Posted on 07/23/2021 7:59:27 AM PDT by Homer_J_Simpson
WASHINGTON, Monday Morning, July 22, 1861.
I came in from Centreville last evening for the express purpose of sending you the latest intelligence of the great battle of yesterday. I left Centreville at half-past 5 and reached here at midnight. I sent a dispatch to the office, but, as it is to be subjected to the censorship of the Government, which gives no hint of what it refuses permission to pass, I have no means of knowing whether its contents reached you or not. I must therefore repeat its contents.
The battle yesterday was one of the most severe and sanguinary ever fought on this Continent, and it ended in the failure of the Union troops to hold all the positions which they sought to carry, and which they actually did carry, and in their retreat to Centreville, where they have made a stand and where Gen. MCDOWELL believes that they are able to maintain themselves.
As I telegraphed you yesterday, the attack was made in three columns, two of which, however, were mainly feints, intended to amuse and occupy the enemy, while the substantial work was done by the third. It has been known for a long time that the range of hills which border the small, swampy stream known as Bull's Run, had been very thoroughly and extensively fortified by the rebels, -- that batteries had been planted, at every available point, usually concealed in the woods and bushes which abound in that vicinity, and covering every way of approach to the region beyond. These are the advanced defences of Manassas Junction, which is some three miles further off.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
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https://www.freerepublic.com/tag/by:homerjsimpson/index?tab=articles
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Link to previous New York Times thread
https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/3978254/posts
One of the articles says that Confederate altered flintlock rifles were useless after six or seven rounds. That seems odd. Is it true? Why would that be?
Oopsies...
I have no idea, myself. Surely there are freepers who know.
Doing these news reports in true calendar time sure makes it real how fast events spun out of control, how fast the vast armies were assembled, how fast war materiel was assembled, and how fast things went from possible reconciliation to mass killing of countrymen.
When Gen Bee said “There’s Jackson standing like a stone wall” was it a compliment? One book I read a few years ago suggested it was a complaint, Jackson was expected to come support Bee, but did not.
It was a compliment.
Said to inspire his own troops to stand.
Powder residue builds up in the barrel and makes loading almost impossible.
The modern rifled muskets used a miniball that was smaller than the bore diameter yet expanded to engage the rifling when the gun was fired.
This made it easy to load after continued firing.
I have seen this debated in several books.
Thanks. I didn’t realize the barrel fouled that quickly.
Perhaps so, but why give time of day to the rewriters of history ?
The name was given to Jackson by his contemporaries.
That should end the question.
General summary of events :
“ McDowell’s new plan depended on speed and surprise, both difficult with inexperienced troops. Valuable time was lost as the men stumbled through the darkness along narrow roads. Confederate Col. Nathan Evans, commanding at the Stone Bridge, soon realized that the attack on his front was only a diversion. Leaving a small force to hold the bridge, Evans rushed the remainder of his command to Matthews Hill in time to check McDowell’s lead unit. But Evans’ force was too small to hold back the Federals for long.
Soon brigades under Barnard Bee and Francis Bartow marched to Evans’ assistance. But even with these reinforcements, the thin gray line collapsed and Southerners fled in disorder toward Henry Hill. Attempting to rally his men, Bee used Gen. Thomas J. Jackson’s newly arrived brigade as an anchor. Pointing to Jackson, Bee shouted, “There stands Jackson like a stone wall! Rally behind the Virginians!” Generals Johnston and Beauregard then arrived on Henry Hill, where they assisted in rallying shattered brigades and redeploying fresh units that were marching to the point of danger.
About noon, the Federals stopped their advance to reorganize for a new attack. The lull lasted for about an hour, giving the Confederates enough time to reform their lines. Then the fighting resumed, each side trying to force the other off Henry Hill. The battle continued until just after 4p.m., when fresh Southern units crashed into the Union right flank on Chinn Ridge, causing McDowell’s tired and discouraged soldiers to withdraw.”
An animated view of the Battle of Henry Hill.
This timeline account goes to support Bee’s statement to be positive.
The Alabama were disorganized and behind the Virginians. They organized and moved up to renegade in the fight,
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=C0QKsrSdrj0
Read Mary Chesnut’s entry for today on the other thread. Her husband gave he a first-hand account of the incident in question.
I was just making an observation.
I’m A Jackson fan. And I am aware of the history and timeline.
Didn’t mean to ruffle your feathers.
By the way that u tube video was insulting.
If I wanted to ruffle your feathers all I had to say was “Jackson was an eccentric Academy professor who rode around all day with his left arm in the air,sucking on lemons and was shot by his own troops because he couldn’t stay behind his own pickets.
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