Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1861-08-01

! we quoto iIou ictleI ny mT. nay mon
of the New York Times, to his paper as 70
/ lows:
r WASHINGTON, Monday Evening.
!, It now appears that our army retreate
!, in very good order as far as Centerevill
where it was protected from pursuit by th
reserves under Col Miles; that no attemp
was made to capture the baggage wagon
which had nearly all been left between Ger
trevilie and Fairfax, and went back wit
the army to the latter place, and that tn
only material which fell into the hands Q
the rebels was such as had been hastily
and not very creditably, abandoned on th
road between Bulls Run and Centreville.
Its pretty evident that the enemy wa
in no condition for pursuit. A powerful
force of cavalry might have done great ex
ecution upon the rear of our retreating col
umns; and they did make an attempt o
this sort upon the Warrenton Road, but
volley from Col. Benker's regiment, whicl
was sent out from Centreville to cover the
retreat, soon put them to flight. The pur
suit extended but short distance, and wa
attended by nc important results.
As soon as it was understood in th'
crowd of teamsters, fugitive soldiers ant
miscellaneous hangers-on of the army a
Centreville, that our columns were retreat
ing, they became very considerably excited
and this feeling rose 10 panic when they
heard the souaA-of cannon in the rear, a:
they supposed it to indicate that the enemy
was pursuing in force. After had driven
something over mile from the village on
my way to Washington, the crowd in the
rear became absolutely frenzied with fear
and an immense mas of wagons, horses
men on foot, and flying soldiers, came dash
ing down the hill at rate which threaten
ed destruction, instant and complete te
every thing in their way. The panic spread
as they proceeded, and gathering strength
by its progress, the movement became ab
solutely terrific. The horses caught the
frenzy of the moment, and became as wild
as their masters. My driver attempting to
check the speed of our carriage, found it
suddenly crushed under the weight of an
enormous Pennsylvania Army wagon
which crushed it like an egg-shell. The
opportune arrival of another carriage con-
tanning couple of Congressman, relieved
me from this dilemma, and took me 10
Washington. Previous to my mishap l
was overtaken and passed by solitary
horseman, who proved TO be Russell of the
London Times, who was profoundly dis
gusted with this movement, and was ma.
king all possible haste to get out of it.
The most discreditable feature Of this
stampede was the very large number of
soldiers who had struggled away from
their regiments during the battle and who
now threw away their muskets, blankets
and knapsacks, and ran as if their lives de-
pended on their speed. For long time
no attempt was made to stop them. But
near Fairfax, New Jersey regiment had
drawn up across the road, and compelled
every soldier upon whom they could lay
hands to GO back to his regiment They
were dragged out of carriages and from tie
backs of horses, and turned backward with
the greatest rigor. Many of them manag
ed, however, to pass the guard, and the
road all the way to Washington was crowd
ed with these timid and fugacious warriors.
How they were suffered to pass Long Bridge
having neither pass nor countersign, is
among the mysteries which have no
thought of ffathomiDg. But they made their
appearance on the street corners and in the
bar rooms of the city with the early dawn,
and each speedily became central points
of steadily swelling crowd, who learned
the bloody history ofthis awful battle from
the lips OF these heroes, every one Of whom
had stood in the very thickest Of the fight
until his regiment was all cut to pieces, and
he was the sole survivor. II was these men
who gave TO the masses in Washington their
knowledge ofibe terrible defeat the Union
forces had sustained. Why Gen. Mansfield
has suffered them thus to roam the streets
all day, filling the public ear with prodig
ious lies, and creating an intense and dan
gerous fever of the public mind, / cannot
imagine. They ought either to be forced
inio the strict discipline Of military life, or
else sent hcme, where they will no longer
be in the way of those who desire to do
their duty.
The public must bear in mind this very
large class of troops, when the list of killed,
wounded and missing comes to be publish
ed. There must have been at least thous-
and from the various regiments who thus
ran away, and who will not be on hand to
answer to their names when the muster-roli
of their regiments is called. Tneir rumber
must be deducted from the aggregate, in
order to determine the real number of
casualties.
The treatment of our wounded by the
rebels is reported as having been brutal to
the last degree. Several soldiers assert that
they saw thom repeatedly draw their knives
and cut the tLroats of our men as they lay
upon the ground. Others stabbed them
with their bayonets and inflicted every con-
ceivable indignity upon them. In charg-
ing up the hill on the Warrenton road they
set fire to the house used as hospital for
our men, some Of whom escaped the flames
by getting through the windows.
Real Strength of the Rebels.
The officers who took Mr.. Pryor prisoner say
that among the other prisoners taken was very
badly woun ded rebel officer, who wore the ca
gle Of Colonel on his shoulder stIap. He an.
peared TO have got in advance of his regiment,
and got separated from them, and SO cut off,
His left arm had been shattered above the ell
bow. and the useless member was dangling in
the coat sleeve: He was also bleeding profuse-