon the VOL. II.-Doc. 7

great disproportion of our column left it exposed to an accumulated and concentrated fire, which occasioned a mortality disproportioned to what might have been anticipated from a more equal number. In addition to this, the enemy had posted his column with all the available regulars in the service. The Second and Third Infantry, at least, and Doubleday's battalion, late of Patterson's column, it is be

three thousand collected at Washington for service. [Not one of these men were in the action.-ED. TIMES.] Staking the fate of his army on this attack, it was truly severe. Never did men fight as our men did. The Fourth regiment and Wheat's battalion stood until almost cut to pieces under a concentrated fire from flank and front, and they did, in fact, as I thought they did, force the enemy to recoil; but the utmost they could expect was to induce but a temporary check to such a moving mass. It still rolled on, and, as brigade after brigade was subsequently thrown in, it but sustained the check; and, as they were successively cut up by the more abundant ordnance of the enemy, they still left to him the advantage of his numbers.

To exhibit the circumstances under which reinforcements were effected, I would state a little more explicitly the position of our forces.

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