Bull Run
"Let's go out and have a picnic near the skirmish..."
On Sunday, July 1861, a group of Senators and Congressmen decided to have a picnic and watch the battle that was being fought just twenty-five miles from their offices in Washington D.C. Congressman John Logan's wife, Mary, asked her husband to please not place himself in dangerous surroundings.
The men must have pondered aloud "What, after all, could happen to them, a group of distinguished gentlemen in suits, top hats, merely there to observe what might amount to a "skirmish"?
..... what indeed .....
"Civilians at Bull Run"
a poem by H. R. Tracy, Boston Herald, 1861
Have you heard of the story so lacking in glory,
About the Civilians who went to the fight,
With everything handy, from sandwich to brandy,
To fill their broad stomachs and make them all tight.
There were bulls from our State street, and cattle from Wall street,
And members of Congress to see the great fun;
Newspaper reporters (some regular shorters)
On a beautiful Sunday went out to Bull Run.
T
Though it was just a couple dozen miles from the Capitol, the place where the First Battle of Bull Run was fought was about a seven hour drive by horse and buggy. The stories of the picnic battle abounded afterward, since the reporters were witness to several scenes of mayhem. Even photographer Matthew Brady was present, and catapulted his photographic career when he covered this event. There were people watching on the hillsides nearby, and enterprising families were quick to capitalize on the situation by hawking snacks and foods. People were able to purchase a bite to eat and watch as if it were the entertainment highlight of their lives. But Union sympathizers - especially Congressional leaders - knew they'd need to pack their own food and water for the day since the Virginia citizenry were already anti-Union support in any manner.
Congressman John A. Logan, Jr., against his wife's wishes, did go along with the group of government leaders to observe the battle. They were assured by the military advisors that the entire "war" was nothing more than a spat that would run its course in less than ninety days. Indeed, the troops recruited for security around the D. C. area were contracted for just ninety days. Uniforms weren't even consistently issued, and Union troops who brought their own wore gray, and some Confederates were wearing blue.
Along with Illinois Congressman Logan were New York Congressman Alfred Ely, Illinois Congressman Elihu Washburn, Ohio Senator Ben Wade, Massachusetts Senator Henry Wilson, Kansas Senator Jim Lane, and Connecticut Senator Lafayette Foster. The men arrived in time to set up for a short luncheon. Senator Wilson had loaded bundles of sandwiches to give to soldiers from his State, so the gentlemen settled near the New York troops.
"The plain was covered with retreating troops."
"The retreat soon became a rout, and this soon degenerated still further into a panic." The Rebellion Record Volume 2
Nearly as soon as they set up, retreating troops from further distances flooded the area. The New York troops scrambled in fear. They threw their weapons away and tore off uniform clothing to attempt blending in with the spectator crowd. People everywhere including the legislators tried to flee the area in time, but Congressman Ely, who was armed with a pistol, engaged the enemy. He was captured by South Carolina troops and eventually shipped to a prisoner of war camp in Richmond, Virginia.. He was held six months, and traded for Confederate prisoners.
Union soldiers taken prisoner at the Battle of Bull Run
Thomas Jonathan Jackson, commanding a Confederate brigade, earned the nickname "Stonewall" during this battle, for his solid stance and unwavering resolve while others were in such panic. Congressman Logan, a veteran of the Mexican War, also displayed cool attention and decisive action. Refusing to believe the Union was losing, Logan snatched a weapon from a fleeing soldier and ran headlong into battle. When the fighting stopped, it was determined to be a victory for the South. Congressman Logan immediately returned to the Capitol and resigned as Congressman, packed his belongings and returned to Illinois where he raised the 31st Infantry Regiment in Jackson County, Illinois.
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