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wounded； and many of the colonels fell。 So numerous were the
Federals； that although Jackson had pierced their center； their
masses drove back his flanks and threatened to surround him。 With
voice and example he cheered on his men to hold their ground； and
the officers closed up their ranks as they were thinned by the
enemy's fire； and for an hour the struggle continued without
marked advantage on either side。
Jackson's calmness was unshaken even in the excitement of the
fight。 At one time an officer rode up to him from another portion
of the field and exclaimed； 〃General； I think the day is going
against us！〃 To which Jackson replied in his usual curt manner； 〃If
you think so； sir； you had better not say anything about it。〃
The resolute stand of the Confederates enabled General
Beauregard to bring up fresh troops； and he at last gave the word to
advance。
Jackson's brigade rushed forward on receiving the order； burst
through the Federals with whom they were engaged； and；
supported by the reserves； drove the enemy from the plateau。 But
the Federals； still vastly superior in force； brought up the reserves；
and prepared to renew the attack； but 1；700 fresh men of the army
of the Shenandoah came npon the field of battle； Smith and Early
brought up their division from the river； and the whole Southern
line advanced at the charge； drove the enemy down the slopes and
on toward the fords。
A panic seized them； and their regiments broke up and took to
headlong flight； which soon became an utter rout。 Many of them
continued their flight for hours； and for a time the Federal army
ceased to exist； and had the Cenfederates advanced； as Jackson
desired that they should do； Washington would have fallen into
their hands without a blow being struck in its defense。
This； the first great battle of the war； is sometimes known as the
battle of Manassas； but more generally as Bull Run。
With the exception of one or two charges； the little body of
Confederate horse did not take any part in the battle of Bull Run。
Had they been aware of the utter stampede of the Northern troops；
they could safely have pressed forward in hot pursuit as far as
Washington； but being numerically so inferior to the Federal
cavalry； and in ignorance that the Northern infantry had become a
mere panic…stricken mob； it would have been imprudent in the
extreme for such a handful of cavalry to undertake the pursuit of
an army。
Many of the Confederates were of opinion that this decisive
victory would be the end of the war； and that the North； seeing
that the South was able as well as willing to defend the position it
had taken up； would abandon the idea of coercing it into
submission。 This hope was speedily dissipated。 The North was
indeed alike astonished and disappointed at the defeat of their
army by a greatly inferior force； but instead of abandoning the
struggle； they set to work to retrieve the disaster； and to place in
the field a force which would； they believed； prove irresistible。
Vincent Wingfield saw but little of the battle at Bull Run。 As they
were impatiently waiting the order to charge while the desperate
conflict between Jackson's brigade and the enemy was at its
fiercest； a shell from one of the Federal batteries burst a few
yards in front of the troop； and one of the pieces striking Vincent
on the side hurled him insensible from his horse。 He was at once
lifted and carried by Dan and some of the other men…servants； who
had been told off for this duty； to the rear； where the surgeons were
busily engaged in dressing the wounds of the men who straggled
back from the front。 While the conflict lasted those unable to walk
lay where they fell； for no provision had at present been made for
ambulance corps； and not a single man capable of firing a musket
could be spared from the ranks。 The tears were flowing copiously
down Dan's cheeks as he stood by while the surgeons examined
Vincent's wound。
〃Is he dead； sah？〃 he sobbed as they lifted him up from his
stooping position。
〃Dead 。〃 the surgeon repeated。 〃Can't you see he is breathing； and
did you not hear him groan when I examined his side？ He is a
long way from being a dead man yet。 Some of his ribs are broken；
and he has had a very nasty blow； but I do not think there is any
cause for anxiety about him。 Pour a little wine down his throat；
and sprinkle his face with water。 Raise his head and put a coat
under it； and when he opens his eyes and begins to recover； don't
let him move。 Then you can cut up the side of his jacket and down
the sleeve； so as to get it off that side altogether。 Cut his shirt
open； and bathe the wound with some water and bit of rag of any
sort； it is not likely to bleed much。 When it has stopped bleeding
put a pad of linen upon it； and keep it wet。 When we can spare
time we will bandage it properly。〃
But it was not until late at night that the time could be spared for
attending to Vincent； for the surgeons were overwhelmed with
work； and the most serious cases were； as far as possible； first
attended to。 He had soon recovered consciousness。 At first he
looked with a feeling of bewilderment at Dan； who was copiously
sprinkling his face with water； sobbing loudly while he did so。 As
soon as the negro perceived that his master had opened his eyes he
gave a cry of delight。
〃Tank de Lord； Marse Vincent； dis child tought you dead and gone
for sure。〃
〃What's the matter； Dan？ What has happened？〃 Vincent said；
trying to move； and then stopping suddenly with a cry of pain。
〃You knocked off your horse； sah； wid one Qf shells Qf dem
cussed Yanks。〃
〃Am I badly hurt； Dan？〃
〃Berry bad； sah； great piece of flesh pretty nigh as big as my hand
come out oh your side； and doctor says some of de ribs broken。
But de doctor not seem to make much oh it； he hard sort oh man
dat。 Say you get all right again。 No time to tend to you now。
Hurry away just as if you some poor white trash instead of Massa
Wingfield oh do Orangery。〃
Vincent smiled faintly。
〃It doesn't make much difference what a man is in a surgeon's eyes；
Dan； the question is how badly he is hurt； and what can be done
for him？ Well； thank God it's no worse。 Wildfire was not hurt； I
hope？〃
〃No； sab； he is standing tied up by dat tree。 Now； sah； do doctor
say me cut your jacket off and have de wound。〃
〃All right； Dan； but be a little careful with the water； you seem to
be pretty near drowning me as it is。 Just wipe my face and hair；
and get the handkerchief from the pocket of my jacket； and open
the shirt collar and put the handkerchief inside round my neck。
How is the battle going on？ The roar seems louder than ever。〃
Dan went forward to the crest a of slight rise of the ground whence
he could look down upon the field of battle； and made haste to
return。
〃Can't see berry well； sah； too much smoke。 But dey i