Bivouac Between
Centreville And Bull Run,
September 1, 1862.
We have been moving around for the last two days in about
the same style as heretofore. Yesterday morning, we were routed out early and
marched, by a very wide detour, thirteen miles to this place, the enemy having
pushed a large force between us and our main body. We were fortunate to get off
as safely as we did, as the enemy came into our old camp as the rear of our
column moved out of it. We had to destroy a railroad train nearly a mile long,
to prevent its falling into their hands. There was any quantity of clothing,
hospital stores and nice things furnished by the Sanitary Commission, on board;
all these were burned. I can't learn anything about what has taken place the
last few days; I only know we have been fighting severely. I judge, by our
movements, that our left has been driven back. We have passed over two
battle-fields in our marches; one of them covered some of the old Bull Run
ground. We passed yesterday some of the winter quarters of the rebels. Their
houses looked very comfortable, but of all dreary places on the face of the
globe, I cannot imagine a drearier one than the Plain of Manassas. For miles
and miles, almost to the Rappahannock, these great rolling plains extend, some
times covered with woods, but mostly with high, coarse weeds and rank grass.
There is very little population, only a house here and there at intervals of a
mile or more.
SOURCE: Charles Fessenden Morse, Letters Written
During the Civil War, 1861-1865, p. 84-5
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