HV///,///< //<///// //>, U7,//// v /. 130
and to Whiting's judicious aid upon his staff with the highest com- mendation.
Now the first great conflict came on at Bull Run. Anticipating the event, Whiting was entrusted with the charge of arrangements 1 ir the moving of the army at Harper's Ferry, to the aid of Beaure- gard at Manassas, and had the railroad authorities kept their re- pi -ated pledges to him, reinforcements would have reached the field of Manassas in time to have crushed McDowell earlier in the day, spared much Confederate blood, and possibly cut off the retreat of the United States forces to Washington. General Whiting had in charge the blowing up of Harper's Ferry, which General Johnston pronounced a " masterly piece of work."
Whiting was with the troops whose opportune arrival at Manassas saved the day, including the gallant 6th North Carolina, whose col- onel (Fisher) gave up his life on the field of battle. His name is immortalized by the fortress where North Carolinians withstood the greatest bombardment that the world has ever known.
In General Joseph E. Johnston's official report of the battle 01 Manassas, he mentions Whiting first, of all of his staff, and -de- clares:
" Major W. H. C. Whiting, Chief Engineer, was invaluable to me for his signal ability in his profession, and for his indefatigable ac- tivity before and in the battle."
For his brilliant service on the field, President Davis, who was on tin- ground, wrote the following order (which I hold in my hand), entire as to text and signature:
" MANASSAS, VA., July 21, 1861. 4< GEN. J. E. JOHNSTON,
"C. S. Arniv.
" 'Sir, Major Sam. Jones and Major W. H. C. Whiting, of the Army of the Confederate States of America, are assigned to duty with 'Volunteers,' with the temporary rank of Brigadier-Generals, and will be obeyed and respected accordingly.
JEFFERSON DAVIS.' '
The permanent commission was dated by the Secretary of War,
- ust 28th, to rank from the glorious 2ist July, the day of Ma-
nn
