The ground occupied by our guns, on a level with that held by the batteries of the enemy, was an open space of limited extent, behind a low undulation, just at the eastern verge of the plateau, some 500 or 600 yards from the Henry house. Here, as before said, some thirteen pieces, mostly six-pounders, were maintained in action. The several batteries of Imboden, Stanard, Pendleton, (Rockbridge Artillery,) and Alburtis', of the Army of the Shenandoah, and five guns of Walton's, and Heaton's section of Rogers' battery, of the Army of the Potomac, alternating to some extent with each other, and taking part as needed; all from the outset displaying that marvellous capacity of our people as artillerists which has made them, it would appear, at once the terror and the admiration of the enemy. As was soon apparent, the Federalists had suffered severely from our artillery, and from the fire of our musketry on the right, and especially from the left flank, placed under Cover, within whose galling range they had been advanced. And, we are told in their official reports, how regiment after regiment, thrown forward to dislodge us, was broken, never to recover its entire organization on that feld. In the mean time, also, two companies of Stuart's cavalry (Carter's and Hoge's) made a dashing charge down the Brentsville and Sudley road upon the Fire Zouaves-then the enemy's right on the plateau-which added to the disorder wrought by our musketry on that flank. But still the press of the enemy was heavy in that quarter of the field, as fresh troops were thrown forward there to outflank us; and some three guns of a battery, in an attempt to obtain a position apparently to enfilade our batteries, were thrown so close to the Thirty-third Regiment, Jackson's brigade, that that regiment, springing forward, seized them, but with severe loss, and was subsequently driven back by an overpowering force of Federal musketry.

"Now, full 2 o'clock P. M., I gave the order for the right of my line, except my reserves, to advance to recover the plateau. It was done with uncommon resolution and vigor, and at the same time, Jackson's brigade pierced the enemy's centre with the determination of veterans, and the spirit of men who fight for a sacred cause; but it suffered seriously. With equal spirit the other parts of the line made the onset, and the Federal lines were broken and swept back, at all points, from the open ground of the plateau. Rallying soon, however, as they were strongly reinforced by fresh regiments, the Federalists returned, and by weight of numbers pressed our lines back, recovered their ground and guns, and renewed the offensive. By this time, between half-past 2 and 3 o'clock P. M., our reinforcements pushed forward, and directed by General Johnston to the required quarter, were at hand just as I had ordered forward to a second effort for the recovery of the disputed plateau, the whole line, including my reserves, which, at this crisis of the

battle, I felt called upon to lead in person. This attack was general, and was shared in by every regiment then in the field, including the Sixth (Fisher's) North Carolina Regiment, which had just come up and taken position on the immediate left of the Forty-ninth Virginia Regiment. The whole open ground was again swept clear of the enemy, and the plateau around the Henry and Robinson houses remained finally in our possession, with the greater part of the Ricketts and Griffin batteries, and a flag of the First Michigan Regiment, captured by the Twenty-seventh Virginia Regiment, (Lieutenant-Colonel Echolls,) of Jackson's brigade. This part of the day was rich with deeds of individual coolness and dauntless conduct, as well as well-directed embodied resolution and bravery, but fraught with the loss to the service of the country, of lives of inestimable preciousness at this juncture. The brave Bee was mortally wounded, at the head of the Fourth Alabama and some Mississippians, in an open field near the Henry house; and a few yards distant, the promising life of Bartow, while leading the Seventh Georgia Regiment, was quenched in blood. Colonel F. J. Thomas, Acting Chief-of-Ordnance, of General Johnston's staff, after gallant conduct, and most efficient service, was also slain. Colonel Fisher, Sixth North Carolina, likewise fell, after soldierly behavior, at the head of his regiment, with ranks greatly thinned, Withers' Eighteenth Regiment, of Cocke's brigade, had come up in time to follow this charge, and, in conjunction with Hampton's Legion, captured several rifle pieces, which may have fallen previously in possession of some of our troops; but if So, had been recovered by the enemy. These pieces were immediately turned, and effectively served on distant masses of the enemy, by the hands of some of our officers.

