The War-CloudThe Journey
NorthwardAppointed Brigadier-GeneralReport to General
BeauregardAssigned to Command at the Scene of the First
ConflictPersonnel of the Confronting Forces Description of the
Field of Manassas, or Bull RunBeauregard and McDowell of the same West
Point ClassBattle of Blackburn's FordEarly's MistakeUnder
Fire of Friend and Foe.
I WAS stationed at Albuquerque, New Mexico, as paymaster in
the United States army when the war-cloud appeared in the East. Officers of the
Northern and Southern States were anxious to see the portending storm pass by
or disperse, and on many occasions we, too, were assured, by those who claimed
to look into the future, that the statesman would yet show himself equal to the
occasion, and restore confidence among the people. Our mails were due
semi-monthly, but during winter seasons we were glad to have them once a month,
and occasionally had to be content with once in six weeks. When mailday came
the officers usually assembled on the flat roof of the quartermaster's office
to look for the dust that in that arid climate announced the coming mail-wagon
when five or ten miles away; but affairs continued to grow gloomy, and
eventually came information of the attack upon and capture of Fort Sumter by
the Confederate forces, which put down speculation and drew the long-dreaded
line.
A number of officers of the post called to persuade me to
remain in the Union service. Captain Gibbs, of the Mounted Rifles, was the
principal talker, and after a long but pleasant discussion, I asked him what
course he would pursue if his State should pass ordinances of secession and
call him to its defence. He confessed that he would obey the call.
It was a sad day when we took leave of lifetime comrades and
gave up a service of twenty years. Neither Union officers nor their families
made efforts to conceal feelings of deepest regret. When we drove out from the
post, a number of officers rode with us, which only made the last farewell more
trying.
Passing Fort Craig, on the opposite side of the Rio Grande,
we pitched our camp for the night. A sergeant of the Mounted Rifle Regiment
came over to see me, and stated that he was from Virginia, and thought that he
could go with us to his native State, and at the same time asked that several
other soldiers who wished to return to their States might go as my escort. I
explained that private soldiers could not go without authority from the War
Department; that it was different with commissioned officers, in that the
latter could resign their commissions, and when the resignations were accepted
they were independent of military authority, and could, as other citizens, take
such action as they might choose, but that he and his comrades had enlisted for
a specified term of years, and by their oaths were bound to the term of
enlistment; that I could not entertain the proposition.
We stayed overnight at Fort Fillmore, in pleasant meeting
with old comrades, saddened by the reflection that it was the last, and a
prelude to occurrences that must compel the ignoring of former friendships with
the acceptance of opposing service.
Speaking of the impending struggle, I was asked as to the
length of the war, and said, " At least three years, and if it holds for five
you may begin to look for a dictator," at which Lieutenant Ryan, of the Seventh
Infantry, said, " If we are to have a dictator, I hope that you may be the
man."
My mind was relieved by information that my resignation was
accepted, to take effect on the 1st of June. In our travel next day we crossed
the line into the State of Texas. From the gloomy forebodings of old friends,
it seemed at El Paso that we had entered into a different world. All was
enthusiasm and excitement, and songs of "Dixie and the South" were borne upon
the balmy air. But the Texas girl did not ascend to a state of incandescent
charm until the sound of the first notes of " The Bonny Blue Flag" reached her
ear. Then her feet rose in gleeful springs, her limbs danced, her hands patted,
her eyes glowed, her lips moved, though she did not care to speak, or listen to
any one. She seemed lifted in the air, thrilled and afloat, holding to the "
Single Star" in joyful hope of Southern rights.
Friends at El Paso persuaded me to leave my family with them
to go by a train that was to start in a few days for San Antonio, and to take
the faster route by stage for myself.
Our travelling companions were two young men, returning to
their Northern homes. The ride of our party of four (including the driver)
through the Indian country was attended with some risk, and required vigilance,
to be assured against surprise. The constant watchfulness and possible danger
over a five-hundred-miles travel drew us near together, and in closer communion
as to our identity and future movements, and suggested to the young men that it
would be best to put themselves under my care, trusting that I would see them
safely through the Confederate lines. They were of the laboring class, and had
gone South to find employment. They were advised to be careful, and talk but
little when among strangers. Nothing occurred to cause apprehension until we
reached Richmond, Texas, where, at supper, I asked for a glass of milk, and was
told there was none.
"What!" said one of my companions, "haven't the keows come
up ?"
Signal was telegraphed under the table to be on guard. The
nom de plume of the Texas bovine escaped attention, and it passed as an
enjoyable lapsus linguoe.
