CHAPTER VII.
THE BATTLE OF BULL RUN.
Joining the Army in the Field. Trying to get a Commission. The Skirmish at Blackburn's Ford. Burying the Dead. I attach my self to General Bee's Command. The Night before the Battle of Bull Run. A sound Sleep. The Morning of the Battle. A magnificent Scene. The Approach of the Enemy. Commencement of the Fight. An Exchange of Compliments between old Friends. Bee's Order to fall back, and his Rally. " Stonewall " Jackson. The Battle at its fiercest. The Scene at Midday. Huge Clouds of Dust and Smoke. Some tough Fighting. How Beauregard and Johnston rallied their Men. The Contest for the Possession of the Plateau. Bee and Bartow killed. Arrival of Kirby Smith with Re-enforcements. The Victory Won. Application for Promotion. Return to Richmond.
WAS now about to enter upon the realization of all my dreams, to see some real warfare, to engage in real battles, to do some real fighting, and, as I fondly hoped, to have some opportunities of distinguishing myself in a signal manner. I was never in better health and spirit than on that bright summer morning, when I left Richmond for the purpose of joining the forces of the Confederacy in the face of the enemy; and the nearer we approached our destination, the more elated did I be come at the prospect before me of being able to prove myself as good a fighter as any of the gallant men who had taken up arms in behalf of the cause of Southern independence. I had only one fear, and that was, that I should be stopped on account of not having the proper papers; but my motto was, "Nothing venture, nothing have;" and I was bent on facing the thing through, and trusting to luck to bring me out all right. Fortunately I had no trouble of any kind, and arrived safely at Clifton, a supply -station about a dozen miles from the headquarters of the army in the field.
At Clifton I bought a couple of fine horses, and on the 15th of July set out for headquarters, with a view of being assigned to a command where I should have a chance to see some fighting. I sought an interview with a prominent general, but he