"While the enemy had thus been driven back on our right entirely across the turnpike, and beyond Young's branch on our left, the woods yet swarmed with them, when our reinforcements opportunely arrived in quick succession, and took position in that portion of the field. Kershaw's Second, and Cash's Eighth South Carolina regiments, which had arrived soon after Withers', were led through the oaks just east of the Sudley-Brentsville road, brushing some of the enemy before them, and, taking an advantageous position along and west of that road, opened with much skill and effect on bodies of the enemy that had been rallied under cover of a strong Federal brigade posted on a plateau in the southwest angle, formed by intersection of the turnpike with the Sudley-Brentsville road. Among the troops thus engaged, were the Federal regular infantry. At the same time, Kemper's battery, passing northward by the S.-B. road, took position on the open space-under orders of Colonel Kershaw-near where an enemy's battery had been captured, and opened with effective results upon the Federal right, then the mark

also of Kershaw's and Cash's regiments. Preston's Twenty-eighth Regiment, of Cocke's brigade, had by that time entered the same body of oaks, and encountered some Michigan troops, capturing their brigade commander, Colonel Wilcox.

"Another important accession to our forces had also occurred about the same time, at 3 o'clock P. M. Brigadier-General E. K. Smith, with some 1,700 infantry of Elzey's brigade, of the Army of the Shenandoah, and Beckham's battery, came upon the field, from Camp Pickens, Manassas, where they had arrived by railroad at noon. Directed in person by General Johnston to the left, then so much endangered, on reaching a position in rear of the oak woods, south of the Henry house, and immediately east of the Sudley road, General Smith was disabled by a severe wound, and his valuable services were lost at that critical juncture. But the command devolved upon a meritorious officer of experience, Colonel Elzey, who led his infantry at once somewhat further to the left, in the direction of the Chinn house, across the road, through the oaks skirting the west side of the road, and around which he sent the battery under Lieutenant Beckham. This officer took up a most favorable position near that house, whence, with a clear view of the Federal right and centre, filling the open fields to the west of the Brentsville-Sudley road, and gently sloping southward, he opened fire with his battery upon them with deadly and damaging effect.

"Colonel Early, who, by some mischance, did not receive orders until two o'clock, which had been sent him at noon, came on the ground immediately after Elzey, with Kemper's Seventh Virginia, Hay's Seventh Louisiana, and Barksdale's Thirteenth Mississippi regiments. This brigade, by the personal direction of General Johnston, was marched by the Holkham house, across the fields to the left, entirely around the woods through which Elzey had passed, and under a severe fire, into a position in line of battle near Chinn's house, outflanking the enemy's right. At this time, about half-past 3 P. M., the enemy, driven back on their left and centre, and brushed from the woods bordering the Sudley road, south and west of the Henry house, had formed a line of battle of truly formidable proportions, of crescent outline, reaching on their left from the vicinity of Pittsylvania, (the old Carter mansion,) by Matthew's, and in rear of Dogan's, across the turnpike near to Chinn's house. The woods and fields were filled with their masses of infantry, and their carefully preserved cavalry. It was a truly magnificent, though redoubtable spectacle, as they threw forward in fine style, on the broad, gentle slopes of the ridge occupied by their main lines, a cloud of skirmishers, preparatory for another attack. But as Early formed his line, and Beckham's pieces played upon the right of the enemy, Elzey's brigade, Gibbon's Tenth Virginia, Lieutenant-Colonel Stuart's First Maryland, and

Vaughn's Third Tennessee regiments, and Cash's Eighth, and Kershaw's Second South Carolina, Withers' Eighteenth, and Preston's Twentyeighth Virginia, advanced in an irregular line almost simultaneously, with great spirit, from their several positions upon the front and flanks of the enemy, in their quarter of the field. At the same time, too, Early resolutely assailed their right flank and rear. Under the combined attack, the enemy was soon forced, first over the narrow plateau in the southern angle made by the two roads, so often mentioned, into a patch of woods on its western slope, thence back over Young's branch and the turnpike, into the fields of the Dugan farm, and rearward, in extreme disorder, in all available directions, towards Bull Run. The rout had now become general and complete."

In his report, General McDowell thus re-. marks on the position of the battle:

"It was at this time that the enemy's reinforcements came to his aid, from the railroad train, understood to have arrived from the valley with the residue of Johnston's army. They threw themselves in the woods on our right, and opened a fire of musketry upon our men, which caused them to break, and retire down the hillside. This soon degenerated into disorder, for which there was no remedy. Every effort was made to rally them, even beyond the reach of the enemy's fire, but in vain."

A line drawn through the battle-field to Manassas Junction, would run about due south. The railroad from Winchester to Manassas Junction comes in on a southeast course. Consequently, the line above mentioned, and the railroad, converge, and meet at the Junction. The Dumfries road, bounding the west side of the battle-field, and running straight south, crosses the Winchester railroad about two miles from the Junction. Up this road came the last reinforcements of the enemy, from General Johnston's command at Winchester. This was nearer than to proceed to the Junction, and caused the clouds of dust seen.

