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record.While upon the battle of Manassas, there is another fact which deserves mention. Yon will remember the two Texan rangers of whom I spoke in one of my leters from Fairfax C. fl.— Col. Terry and Mnj. Lnbboek. Well, it is to a reconnoissance they made on the morning of the 21st, that the country is indebted in no small part for the great victory. Like all true rangers who are accustomed to hunt the buffalo and chase the deer,they sleep, as it were, with one eye open, and ate easily aroused by the slightest noise. Just belore day on the morning of the battle, they heard a rumbling noise in the direction of C'cntreville, which sounded like heavy artillery wagons moving over the rocky turnpike. Satisfied that something unusual was going on, they applied to General Longstreet, to whose staff they were temporarily attached, lor permission to go and see what it was. The General consented, and in a few minutes they were in their saddles, pickingtheir way tUcough the woods and fields in the direction whence the noise proceeded. Arriving in the neighborhood of the turnpike, they found au immense column of the enemy’s force in motion, towards Stone Bridge and Sndley’s Ford, including infantry, cavalry and artillery. MaJ. Lubbock returned .with all possible dispatch to Gen. I.ongstreet, and thence proceeded to the headquarters ofTiens. Beauregard and Johnston. After notifying them about sun-risc of what was going on, he rejoined Col. Terry, and the two continued the reconnois-ance until they learned, as far as possible, what were the force and plans of the enemy, and then galloped back to headquarters. Those of your readers who have followed me in my previons accounts of the battle, will be able to appreciate the importance of this reconnoi6 ance. Our Generals had intended to offer battle that day themselves, and when Gen. Beauregard heard the first gun of the enemy (lired about six o’clock) ho exclaimed: “thank God for that !’T He preferred, doubtless, that McDowell should make the attack.Col. Terry and Maj. Lubbock returned to Te^as immediately after the battle of Manassas, with authority to raise a regiment of Rangers for service in Virginia. You will not be surprised to hear that they were the first to enter Fairfax the morning after the light, and that they captured an immense amount of military property, including a great many boxes of muskets, ammunition, e. Gcd. Longstreet was stationed to tlic right of our centre, and Col. Terry, who was fully apprised of the importance of striking the enemy in the rear, bore one of the orders connected with the proposed movement; and I atn told that he actually wept upon the field when he found that the orders would not be executed. He is the most skill- , ful military man I have met with, excepting, t of course, Gens. Johnston aud Beauregard, and he ought to be assigned to the command of a brigade.The abovn referenpp in t!/ imnnrrnn/kn tureolbi8€kiwSF11101mminc:itch:scIllt;OlCCarIkusrerahiP*foInollefoatwa:PsiticlCnaltiit
Newspaper Details
Savannah Daily Republican
Savannah, Georgia, US
Fri, Aug 23, 1861
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
USA 14 Mar 2023
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