My Days and Nights on the Battle-Field

tern Virginia, and Missouri; but upon the banks of this winding stream was fought a battle which will be forever memorable. T

ast through Fairfax County. Just beyond the stream, as you go west from Washington, are the plains of Manassas,-level lands, which years ago waved with corn

re, in June, 1861, General Beauregard mustered his army, which was to defeat the Union army and capture Washington. The Richmond newspapers said that this army would not only capture Washington, but would also dictate terms of peace on the banks of the Hudson. Hot-headed men, who seem

the Union army, making Bull Run his line of defence, throwing up breastworks, cutti

isted for three months, who had suddenly left their homes at the call of the President. Their term of service had nearly expired. The three years' men had been but a few days in camp.

nother mile carries us to Blackburn's, and another mile brings us to Mitchell's. Above these are Island Ford, Lewis Ford, and Ball's Ford. Three miles above Mitchell's there is a stone bridge, where the turnpike leading from Centr

ing the turnpike, and ascending the ridge on the north side, you see that towards Sudley Springs there are other swells of land, with wheat-fields, fences, scattered trees, and groves of pines and oaks. Looking across to the hill south of the turnpike, a half-mile distant, you see the house of Mr. Lewis, and west of it Mrs. Henry's, on the highest knoll. Mrs. Henry is an old lady, so fa

Mr. Lewis's and Mrs. Henry's, is the battle-field. You see it,-the ridges of land, the houses, haystacks, fen

the Shenandoah, arrived at Manassas. Being General Beauregard's superior o

lackburn's Ford, which the Rebels call the battle of Bull Run, while that which was fought on the 21st they call the battl

eneral Earley's, General Bartow's, and General Holmes's. General Jackson's is in rear of General Bonham's. At Island Ford is General Bee and Colonel Hampton's legion, also Stuart's cavalry. At Ball's Ford is General Cocke's brigade. Above, at the Stone Bridge, is the extreme left o

of General Tyler's and General Miles's division was left at Centreville to make a feint of attacking the enemy at Blackburn's and Mitchell's Fords, and to protect the rear of the army from an attack by General

rched down the turnpike towards the Stone Bridge, where General Evans was on the watch. G

tand there amid the tasselled stalks, you see the stream rippling beneath the stone arches, and upon the other bank breastworks of earth and fallen trees. Half hid beneath the oaks a

above the Rebel lines. The shell has exploded. There is a sudden movement of the Rebel troops. It is the first gun of the morning. And now, two miles down the Run, by Mitchell's Ford, rolling, echoing, and reverberating through the forests, are other thunderings. Gene

hich scream like an unseen demon as they fly over the cornfield,

rthwest, along a narrow road,-a round-about way to Sudley Springs. It is a long march. They started at two o'clock, and have had no breakfast. They waited three hours at Cub Run, while General Tyler's division was crossing, and they are there

o the second ridge of land north of the turnpike. He plants his artillery on the hill, and secretes his infantry in a thicket of pines. General Bee is on the march, so is General Bartow and General Jackson, all upon the double-quick. Rebel officers ride furiously, and shout their orders. The artilleryme

dvance. The Second Rhode Island infantry is thrown out, deployed as skirmishers. The men are

another rattle, a roll, a volley. The cannon join. The first great battle has begun. General Hunter hastens to the spot, and is wounded almost at the first volley, and compelled to leave t

nside's brigade, move toward the haystacks. They bring their guns to a level, and the rattle and roll begin. There are jets of flame, long lines of light, white clouds, unfolding and expanding, rolling over and over, and rising above the tree-tops. Wilder the uproar. Men fall, tossing their arms; some leap into the air, some plunge headlong, falling like logs of wood or lumps of lead. Some reel, stagger, and tumble; others lie down gently as to a night's repose, unheeding the din, commotion, and uproar.

wicked men who began it are crushed, till the honor of the dear old flag is vindicated, till the Union is restored, till the country is saved, till the slaveholder is deprived of his power, and till freedom comes to the slave. It is terrible to see, but you remember that the greatest blessing the world ever received was purchased by blood,-the blood of the Son of God. It is terrible to see, but ther

false. They have been long in the service, and have had many fierce contests with the Indians on the Western plains. They are as true as steel. Captain Sykes commands them. He leads the way. You see them, with steady ranks, in the edge of the woods east of Dogan's house. They have been facing southwest, and now they turn to the southeast. They pass through the grove of pines, and enter the open field. They are cut through and through with solid shot, shells burst around them, men drop from the ranks, but the battalion does not falter. It sweeps on close up to the cloud of flame and smoke rolling from the hill north of the turnpike. Their mus

hurch. They were parched with thirst, and when they reached the stream they, too, stopped and filled their canteens. Burnside's and Porter's b

t was a Rebel caisson blown up by one of Griffin's shells. It was a continuous, steady artillery fire. The gunners of the Rebel batteries were swept away by the unerring aim of Griffin's gunners. They changed position again and again, to

ridge by Mrs. Henry's. Evans's, Bee's, Bartow's, and Cocke's brigades, which have been trying to hold their ground against Burnside and Porter's brigades, by this movement are also forced b

