When the car upon which Major Watson was stationed started, he took it for granted that all the regiment was on its way across the city. His car was attacked by clubs, paving stones, and other missiles, but no defense was made until three men had been wounded (the last by a pistol shot), when the company was permitted to fire at will. As it crossed the city, this car was three times derailed. Upon reaching the other depot, Superintendent Smith, of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, informed Colonel Jones that the road was so obstructed that the four remaining companies could not be brought over. There were two hundred and twenty men in these four companies (C, I, L, and D) and they were surrounded by a mob of thousands, who filled the air with yells, oaths, taunts, missiles, and shots. Capt. A. S. Follansbee, finding the railroad and streets obstructed, at once assumed command and in the order of the companies as stated commenced his march across the city. A formidable barricade on Pratt street was scaled; and a point where the mob had hoped to annihilate the detachment was thus passed. Cheers for Davis and for the South, and taunts of "you can't fight," "dig your graves," "nigger stealers," and "Yankee scabs,” filled the air. Pistol and gunshots came from windows, roofs, and streets, while everything which could be picked up was hurled upon the devoted column. It was early on the march evident, that nothing but blood would satisfy the ruffians, and though in a measure they left the advance clear, yet the crowd hung upon the rear of the column, a dense and infuriated mob. After a few of the men had been wounded, Captain Follansbee gave the boys permission to defend themselves, and from that time until the detachment reached the Washington depot there was a constant fusillade of musketry. As any of the 6th Mass. were wounded they were borne along by comrades. As they reached the Washington depot they found an immense crowd brandishing revolvers, knives, clubs, and other weapons; and the police powerless or disinclined to control them. Guns and revolvers were being discharged on both sides, and the depot was soon perforated like a pepper box. After considerable delay the train started, followed by an enraged crowd, who piled every conceivable obstruction on the track. After frequent stops for repairing breaks the conductor reported he could go no farther, and chase. After a long delay at that the regiment must march the rest of the way. Colonel Jones told him, he held through tickets to Washington, and if he could not run the train through, he had men who could fill every position on the train and could and would put the train through. The train was again started, and at Jackson Bridge, the mob gave up the the Relay House, the train reached Washington late in the afternoon, and the boys. were received by Major (afterward General) McDowell, and were quartered that night in the United States Senate chamber. The loss of the regiment in passing through Baltimore was four killed, and thirty-six wounded. First Battle of Bull Run. JULY 21, 1861. A "Baptism of Fire" and a Desperate Struggle. How Jackson got the Title of "Stonewall." BY MAJOR WILLIAM M. ROBBINS, FOURTH ALABAMA REGIMENT. K N the afternoon of July 18, 1861, the army of Gen. Joe Johnston, 10,000 strong, which had been in front of General Patterson near Winchester, Va., was hastily put in motion and marched off southeastwardly, going we knew not whither. Heat, dust, and night-fall made the rapid march disagreeable enough, but it was pushed without check until we reached the Shenandoah. This river-about waist deep-was waded at dawn of the nineteenth amidst songs, jokes, and general hilarity. The Blue Ridge was passed at Ashby's Gap, and at evening of the same. day the head of the column arrived at Piedmont station on the Manassas Gap railroad, from whence Johnston's forces were forwarded in detachments by rail as fast as transportation could be furnished. So much has been said about Johnston's troops appearing on the field, in the nick of time, and after the battle had been long raging, that an impression extensively prevails that none of them were there at the opening of the fight. This a great mistake. Three brigades-Jackson's, Bartow's, and (nearly all of) Bee's-were at hand when the battle opened and bore an important part in it all day. The 4th Alabama and other regiments of Bee's brigade reached the Junction at noon of the twentieth, and were among the very earliest in the conflict the next day. It was only a comparatively minor number of Johnston's men under Kirby Smith and Elrey that leaped from the train when the battle was in progress, and, hastening down the Warrenton pike, came in so luckily on the right rear of the Federals and caused the panic which gave the victory to the Confederates. The 4th Alabama were busy with breakfast not far from the Junction, when the boom of a gun in the direction of the railroad bridge, over Bull Run, drew our eyes that way, and we saw for the first time the little sphere of white vapor produced by the bursting of a shell. Our regiment, with others of Bee's brigade, was at once moved at double-quick towards the Confederate left, but we had scarcely reached the designated point when we were again ordered to go at a rapid run two miles still further up the stream, to meet the Federals at Sudley's Ford. All depended on presenting a quick front to this unexpected movement. We went across the fields at our highest speed and soon reached the plateau of the Henry House, around which the battle was afterward mainly fought. Bee knew that his