Lot 164 email save

(FROM THE FIELD OF BULL RUN, A JOURNALIST WRITES H

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164. (FROM THE FIELD OF BULL RUN, A JOURNALIST WRITES HOME ON THE GALLANT CONDUCT OF THE 4TH ALABAMA) Informative A.L.S. 3pp. 4to., Richmond, July 26, 1861, in which W.B. Figures, father of Henry Figures of the 4th Alabama, forwards a surprisingly accurate account of the unit's exploits at Bull Run to the Alabama papers. The only Alabama unit at Bull Run, the 4th played a vital and costly role in the events leading to a victory of Southern arms. Obviously writing for publication, Figures' letter reads, in small part: "...The city is crowded with people. Hundreds are refused passes to go to the camp 7 miles from Manassas. By hard work I got one and go in the morning at 6 1/2 o'clock...The 4th Alabama Regiment suffered more than any other in the fight. For 4 hours it held at bay Ellsworth's Zoaves and 1000 regulars almost unsupported. It's Colonel...Lt. Colonel and Major are wounded badly. It had not a single field officer left to command. Gen. Bee led it then to the charge, and was killed at its head. Gen. Johnston shed tears when he saw how it had been unsupported for so long...When the other regiments came to its relief the enemy fled. The enemy's great loss took place on their retreat...I shall try to get the facts that the public may know what a noble set of boys it is composed of. They fought like the Greeks of old, with songs and cheers, and were whipped for 4 hours without knowing it, simply fighting on, intending to die to a man before giving up. Veterans never faced overwhelming odds and seemingly certain death more unflinchingly...with the example set for them by the 4th, the rest of Alabama's noble sons, when they make their debut on the battlefield, will furiously emulate its bloody example...". Mr. Figures' days of heady optimism were numbered, for like so many others his son Henry was killed in action later in the war.$400-600

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