We were near the Stone Bridge. He was a tall, athletic you

s have you on the

y thou

at number,

hnston came yesterday and a whole lot more from Richmond. If

s in c

f Da

eauregard wa

ld now. I know it; for I saw him just befor

he woods. The Rebel batteries had opened again upon our posi

e large armies. He was correct in saying that Jeff Davis was there. He was on the ground, watching

erman and General Keyes crossed Bull Run above the Stone Bridge and moved straight down the

ew Hampshire, and the Second Rhode Island battery; extending to the toll-house is Porter's brigade. He has Sykes's battalion of regulars, and the Eighth and Fourteenth regiments of New York Militia and Arnold's battery. Crossing the road which comes down from Sudley Springs, you see General Franklin's brigade, containing the Fifth Massachusetts Militia, the First Minnesota Volunteers, and the Fourth Pennsylvania Militia. Next you come to the men from Maine and Vermont, the Second, Fourth, and Fifth Maine, and the Second Vermont, General Howard's brigade. Beyond, upon the extreme right, is General Wilcox with the First Michigan and the Eleventh New York. Griffin's and Rickett's batteries are near at hand. There are twenty-four regiments and twenty-four pieces of artillery. There are two companies of cavalr

t Alabama, Seventh and Eighth Georgia; Cocke's brigade, the Eighteenth, Nineteenth, and Twenty-eighth Virginia, seven companies of the Eighth, and three of the Forty-ninth Virginia; Evans's brigade, composed of Hampton's legion, Fourth South Carolina, and Wheat's Louisiana battalion; Holmes's brigade, composed of two regiments of Virginia infantry, the First Arkan

battle, and officers and men are inexperienced. There are a great many stragglers on both sides; more, probably, from the Rebel ranks t

the turnpike. Franklin and Howard and Wilcox, who have been pushing south, turn towards the southeast. There are desperate hand-to-hand encounters. Cannon are taken and retaken. Gunners on both sides are shot while loading their pieces. Hundreds f

other crowds,-disappointed, faint-heart

e defe

nts are cut

wounded and Gener

s and men in the Rebel ranks feel that the battle is all b

left wing, and the left wing has been pushed back beyond Mr. Lewis's house. Griffin's and Rickett's batteries, which had been

n advance," said

will support you,"

nce till we come into position; then

re the orders. The Zouaves are alre

rk my words, they w

y, the Fire Zouaves, and the Fourteenth New York. In front of them, about forty or fifty rods distant, were the Rebel batteries, supported by infantry. Griffin

fivefold odds, and heavy losses, especially of field officers, had greatly discoura

day were dark. The remnants of the regiments, so badly injured or wounded and worn, as they staggered out gave gloo

a hot sun, without a drop of water near, the conduct of our men could not be

e men and more guns engaged than McDowell; but he has been steadily driven. But Rebel reinforcements arrive from an unexpected quarter,-General Smith's brigade, from the Shenandoah. It comes into action in front of Wilcox. There are from two to three thousand men. General Smith is wounded almost at the first fire, and Colonel Elzey takes command. General Bonham sends two regiments, the Second and Eighth South Carolina. They keep south of Mrs. Henry's, and march on till they are in position to fire almost

ey are your supports!" sho

they are

supports, jus

he world, the

, Captain; they a

ull the lanyards, which will se

!" shouts t

y's, and the supposed supports are saved fro

raise their guns. There is a flash, a rattle and roll. Griffin's and Rickett's men and their horses go down in an instant! They rush o

three thousand fresh troops. They fall back. The guns are in the hands of the Rebels. The day is lost. At the very moment of victory the line is broken. In an instant all is changed. A momen

ded. By a common impulse they begin to fall back across the turnpike. Unaccountably to themselves, and to the Rebel fugitives streaming towards Manassas, they lose strength and

was favorable. The heat was intense, and I was thirsty. A s

tle-Ground,

Porter's and Bur

9 Sherman's and

Mathey. 10 Griffin's a

e. 11 Rebel reinfo

nry's. up

4 Position of Re

s, and Franklin's U

idge where the

you find

oods, in the rear of

panic tide had come rolling to the rear. Ayers lashed his horses to a gallop, to reach Cub Run bridge. He succeeded in crossing it. He came into position to open upon the Rebels and to check their pursuit. The road was blocked with wagons. Frightened teamsters cut their horses loose and rode away. Soldiers, officers, and civilians fled towards Centreville, frightened

t's battery, occupied the crest of a hill looking down towards the ford. The Rebels marched through the woods upon the bank of the st

kburn's Ford,

d. 4 Davies's bri

ord. 5 Richard

el tr

regiments dropped upon the ground. The six

of the hill; wait till I give the wo

here is an officer on his horse giving directions. The long dark line throws it

The officer tumbles from his horse, and the horse staggers to the earth. There are sudden gaps in the ranks. They stop advancing. Officers run here and there. Another mercile

p their mysterious victory. The rear-guard remained in Centreville till morning recovering five canno

ion soldiers changed to sudden, unaccountable fear, an

our wounded were lying where they had fallen. It was a terrible night to them. Their enemies, some of them, were hard-hearted and cruel. They fired into the hospitals upon helpless men. They refused them water to quench their burning thirst. They taunted them in their hour of t

lows only as suffering fellow-mortals, brothers in need of help, and made no distinction between friend and foe; nay, I must own that I was prompted to give the preference to the latter, for the reason that some of our men met with attention from their relation

eep, and unquenchable, that they lay down cheerfully to their death-sleep. This officer in the Rebel service went out upon the field where the fight had been thicke

er him; "the day will come when you will remembe

up with me. I do not grieve that I must die,

poor, distracted country. Had I a second life to live, I

rder of another world, he saw once more those who were dearest on earth

as d

e is unknown, but his devotion to his country

to move, and were taken prisoners. Among them was a Zouave, in red trousers. He was a tall, noble fellow. Althou

lt comes from a coward and a knave. I am your prisoner, but you have no right to fling yo

ssured the brave fellow that he should not again be insulted. So bra

en killed and wounded in this battle; but each side l

ed their terrible hate by their inhuman treatment of the prisoners captured. They gave the dead indecent burial. The Rebel soldiers dug up the bones of the dead Union men, and carved them into ornaments, which they sent home to thei

ing up the contest, but, as you remember, there was a great uprising of the pe