206

THE FIRST BATTLE OF BULL RUN.

ment, and of his own dispositions to meet it, he left 4 companies under coverat the Stone Bridge, and led the remainder of his force, 6 companies ofSloan’s 4th South Carolina and Wheat ’s battalion of Louisiana Tigers, with 26-pounder howitzers, across the valley of Young’s Branch to the high groundbeyond it. Resting his left on the Sudley road, he distributed his troops oneach side of a small copse, with such cover as the ground afforded, and look-ing over the open fields and a reach of the Sudley road which the Federalsmust cover in their approach. His two howitzers were placed one at eachend of his position, and here he silently awaited the enemy now drawing near.

The Federal turning column, about 18,000 strong, with 24 pieces of artil-lery, had moved down from Centreville by the Warrenton Turnpike, andafter passing Cub Run had struck to the right by a forest road to cross BullRun at Sudley Ford, about 3 miles above the Stone Bridge, moving by along circuit for the purpose of attacking my left flank. The head of the col-umn, Burnside’s brigade of Hunter’s division, at about 9:45 A. m. debouchedfrom the woods into the open fields, in front of Evans. Wheat at onceengaged their skirmishers, and as the Second Rhode Island regimentadvanced, supported by its splendid battery of 6 rifled guns, the frontingthicket held by Evans’s South Carolinians poured forth its sudden volleys,while the 2 howitzers flung their grape-shot upon the attacking line, whichwas soon shattered and driven back into the woods behind. Major Wheat ,after handling his battalion with the utmost determination, had fallen severelywounded in the lungs. Burnside’s entire brigade was now sent forward in asecond charge, supported by 8 guns; but they encountered again the unflinch-ing fire of Evans’s line, and were once more driven back to the woods, fromthe cover of which they continued the attack, reenforced after a time by thearrival of 8 companies of United States regular infantry, under Major Sykes,with 6 pieces of artillery, quickly followed by the remaining regiments ofAndrew Porter’s brigade of the same division. The contest here lastedfully an hour; meanwhile Wheat ’s battalion, having lost its leader, hadgradually lost its organization, and Evans, though still opposing theseheavy odds with undiminished firmness, sought reenforcement from thetroops in his rear.

General Bee, of South Carolina , a man of marked character, whose com-mand lay in reserve in rear of Cocke, near the Stone Bridge, intelligentlyapplying the general order given to the reserves, had already moved towardthe neighboring point of conflict, and taken a position with his own and Bar-tow’s brigades on the high plateau which stands in rear of Bull Run in thequarter of the Stone Bridge, and overlooking the scene of engagement uponthe stretch of high ground from which it was separated by the valley ofYoung’s Branch. This plateau is inclosed on three sides by two small water-courses, which empty into Bull Run within a few yards of each other, a halfmile to the south of the Stone Bridge. Rising to an elevation of quite 100feet above the level of Bull Run at the bridge, it falls off on three sides to thelevel of the inclosing streams in gentle slopes, but furrowed by ravines of