G. T. Beauregard, the Twenty-fourth Virginia
Regiment having been previously sent to him, under the command
of Lieutenant-Colonel Hairsten, from Lynchburg, where I had been
stationed under the orders of General Robert E. Lee, for the
purpose of organizing the Virginia troops which were being
mustered into service at that place....
"On the morning of July 18th, my brigade was moved, by order of
General Beauregard, to the left of Camp Walker, on the railroad,
and remained there some time....
"On falling back, General Ewell, in pursuance of his
instructions, had burned the bridges on the railroad over Pope's
Run, from Fairfax Station to Union Mills, and while I was at
Camp Walker I saw the smoke ascending from the railroad-bridge
over Bull Run, which was burned that morning.
"The burning of this bridge had not been included in the
previous instructions to Ewell, and I have always been at a loss
to know why it was now fired. That bridge certainly was not
necessary to the enemy for crossing Bull Run, either with his
troops or wagons, as that stream was easily fordable at numerous
places, both above and below. The bridge was, moreover,
susceptible of easy defense, as there were deep cuts leading to
it on both sides. The only possible purpose to be subserved by
the burning of that bridge would have been the prevention for a
short time of the running of trains over it by the enemy, in the
event of our defeat, or evacuation of Manassas without a fight.
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