Diary of Betty Herndon Maury - July 25, 1861

Thursday [25 July 1861]

Uncle Charley and many gentlemen from here have been up to Manassas to see the battle field. He returned this evening. Says that many of the soldiers (Yankees) are still lying upon the field. Our men are burying them. Bob Minor was there. He recognized the body of Mr. Doug' Ramsey and gave it Christian burial.

We hear that the panic in Washington after the battle was terrible. The draws to the long bridge were raised to prevent all the troops in Alexandria and the fortifications between there and Washington from flying into the city.

Washington (they say) could have been taken on Monday with five thousand men. Why did not our Generals do it?