Colonel Porter, commanding the division of Colonel Hunter, thus continues his report:

"All further efforts were futile. The words, gestures, and threats of our officers were thrown away upon men who had lost all presence of mind, and only longed for absence of body. Some of our noblest and best officers lost their lives in trying to rally them. Upon our first position, the Twenty-seventh New York was the first to rally, under the command of Major Bartlett, and around it the other regiments engaged soon gathered their scattered fragments. The battalion of regulars, in the mean time, moved steadily across the field from the left to the right, and took up a position where it held the entire forces of the enemy in check until our forces were somewhat rallied.

"The Commanding General then ordered a retreat upon Centreville, at the same time directing me to cover it with the battalion of regulars, the cavalry, and a section of artillery.

The rear-guard thus organized followed our panic-stricken troops to Centreville, resisting the attacks of the Confederate cavalry and artillery, and saving them from the inevitable destruction which awaited them, had not this body been interposed."

A prompt retreat of the fragments of his army was resolved upon by Gen. McDowell; and while the stragglers had pushed on from the battle-field to Washington without halting, the organized masses commenced leaving about nine o'clock that night. By midnight all but the wounded and the dead of that well-equipped army which commenced its march from Washington five days previous, proud, exultant, and confident of victory, was panic-stricken, groping its way, under cover of the darkness of night, to the intrenchments opposite Washington. Never had the flag of the Union trailed so low in the dust before; never was so brilliant a career opened before it as that which commenced on the day after that dreadful night. Fortunately for the remnants of the Federal army, the Southern forces did not pursue their flying foe. The reasons for this omission are thus stated by Gen. Johnston in his official report: "The apparent firmness of the United States troops at Centreville who had not been engaged, which checked our pursuit; the strong forces occupying the works near Georgetown, Arlington, and Alexandria; the certainty, too, that Gen. Patterson, if needed, would reach Washington, with his army of thirty thousand men, sooner than we could; and the condition and inadequate means of the army in ammunition, provisions, and transportation, prevented any serious thoughts of advancing against the capital. It is certain that the fresh troops within the works were, in number, quite sufficient for their defence; if not, Gen. Patterson's army would certainly reenforce them soon enough." The loss on the Federal side, according to the official returns, was 481 killed, 1,011 wounded, and 1,216 missing. Among the killed were Col. Cameron, of the New York 79th; Lieut.Col. Haggerty, of the New York 69th; Col.

Slocum, 2d Rhode Island; also Maj. Ballou and Capt. Tower.

The artillery lost was as follows: Company D, 2d artillery, 6 rifle guns. Company I, 1st artillery, 6 rifled Parrott 10pounders.

Company E, 2d artillery, 2 rifled guns and 2 howitzers. Company 5th artillery, 1 rifled gun. Company G, 1st artillery, 1 30-pounder Parrott gun.

Rhode Island battery, 5 rifled guns.

To this should be added 180 boxes of small arm cartridges, 87 boxes of rifled cannon ammunition, 30 boxes of old fire-arms, 12 wagons loaded with provisions, and 3,000 bushels oats, a large number of muskets thrown away, and an immense number of blankets and knapsacks.

Gen. Beauregard, in his report, states the number of his force on the 18th of July at 17,000 effective men; and on the 21st 27,000, which includes 6,200 sent from Gen. Johnston, and 1,700 brought up by Gen. Holmes from Fredericksburg. The report states the number killed to have been 269, wounded 1 483, aggregate 1,852. The same report states the number of prisoners taken at 1,460.

On the left the Southern force was commanded by Brig.-Gens. Evans, Jackson, and Cocke, and Col. Bartow. The centre was under Gens. Jones, Longstreet, and Benham. On the extreme right was Gen. Ewell. Early in the day an order was sent to him by Gen. Beauregard to attack and attempt to turn the left flank of the Federal force. The messenger was killed, and the orders were not received.

It is manifest that this battle was well fought. In the fore part of the afternoon the Southern troops were nearly outflanked. At three o'clock the Federal force believed they had the victory; and that, indeed, they had, and would soon have reached and obtained possession of the railroad leading to Winchester. But the arrival of four fresh regiments, who entered the field with great spirit and energy, changed the result.

these circumstances exerted a controlling influence when united with others which existed. within the Confederacy itself. These consisted in a lack of transportation, and those more indispensable means to the success of an attempt at invasion, an abundance of money. Nevertheless, the military efforts of the Government were on a most extensive scale. Troops were organized and sent to intrenched camps in Kentucky. Forces were maintained in Western Virginia, and an active campaign carried on. In Missouri, although left in a manner by the Southern Government to take care of herself, the most active military operations took place. The talents and skill of their Commanding General, Price, enabled him to sustain himself, and carry on an active campaign with less assistance and encouragement from the Government than any officer in the army.

