STRENGTH OF MANASSAS.

Johnston in check as to prevent his forming a junction with Beauregard, the Confederate commander, against whom McDowell's attack was to be directed.

385

each other, in front of which is a ravine. so deep and so thickly wooded that it is passable only at two points, and those through gorges which fifty men can defend against a whole army." The same authority bears personal witness to the strength of this position in the declaration, "that it was at one of these points that the Washington Artillery were at first encamped, and though only half the battalion was then there, and we had only one company of infantry to support us, we slept as soundly under the

Manassas Junction was the main position and headquarters of Beauregard. Here and in its environs he held an army which was variously estimated at from 50,000 to 75,000, although he himself has declared that at that time his whole effective force amounted to only 17,000 men. "The position of Manassas," accord-protection of our guns as if we had ing to a Louisianian, writing from its been in a fort of the amplest dimenencampments, "is by nature one of the sions. strongest that could be found in the whole State. About half way between the eastern spur of the Blue Ridge and the Potomac, below Alexandria, it commands the whole country between, so perfectly that there is scarce a possibility of its being turned. The right wing stretches off towards the head waters of the Occoquan, through a wooded country, which is easily made impassable by the felling of trees. The left is a rolling table-land, easily commanded from the successive elevations, till you reach a country so rough and so rugged that it is a defence to itself. The key to the whole position, in fact, is precisely that point which General Beauregard chose for his centre, and which he has fortified so strongly that, in the opinion of military men, 5,000 men could there hold 20,000 at bay.

"The position, in fact, is fortified in part by nature herself. It is a succession of hills, nearly equidistant from

"Of the fortifications superadded here by General Beauregard to those of nature, it is of course," says the cautious enemy, "not proper for me to speak." He, however, tells the general reader that "he will have a sufficiently precise idea of them by conceiving a line of forts some two miles in extent, zigzag in form, with angles, salients, bastions, casemates, and everything that properly belongs to works of this kind. The strength and advantages of this position at Manassas are very much increased by the fact, that fourteen miles farther on is a position of similar formation, while the country between is admirably adapted to the subsistence and entrenchment of troops, in numbers as large as they can easily be manoeuvred on the real battle-field. Water is good and abundant; forage, such as is everywhere found in the rich farming districts of Virginia, and the communication with all parts of the country easy.

"Here, overlooking an extensive plain, but how many more are encamped on watered by mountain streams, which the by-roads and in the forests none can ultimately find their way to the Poto- tell. The new-comer, from what he sees mac, and divided into verdant fields of at first glance, puts down the number at wheat and oats and corn, pasture and about 30,000 men; those who have been meadow, are the headquarters of the here longest, estimate his force at 45,000, advanced forces of the army of the 50,000, and some even at 60,000 strong. Potomac. They are South Carolinians, And there is the same discrepancy as to Louisianians, Alabamians, Mississippi- the quantity of his artillery. So close ans, and Virginians for the most part; does the General keep his affairs to himthe first two, singularly enough, being in self, that his left hand hardly knows what front-and they will keep it, their friends his right hand doeth, and so jealous is he at home may rest assured. Never," of this prerogative of a commanding offiexclaims the partial chronicler, "have cer, that I verily believe if he suspected I seen a finer body of men-men who his coat of any acquaintance with the were more obedient to discipline, or who plans revolving within him, he would breathed a more self-sacrificing patriot- cast it from him."* ism."

The same enthusiastic eulogist of all

Of the truculent spirit which animated this distin

66 HEADQUARTERS, DEPT. OF ALEXANDRIA, CAMP PICKENS, June 5, 1861.

"TO THE PEOPLE OF THE COUNTIES OF LOUDON, FAIRFAX, AND PRINCE WILLIAM-A reckless and unprincipled tyrant

has invaded your soil. Abraham Lincoln, regardless of all moral, legal, and constitutional restraints, has thrown his

that pertains to the cause of his fellow-guished leader, there is evidence in this proclamation: secessionists, pays this tribute to General Beauregard: "As might be expected from the skill with which he has chosen his position, and the system with which he encamps and moves his men, General Beauregard is very popular here. property, and committing other acts of violence and outI doubt if Napoleon himself had more the undivided confidence of his army.

Abolition hosts among you, who are murdering and imprisoning your citizens, confiscating and destroying your

rage too shocking and revolting to humanity to be enumerated.

"All rules of civilized warfare are abandoned, and they

By nature, as also from a wise policy, proclaim by their acts, if not on their banners, that their

war-cry is BEAUTY AND BOOTY.' All that is dear to manyour honor and that of your wives and daughters-your fortunes and your lives, are involved in this momentous contest.

"In the name, therefore, of the constituted authorities

of the Confederate States--in the sacred cause of constitutional liberty and self-government, for which we are contending-in behalf of civilization itself, I, G. T. Beaure

he is very reticent. Not an individual here knows his plans or a single move of a regiment before it is made, and then only the colonel and his men know where it goes to. There is not a man here who can give anything like a satisfactory answer how many men he has or where his exact lines are. For the distance of fourteen miles around, you see tents everywhere, and from them you can make a rough estimate of his men; by every means in your power compatible with honorable

gard, Brigadier-General of the Confederate States, commanding at Camp Pickens, Manassas Junction, do make this my proclamation, and invite and enjoin you by every consideration dear to the hearts of freemen and patriots, by the name and memory of your Revolutionary fathers,

and by the purity and sanctity of your domestic firesides, to rally to the standard of your State and country, and