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THE FIRST BATTLE OF BULL RUN.

Our own batteries, Imboden’s, Stanard’s, five of Walton’s guns, reenforcedlater by Pendleton’s and Alburtis’s (their disadvantage being reduced by theshortness of range), swept the surface of the plateau from their position onthe eastern rim. I felt that, after the accidents of the morning, much dependedon maintaining the steadiness of the troops against the first heavy onslaught,and rode along the lines encouraging the men to unflinching behavior, meet-ing, as I passed each command, a cheering response. The steady fire of theirmusketry told severely on the Federal ranks, and the splendid action of ourbatteries was a fit preface to the marked skill exhibited by our artilleristsduring the war. The enemy suffered particularly from the musketry onour left, now further reenforced by the 2d Mississippi — the troops in thisquarter confronting each other at very short range. Here two companies ofStuart’s cavalry charged through the Federal ranks that filled the Sudleyroad, increasing the disorder wrought upon that flank of the enemy. Butwith superior numbers the Federals were pushing on new regiments in theattempt to flank my position, and several guns, in the effort to enfilade ours,were thrust forward so near the 33d Virginia that some of its men sprangforward and captured them, but were driven back by an overpowering forceof Federal musketry. Although the enemy were held well at bay, their press-ure became so strong that I resolved to take the offensive, and ordered acharge on my right for the purpose of recovering the plateau. The movement,made with alacrity and force by the commands of Bee, Bartow, Evans, andHampton, thrilled the entire line, Jackson’s brigade piercing the enemy’scenter, and the left of the line under G-artrell and Smith following up thecharge, also, in that quarter, so that the whole of the open surface of theplateau was swept clear of the Federals.

Apart from its impressions on the enemy, the effect of this brilliant onsetwas to give a short breathing-spell to our troops from the immediate strainof conflict, and encourage them in withstanding the still more strenuousoffensive that was soon to bear upon them. Reorganizing our line of battleunder the unremitting fire of the Federal batteries opposite, I prepared tomeet the new attack which the enemy were about to make, largely reen-forced by the troops of Howard’s brigade, newly arrived on the field. TheFederals again pushed up the slope, the face of which partly afforded goodcover by the numerous ravines that scored it and the clumps of youngpines and oaks with which it was studded, while the sunken Sudley roadformed a good ditch and parapet for their aggressive advance upon my leftflank and rear. Gradually they pressed our lines back and regained possessionof their lost ground and guns. With the Henry and Robinson houses oncemore in their possession, they resumed the offensive, urged forward by theircommanders with conspicuous gallantry.

The conflict now became very severe for the final possession of this position,which was the key to victory. The Federal numbers enabled them so toextend their lines through the woods beyond the Sudley road as to outreachmy left flank, which I was compelled partly to throw back, so as to meet theattack from that quarter; meanwhile their numbers equally enabled them tooutflank my right in the direction of the Stone Bridge, imposing anxious