MCDOWELL’S ADVANCE TO BULL RUN.
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remain in reserve at Centreville, prepare defensive works there and threatenBlackburn’s Ford. Tyler’s First Division, which was on the turnpikein advance, was to move at 2:30 a. m., threaten the Stone Bridge and open fireupon it at daybreak. This demonstration was to be vigorous, its first purposebeing to divert attention from the movements of the turning column.As soon as Tyler’stroops cleared theway, Hunter’s Sec-ond Division, follow-ed by Heintzelman’sThird Division, wasto move to a pointon the WarrentonTurnpike about 1 or2 miles east of StoneBridge and theretake a country roadto the right, crossthe Run at SudleySprings, come downupon the flank andrear of the enemy atthe Stone Bridge, andforce him to openthe way for Tyler’s di-vision to cross thereand attack, fresh andin full force.
Tyler’s start was solate and his advancewas so slow as to holdHunter and Heintzel-man 2 or 3 hours onthe mile or two ofthe turnpike betweentheir camps and the point at which they were to turn off for the flank march.This delay, and the fact that the flank march proved difficult and some 12miles instead of about 6 as was expected, were of serious moment. The flank-ing column did not cross at Sudley Springs until 9:30 instead of 7, the longmarch, with its many interruptions, tired out the men, and the delaygave the enemy time to discover the turning movement. Tyler’s opera-tions against the Stone Bridge were feeble and ineffective. By 8 o’clockEvans was satisfied that he was in no danger in front, and perceived themovement to turn his position. He was on the left of the Confederate line,guarding the point where the Warrenton Turnpike, the great highway to thefield, crossed Bull Run, the Confederate line of defense. He had no instruc-
THE STONE BRIDGE OVER BULL RUN, LOOKING TOWARD CENTREVILLE.FROM A SKETCH MADE IN 1884.
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