Rebellion Record: a Diary of American Events: Poetry and Incidents., Volume 2.
Frank Moore, Ed.

[19] naturalized Englishman, and requested that the privileges of a neutral might be accorded him, and that no more such questions as had been put him by inferior officers, respecting Washington and the national army, might in future be asked, to which Beauregard courteously assented. On the same grounds, Mr. Bing requested to be released, and Senator Clingman, whose business it seemed to be to fawn upon Gen. Beauregard, assured him that he was a harmless writer, given to science.

At first an arrangement was made to take Mr. Bing as a passenger on an ammunition wagon to Centreville, but subsequently withdrew his permission on the plea that it would be dangerous, as there might be a great deal of skirmishing. Perhaps he had heard what an officer said, who casually remarked that some time since, and not long after a British subject left Richmond, the Federal War Department received the most correct intelligence it had ever had, touching the numbers and disposition of the Southern forces.

[Query.--How did the rebel officer know what the War Department received?]

Finally, on Wednesday night Mr. Bing started in charge of a railroad conductor, who frequently reminded him that he carried a revolver. The only incident of the journey was at Gordonsville, the junction of the Orange and Alexandria and Virginia Central Railroad.

Here three several mobs, inspired by three different causes, gathered about the traveller in succession. The first, learning that he had breakfasted with Beauregard, who had hospitably entertained him during his stay, took him for a friend of the general, and insisted upon a narrative of the battle.

The second, learning that he was a prisoner, were possessed with a desire to examine “a Yankee,” and some were for hanging or shooting him. A third took him for a spy, some one having observed that he seemed to look closely at the bridge towards which he walked while waiting for the train, and all threatened death seriously.

He hit upon a plan of escape, which proved successful. The conductor was to telegraph Beauregard, who was to send word to Richmond whether or not his signature, which was doubted, was genuine, and meantime the conductor was to be responsible. That worthy made significant gestures towards his prisoner with the revolver, which satisfied the crowd.

At Richmond the conductor gave him in hand to a policeman, who was convinced of his honesty by the recognition of an officer whom he had met at Manassas, and insisted upon letting him go. Mr. Bing refused at first, but finally was prevailed upon to consent, making an appointment for the evening, and promising to introduce his new friend to a Richmond lady of whose acquaintance he was desirous. The two somehow never met again.

Mr. Bing spent Friday, Saturday, and Sunday in Richmond. The British consul intrusted him with despatches to Lord Lyons, but could not get his pass countersigned by the Secretary of War, since to recognize him would be to recognize his Government.

On Monday night Mr. Bing left Richmond by the train for Fredericksburg. The conductor was not satisfied with Beauregard's pass not countersigned, but the documents certifying that he was a bearer of British despatches, silenced his scruples. With a letter from the British Consul to the Vice-Consul at Fredericksburg, he reached the latter town unmolested.

The Vice-Consul gave him a letter to Capt. Lynch, in command of the rebel force at Acquia Creek, which secured his assistance. It was arranged that he should be sent with a flag of truce on board of one of our vessels off Acquia Creek; but just as he was starting off, a soldier swore that he had seen him on board a Federal ship, and denounced him as a spy. Where-upon he was sent back to Fredericksburg for examination. There he was in imminent danger from a fourth mob that gathered about him, some one having reported that he was a chaplain in our army.

Being released, after examination, he proceeded yesterday, some 20 miles, to the encampment of a Tennessee regiment, whose colonel gave him a letter to Mr. Evans of Evansport, a miserable little place on the Potomac.

Evans was instructed to put him across the river. Our cruisers were so constantly on the alert, that for some time no opportunity offered. But at length, while one of them was examining a transport, he slipped across to Chicamuxeon Creek, near Dorchester Post-office, Md.; thence he made his way here, via Alexandria, to-night.

Mr. Bing says that on the whole our prisoners are well treated. But the Zouaves are at Richmond caged in a factory, with bars, through which the people stare at them as a curiosity. The accommodations at Richmond are so very limited and poor, that there is talk of distributing the prisoners among the States.

The officers at Manassas appeared to be very much pleased with the bearing of the prisoners, and spoke of them as brave and honorable men. The Hon. Alfred Ely is well treated, and may be released.

It is not believed that the threatened visit of Ben. Wood will help matters much for him, though it may for the rebels.

Col. Corcoran is in Richmond. His wound is a slight one, but he is in delicate health.

Among the prisoners at Manassas is Capt. Powers, of a Rhode Island regiment, and a young man named Lawrence, from Massachusetts.

An Episcopal chaplain of one of the Maine regiments, named Meirs, we believe, and related to Dr. Pine of this city, won the rebels' hearts by his coolness and courtesy, and probably will be released. His kindness to a little negro boy, whom he tied on his horse for safety, won the Southern heart.

From another trustworthy source we learn that Col. Cameron was shot by Col. Wade Hampton, of South Carolina. Hampton, in the early part of the engagement, had lost a nephew at the hands of the 69th, and swore revenge.

Taking the 79th to be the 69th, he took rifles successively from his men and aimed at officers only, and it is thought one fell at every shot. He fired twice at Col. Cameron, who was in full officer's dress, and at the second shot killed him. The rebel cavalry was instructed to pass by our men, but to shoot the officers.

The following information of the battle, the present strength and designs of the rebels, comes to us from an intelligent and trustworthy person, who has had recent opportunity of seeing and hearing whereof he affirms. Beauregard's force at Bull Run was 27,000, which was increased by 8,000 of Johnson's the day before, and by 5,000 more during the engagement. This statement is confirmed from an independent and trustworthy source. Davis did not assist on the field until late in the afternoon.

Manassas is a very strong position, quite as strong naturally as by art. It is a heath, somewhat like the