brigade alone could not hold the position, and saw that the enemy would secure it, unless checked and delayed by some means, before an adequate force of Confederates could get there to oppose them. To gain the needed time it was necessary to risk the sacrifice of the two and a half regiments. then with him by a bold movement still further to the front. So he ordered the 4th Alabama, with the 2d and 11th Mississippi, to move half a mile further to the next bridge, to engage the enemy and delay them as long as possible. Down the slope we rushed, panting and breathless, but still eager, because ignorant of the desperate crisis which doomed us to probable destruction, to save the whole army. As we passed the little rivulet below the Stone House, the artillery duel began, and shells of friend and foe shrieked wildly above our heads. Mounting the hill and entering the copse of timber north of the Stone House, we began to hear a sharp crackling of musketry ahead of us-a collision between the Federals and Wheat's "Louisiana Tigers," wearing the Zouave uniform. A little further up the hill and beyond the timber, we struck the enemy and no mistake. Their long advancing line, with theStars and Stripes" (which made some of us feel sorry), began to peer over the crest, eighty yards in our front, and opened a terrific fire, but which went mostly over us. On receiving the enemy's fire we lay down and waited until we could see their bodies to the waist, when we gave them a volley which was effective and the Federals fell back behind the crest. After some interval they advanced another and longer line; but the result was the same as before, only they held on longer this time and their fire hurt us badly. A third time they came on in a line which extended far beyond our flanks, and now the conflict became bloody and terrible. Their balls came not only from the front but from right and left oblique, cutting down our colonel (Egbert Jones) and many a familiar form so recently full of hope and gayety. Then War began to show us his wrinkled front. It seemed our safest course to hug the ground and pepper away at them; and so from sheer desperation, as much as anything, we kept at it, until, to our great joy, the enemy fell back once more behind the crest. General Bee, seeing that we would be overwhelmed at the next onslaught, gave us the order to retire. Nearly one-third of the 4th Alabama had gone down in the effort and were left on the ground, including the colonel, mortally wounded. The 7th and 8th Georgia, of Bartow's brigade, also came to our advanced position but far to our right during the contest. They had a bloody collision with another column of the Federals, and contributed materially to the delay of the Federal advance. As we retired by the same route along which we had come, we saw a regiment in column by companies, marching down the rivulet toward us. Their flag was furled on the staff and so was ours. They thought we were Federals, but were not sure. As for ourselves we felt certain no enemy had got so far in our rear; their uniforms also resembled that of the 6th North Carolina, belonging to our brigade, and we naturally took them for that regiment coming to our aid. Thus encouraged we halted, faced about and re-formed our line, intending with this re-enforcement to take another tilt with the enemy. The regiment referred to also halted and deployed into line of battle at right angles to ours and less than one hundred yards from our flank. Their colonel signaled us with his handkerchief, for the purpose of learning who we were, as it afterward appeared. We never dreamed that that was his purpose, thinking of course he knew us. All this took place in a few moments. Having rearranged our line our flag was unfurled showing the "Stars and Bars!" Instantly a blaze of fire flashed along the line of our supposed friends (a New York regiment it really was), and an enfilading hailstorm of bullets tore through the 4th Alabama, killing many and disabling more. Amongst those who fell were Lieutenant-Colonel Law and Major Scott, leaving our regiment without a field officer. What do you suppose we did? We didn't stay there; it is frank to say that we got back to the main Confederate line in the shortest time possible. Having arrived there, the 4th Alabama fell in on the right of the line and fought to the end of that terrible day. The position of our regiment being now on the right of the Confederate line, the plateau of the Henry House,-and the leading design of the Federals during the entire day being to turn the Confederate left, the heaviest fighting gradually veered toward that flank. The 6th North Carolina, separated from the brigade in the maneuvers of the day, had rushed in singlehanded and attempted to check it, but had been smitten by overwhelming power, and their gallant Colonel Fisher and many of his men were no more. Jackson, with his brigade, was struggling desperately, to arrest the Federal columns; but immovable as Jackson and his men stood, the surging tides of the enemy were beating upon him with such a mighty force that it seemed as if he must give way. At one time the battle had entirely lulled on the right. Our brigadier, Gen. Barnard E. Bee, at this moment came galloping to the 4th Alabama, and said: 'My brigade is scattered over the field and you are all of it I can find. Men, can you make a charge of bayonets?' "Yes, General," was the prompt response, "we will go wherever you lead and do whatever you say." Pointing toward where Jackson and his brigade were desperately battling, Bee said: "Over yonder stands Jackson, like a stone wall! Let us go to |