Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 28.djvu/69

 Harper's Ferry ninl /'/'/>/ M<n,<msas. 63

for about midday of the day following we started on our march to Manassas to take part in the great battle which was expected to come off. Our destination was revealed to us when we had gotten a few miles from Winchester, and the announcement was received with loud cheering. After crossing the Opequan I attempted to go foe- ward to Millwood, but was stopped by Colonel Preston, command- ing the advance regiment (4th Virginia), although I had permission from my immediate commander, Captain Pendleton. How angry I was at this infringement of what I considered my rights after obtain- ing my Captain's permission ! but being helpless of myself, I appealed to my friend Sandy Pendleton,' Aid to General Jackson, our Briga- dier, to obtain the General's permission for me, in which he succeeded, and I went forward, sending a message on the way to my cousins, who were staying at Mr. John E. Page's in the neighborhood, to meet me at Millwood. They reached there soon after I did, and I remained until our battery came through, tho' my walk and my passion too had given me a severe headache, and I was forced to ride in the ammunition-wagon attached to our battery, in which I crossed the Shenandoah, fortunately being thus prevented from wad- ing, which nearly all of the men h.id to do. After crossing the river I rode on to Paris on the horse of Bovvyer Brockenbrough, 10 First Lieutenant of our battery, and a former college-mate of mine, and we slept on a porch [in Paris], sheltered from the rain which fell. Oversleeping ourselves we found that the battery had the start of us about two hours. Bowyer went on ahead, and I followed on foot until a little boy with some ladies offered me part of his horse, and in this way I reached Piedmont station, where the infantry were tak- ing the cars. Our battery went on a mile beyond and waited there nearly all that day (Friday) for the rest of the artillery to come up, when we started about 7 o'clock P. M., and travelled until 4 A. M., rested two hours at The Plains, and reached M.inassas about half-past two P. M., Saturday, July 2oth.

General Johnston's force was thought to be about 18.000 men, with five batteries, tho' I doubt whether the infantry force was quite so large. Most of this force reached Manassas in time for the battle, General Kirby Smith's brigade coming up while the action was going on. We slept quietly that night, tho' our only rations were some provisions that had been sent to one of my friends, which fortunately lasted us for supper and breakfast. The next morning Joe Packard and I went to Bull Run to bathe; while there an old darkey passed, remarking that, if we knew as much as he did, we wouldn't be