At Galveston we took a small inland sailing-craft, but were
a little apprehensive, as United States ships were reported cruising outside in
search of all vessels not flying the Stars and Stripes. Our vessel, however,
was only boarded once, and that by a large Spanish mackerel that made a
misleap, fell amidships, and served our little company with a pleasant dinner.
Aboard this little vessel I first met T. J. Goree, an intelligent, clever
Texan, who afterwards joined me at Richmond, and served in faithful duty as my
aide-de-camp from Bull Run to Appomattox Court-House.
At New Orleans, my companions found safe-conduct to their
Northern lines, and I journeyed on to Richmond. Relatives along the route, who
heard of my approach, met me at the stations, though none suggested a stop
overnight, or for the next train, but after affectionate salutations waved me
on to join " Jeff Davis, for Dixie and for Southern rights."
At every station old men, women, and children assembled,
clapping hands and waving handkerchiefs to cheer the passengers on to Richmond.
On crossing the Virginia line, the feeling seemed to culminate. The windows and
doors of every farm-house and hamlet were occupied, and from them came hearty
salutations that cheered us on to Richmond. The spirit electrified the air, and
the laborers of the fields, white and black, stopped their ploughs to lift
their hats and wave us on to speedy travel. At stations where meals were
served, the proprietors, in response to offers to settle, said, " Meals for
those going on to join Jeff Davis are paid."
On the 29th of June, 1861, I reported at the War Department
at Richmond, and asked to be assigned for service in the pay department, in
which I had recently served (for when I left the line service, under
appointment as paymaster, I had given up all aspirations of military honor, and
thought to settle down into more peaceful pursuits). On the 1st of July I
received notice of my appointment as brigadier-general, with orders to report
at Manassas Junction, to General Beauregard.
I reported on the 2d, and was assigned to command of the
First, Eleventh, and Seventeenth Regiments of Virginia Volunteers, to be
organized as a brigade. The regiments were commanded respectively by
Colonels Moore, Samuel Garland, and M. D. Corse, all active, energetic,
and intelligent officers, anxious to acquire skill in the new service in which
they found themselves. Lieutenant Frank Armstead was assigned to duty at
brigade head-quarters, as acting assistant adjutant-general, and Lieutenant
Peyton T. Manning as aide-de-camp. Dr. J. S. D. Cullen, surgeon of the First
Virginia Regiment, became medical director. The regiments were stationed at
Manassas Junction.
On the 6th they were marched out, formed as a brigade, and
put through the first lessons in evolutions of the line, and from that day to
McDowell's advance had other opportunities to learn more of the drill and of
each other. General Beauregard had previously settled upon the stream of Bull
Run as his defensive-aggressive line, and assigned his forces accordingly. A
brigade under Brigadier-General R. S. Ewell was posted at Union Mills Ford, on
the right of the Confederate lines; one under Brigadier-General D. R. Jones at
McLean's Ford; Brigadier-General Bonham's brigade was placed on outpost duty at
Fairfax Court-House with orders to retire, at the enemy's approach, to
Mitchell's Ford, and Brigadier General P. St. George Cocke was to hold the
fords between Mitchell's and the Stone Bridge, the latter point to be defended
by a regiment and a battalion of infantry, and a battery, under
Brigadier-General N. G. Evans.
Between Mitchell's and McLean's Fords, and about half a mile
from each, is Blackburn's Ford. The guard at that point was assigned to my
command,the Fourth Brigade,which was ordered to be ready, at a
moment's warning, to march to position, and prepare for battle. In the mean
time I was to study the ground and familiarize myself with the surroundings and
avenues of approach and retreat. Bull Run rises from the foot-hills of the Blue
Ridge and flows southeast through deeps and shallows into the Potomac, about
forty miles south of Alexandria. The swell of the tide-waters up to Union Mills
gives it the depth and volume of water of a river. Blackburn's Ford is in a
great bend of the river, the north bank holding the concave of the turn. On the
convex side was a strip of alluvial soil about seventy feet wide, covered by
large forest-trees and some tangled undergrowth. Outside and extending some
three hundred yards from the edge of the woodland was an arable field upon a
pretty ascending plain, beyond which was a second growth of pine and oak. On
the north bank stood bluff of fifteen feet, overhanging the south side and
ascending towards the heights of Centreville. Below Blackburn's Ford the bluff
extended, in more or less ragged features, far down to the southeast. Just
above my position the bluff graded down in even decline to Mitchell's Ford, the
position assigned for Bonham's brigade, the latter being on the concave of the
river, six hundred yards retired from my left and at the crossing of the direct
road between Centreville and Manassas Junction. At the Junction
well-constructed battery epaulements were prepared for defence. |