At this time, the solvent or specie-paying banks refused to receive the Confederate Treasary notes, and were calling in all their own circulation. They also refused to receive the bills of suspended banks, and both Treasury notes and suspended bills sunk from eight to fifteen per cerat., and in the cities of the Gulf States were refused by mechanics and tradesmen. Embarrassment, discouragement, and uncertainty settled upon whole communities. The valuable paper was rapidly decreasing and disappearing, while the other was as rapidly increasing. All who could, drew specie from the banks, and millions of dollars were hid away or buried.

From the month of September, the favorable aspect of affairs in the Confederate States began to decline, and before the close of the year the subject of drafting soldiers to serve in the army was actively discussed.

On July 22d Gen. George B. McClellan, having left Western Virginia, took the command of the troops in and around Washington. Their reorganization was immediately commenced. It was realized now by every one that the country was engaged in a great war, and all the appliances required for mighty and victorious armies were to be prepared.

Meanwhile bloody conflicts on a limited scale were constantly occurring in other parts of the country.

In the northern counties of Missouri the division of sentiment rapidly aroused a hostile spirit. Squads of troops from Illinois were soon stationed at important places, while State troops gathered to oppose them. The destruction of property and bloody skirmishes soon followed. At Monroe station, thirty miles west of Hannibal, an attack was made by secession troops, on July 11th, on the railroad stationhouse, which was burned with six passenger and eighteen freight cars. A portion of the railroad track was torn up on each side of the town. On the same night the bridge of the Hannibal and St. Joseph's Railroad was burned. On the 15th Brig.-Gen. Hurlburt, in command of the volunteer force, issued a lengthy proc

lamation to the people of the northeastern counties, warning them that the men or body of men who ventured to stand in defiance of the supreme authority of the Union, endangered their lives.

On the 16th a skirmish took place at Millville, about thirty miles above St. Charles, on the North Missouri Railroad. About eight hundred Union troops had reached this point, when the track was torn up, and they were fired upon by a secession force, and an engagement followed, in which a small number were killed and wounded on each side.

A little further south, near Fulton, in Calloway County, about twenty-three miles northeast of Jefferson City, a skirmish took place on the 17th, between Col. McNeil, with about six hundred men, and Gen. Harris, with a considerable force, in which the latter were routed with a loss of several as prisoners. On the 19th Gen. Pope, who had been assigned to the command in Northern Missouri, issued a proclamation addressed to the inhabitants.

He had previously proceeded from St. Louis to St. Charles, where his headquarters were established, in order to take charge of that department. His command in North Missouri was seven thousand strong, and so posted that Jefferson City, Booneville, Lexington, and all the principal points in the northern parts of the State, were within easy striking distance.

About the same time that Gen. Lyon left St. Louis for Jefferson City, June 15, other troops, consisting of ten companies, left for Rolla, which is the termination of the southwest branch of the Pacific Railroad, and one hundred and thirteen miles from St. Louis. This force was increased subsequently, and active operations took place in that section of the State.

On the 1st of August Gen. Lyon ordered his entire command, with the exception of a small guard, to rendezvous at Crane's Creek, ten miles south of Springfield. The command was composed as follows: Five companies 1st and 2d regiments regulars, Maj. Sturgis. Five companies 1st regiment Missouri volunteers, Lient.-Col. Andrews. Two companies 2d regiment Missouri volunteers, Maj. Osterhaus. Three companies 3d regiment Missouri volunteers, Col.

5th regiment Missouri volunteers, Col. Salomon. 1st regiment Iowa volunteers, Col. J. F. Bates. 1st regiment Kansas volunteers, Col. Deitzler. 2d regiment Kansas volunteers, Col. Mitchell. Two companies 1st regular cavalry, Capts. Stanley and Carr. Three companies 1st regular cavalry (recruits), Lieut. Lathrop. Capt. I. Totten's battery regular artillery, six guns, six and twelve-pounders. Lieut. Dubois' battery regular artillery, four guns, six and twelve-pounders. Capt. Shaeffer's battery Missouri volunteer artillery, six guns, six and twelve-pounders. Brig.-Gens. Sweeny and Sigel, and Maj. Sturgis, were intrusted with the most important secondary commands.

The march commenced that afternoon, and the camp was reached at ten o'clock at night.