Twenty-Seventh Virginia regiments, and Pendleton's battery. Bee's, of Second and Eleventh Mississippi, Fourth Alabama and Second Tennessee, and Imboden's battery. Elzey's, of the Tenth and Thirteenth Virginia, Third Tennessee and First Maryland, Elzey being colonel of First Maryland and senior colonel of the brigade and Groves' battery. And Bartow's, of Seventh, Eighth and Ninth Georgia regiments, First Kentucky and Alburtis' battery. Subsequently the Thirty-thirdVirginia was added to Jackson's brigade, the Sixth North Carolina to Bee's, and the Eleventh Georgia to Bartow's. A fifth brigade was formed for Brigadier-General E. Kirby Smith, of the Nineteenth Mississippi, Eighth, Ninth, Tenth and Eleventh Alabama and Stanard's battery. This force was known as the Army of the Shenandoah. The twenty-five regiments named were reduced by mumps, measles and camp diseases, so that they averaged about five hundred effective men. ΟΝ CHAPTER V. THE BATTLE OF FIRST MANASSAS. N the 18th of July, 1861, the army of the Shenandoah was reposing in its camps in the beautiful fields on the valley pike north of Winchester; morning drill was over and there was nothing to be done but to get dinner, and smoke and sleep until the drums beat for afternoon drill. The men were busy over their skillets and "spiders" at innumerable fires along the lines, and the smell of savory cookery scented the air. In an instant a thrill pervaded everything. Not a word had been said; not a trumpet sounded; not a drum beat, but every one felt that something had happened. The Generals straightened up; the Colonels drew up their sword belts; the line officers kicked their legs and fell into groups, all in silent expectation. Within three minutes orderlies from brigade headquarters stride up to regimental headquarters. The adjutants fly out, and in a moment the air throbs with the drum beat of the assembly. One all-pervading cheer; one thrilling yell in an anstant pervaded that whole army, and in an hour tents were struck, wagons packed and the brigades in column, their right resting on the road, ready for the word. Down the dusty pike in the hot July afternoon; down the streets of gallant Winchester; sweethearts and wives waving encouragement and courage from every window. Not an order had given notice, not a word had been said, but every one knew that Beauregard had been attacked, and that they were marching to the firing. When the army had become stretched out along the road so as to be clear of the town, the column was halted and an order read at the head of each regiment from Gen. Johnston, informing them that the battle had opened that day at Manassas, and that it was the duty of every man to "step out," so as to be there in time to share in the danger and the glory of the first Confederate victory. But alas for enthusiasm and sentiment. The human machine has its limitations; some things it can do, and some things it cannot. Green men fresh from city pavements or country fields have tender feet, and tender feet become blistered, and men with blistered feet can't walk, no matter how hot the heart is, no matter how high the spirit is, when feet are one solid blister from tip of toe to end of heel, the most ardent patriot, the most chivalric knight will limp and halt and lay down in the road side. The plan of the Generals was for Johnston to march from Winchester and strike McDowell on his flank as he moved against Beauregard.* The fact of the soldiers was, that their feet got sore after the first hour's march, and they couldn't get to Manassas in time to keep McDowell from routing Beauregard. *General Johnston did not accept this plan of Beauregard. He thought the attempt of two converging armies of volunteers to attack involved too much risk, and he rejected its proficiency to concentrate his force before going to battle. |