SCRUTINIZING A PASS AT THE WASHINGTON END OF THE LONG BRIDGE

McDOWELL'S ADVANCE TO BULL RUN.
BY JAMES B. FRY, BREVET MAJOR-GENERAL, U. S. A. (AT BULL RUN, CAPTAIN AND ASSISTANT ADJUTANT-GENERAL ON McDOWELL'S STAFF).

As President Buchanan's administration was drawing to a close, he was forced by the action of the South to decide whether the power of the general Government should be used to coerce into submission States that had attempted to secede from the Union. His opinion was that the contingency was not provided for, that while a State had no right to secede, the Constitution gave no authority to coerce, and that he ha no right to do anything except hold the property and enforce the laws of the United States.

Before he went out of office the capital of the nation seemed to be in danger of seizure. For its protection, and in order to consult about holding Southern forts and arsenal, General Scott was in December called to Washington, from which he had been absent since the inauguration of Pierce, who had defeated him for the presidency. Jefferson Davis, Pierce's Secretary of War, and General Scott had quarreled, and the genius of acrimony controlled the correspondence which took place

UNIFORM OF THE 14TH NEW YORK AT BULL RUN.**

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** The battle of Bull Run was notable in a minor way of the variety of uniforms worn on both sides - a variety of uniforms worn on both sides - a variety greater than was shown in any later engagement. The Federal blue had not yet been ensued, and the troops wore either the uniforms of their militia organizations (including various patterns of Zouave dress) or those furnished by their several States. The Confederate uniforms exhibited similar variety; some regiments were in citizens' dress, and several of the general officers who had been in the old service - including, we are informed, General Johnston, Beauregard, and Longstreet - still wore the dress of the United States Army. - EDITORS.
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