MSA SC 3910,
print of General "Stonewall" Jackson, CSA, who derived his nickname
from the first battle of Bull Run or Manassas, July 21, 1861. Given by
Ardath Cade in memory of Senator John A. Cade
MSA SC 3910,
print of General "Stonewall" Jackson, CSA, who derived his nickname
from the first battle of Bull Run or Manassas, July 21, 1861. Given by
Ardath Cade in memory of Senator John A. Cade
One Man's Civil War: A Letter from Bull Run, July 26, 1861
Introduction:
The battle of Manassas raged with terrible effect from early morning [on July 21, 1861] until 3 o'clock in the afternoon, when the Confederate forces were driven back over four miles from the starting point. At 3.30 o'clock, when the condition of the battle-field was looking desperate for the Confederates, Johnston's army from Winchester began to arrive on the field. The first of these was Elzey's Brigade of the 1st Maryland, ... . As these troops drew near the field, ... an eye-witness [writes]::
The 1st Maryland, had the right of the line, at the head of which was riding General Kirby Smith [who was wounded]. ... The command now was resumed by Colonel Elzey, who after waiting some minutes, and the enemy not appearing, moved the brigade obliquely through the woods to the left and front, and as we approached its edge the Federal line of battle appeared in view, which, as they perceived us, poured into our ranks a terrific volley of musketry, that took effect upon several of the men of the brigade. ... Colonel Elzey immediately prepared to attack, and forming the 1st Maryland, 10th Virginia and 3d Tennessee, under cover of a hot fire from the Newton battery of light artillery, ordered a 'charge.' ...
It was a desparate undertaking, but upon that charge rested the fate of the Confederate army. At the command, with one wild, deafening yell, the Confederates emerged from the woods, and amidst a perfect storm of bullets, the gallant fellows rushed across the field. But they never wavered, nor hesitated, and, dashing up the acclivity, drove the enemy pell-mell from their strong position into the thicket in their rear.
Halting the column for a minute to re-form, Elzey pressed on in pursuit, and when we came once more into the open country, we saw before us, and for a mile down to our right, no organized force, but one dense mass of fugitives; with the successful charge of Elzey upon their right flank, the whole of the Federal army had given way, and was rushing madly in the direction of Washington. Nothing that I ever saw afterwards could compare with that panic; and, as we passed on in pursuit, men surrendered themselves by hundreds. It was whilst thus pursuing the enemy that President Davis and Generals Johnston and Beauregard, rode up to Colonel Elzey, amid the joyful shouts of the men, and the former, with countenance beaming with excitement and enthusiasm, seizing him by the hand and giving it a hearty shake, exclaimed: 'General Elzey, you are the Blucher of the day.'
from J. Thomas Scharf, History of Maryland (Hatboro, Pa: Tradition Press, 1967), vol. III, pp. 449-450. Prussian Field Marshal Gebhard Leberecht von Blucher (1742-1819) was noted for his daring cavalry maneuvers during the Napoleonic wars that were often credited with winning the day.
Document:
from SPECIAL COLLECTIONS
(Murrays of Woodstock Farm, West River Collection of Family Papers)
Letter, William H. Murray, 26 July 1861, Fairfax Court House to My dear
Cousin.
MSA SC2301-2-66:
Fairfax, C.H. July 26th 1861
My dear Cousin
Being on the
Sick list to day, from rhumatism in
the left arm. I shall employ my
right to the grateful task of
thanking you for your timely
present, which strange to say
only reached us yesterday. You
could not have thought of any
thing more appropriate than
the housewifery, for I was reduced
to my last button, and looked
more like one of Fat Jack Falstaff's
regiment than an old City Guard
I trust your good council and
good book, may be half as ser-
viceable to my spiritual welfare
as the buttons to my wardrobe.
Long before you get this you will
have heard of the battle of Bull's
Run, and our glorious victory,
with all its particulars. And I
know you will rejoice to know
that it was won principly by
our Brigade. Our timely arrival,
rapid march, and desperate
attack turned the right flank
of their grand army and put
them to flight and I honestly believe
some of them are running yet. When
we get home we can tell you all
about it, for it would take a large
volume to note the incidents of
that terrible Sunday.
Although nearly all of us
had never seen battle before
we stood their fire like
veterans. At one time without
being able to return it, we for
ten or fifteen minutes stood
a perfect tempest of balls,
shell, & grape, which plowed
the ground all round us
with the loss of but two killed
and 8 wounded. Billy's Comp
any did not lose a man.
We had two dangerously woun-
ded & it was hard to march
by and leave them in their
blood. But when our turn
came and our Col gave the
word forward! double quick
march! with a shout of ven
geance for dear old Balto
that we heard for a mile
down the line we went at them
in a run and swept them from
field. They hardly turned round
to fire but dropt every
thing they had and away
with us after them, whilst
our artillery mowed them down
by hundreds. We cut some of
their regiments all to pieces.
The celebrated Elsworth Fire
Zouaves lost over 700 the 71
79 & 12 N.Y. Regts more than
one half, and the few of the
Maine men left must have
gone into Washington
naked for we have every
thing they could have had,
clothes- arms knapsack pro-
visions, tents- even their
medicines and pocket books
daguerreotypes and love
letters. Some of their letters
are rich of which we have cart
loads. I will try and save
some for you. You may depend
we are proud of our victory and
the Balto Boys are on every
ones lips- They don't seem here
to know how to take us, and
as we work cheerfully and
never complain, we have
nearly all the hard work
to do. By the way Beauregard
told our Col he was
Blucher of the day and made
him a Brigadier Gen on the spot
You ought to have heard our
cheer as he and Gen Beauregard
rode down our line in a gallop
waving their hats- and crying
boys we have whipt them.
But oh Bet - the dead and woun
ded. God grant our country may
never see such another field.
They lay some in heaps- piled
up in gullies where their friends
had thrown them- some in long
rows where the grape and round
shot had plowed them down-
dead & dying all together. Some
lay on their faces biting the
sod and clutching the grass.
Some on their backs as calm
as though they had fallen
to sleep with their hands folded
on their breast, and their glass
eyes turned up to the quiet
sky that seemed to smile down
upon them- and some stone
dead in the position they had
sat down leaning upon their
hands, with chins upon
their breasts. I saw 6 horses
and 8 dead men under one
little tree besides the wounded.
But I must stop for I have used
up my last bit of paper will
write again by 1st opportunity
Boys all well. Love to all. Tell
Aunt Mary to be proud of her boys.
Yr aff cousin WH Murray
transcription & document presentation by Dr. Edward C. Papenfuse, Jr., October 21, 1997
[ Manassas National Battlefield Park - Letters From The Soldiers of the Civil War ]
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