RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE FIRST BULL RUN.

251

FROM A PHOTOGRAPH.

LIEUTENANT-GENERAL RICHARD S. EWELL , C. S. A.

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in which, it was stated I had been ordered at once to proceed to his support.”Three other orders, he says, followed, each contradictory of its predecessor.General Ewell knew that a battle was raging; but knew, too, that betweenhim and it were other unengaged brigades, and that his commander was nearenough to give him orders. But he had no reason to suppose that his com-mander desired him to move to Centreville, where there was then no enemy.There could have been no greater mistake on General Ewell’s part than mak-ing the movement to Centreville.

A brief passage in my official report of this battle displeased PresidentDavis. In referring to his telegraphic order I gave its meaning very briefly,but accurately—“directing me,if practicable, to go to [General Beauregard’s]assistance, after sending my sick to Culpeper Court House.” Mr. Davisobjected to the word after. Being informed of this by a friend, I cheerfullyconsented to his expunging the word, because that would not affect themeaning of the sentence. But the word is still in his harsh indorsement. Healso had this passage stricken out: “ The delay of sending the sick, nearly