Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-08-25

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whole army is in retreat Still there
was no fight of troops. no retreat OF an
army. no reason for all this precipitation.
True, there were many men in uniform
flying toward the rear, but it did not APP
pear as if they were beyond the proper
tons of large baggage escort
got my horse up into the field out of the
road, and went on rapidly toward the front
Soon met soldiers who were coming through
the corn, mostly without arms; and presently
saw hrelocks, cooking tins, knapsacks, and
greatcoats on the ground. and observed that
the confusion and speed of the baggage carts
became greater, and that many of them were
crowded with men, or were followed by 9TH
ers, who chung to them. The ambulances
were crowded with soldiers. but it did not
look as If there were many wounded Negro
servants on led horses dashed frantcally
past; men in Uniform, whom it were dis
grace to the profession of arms to call sol
der" swarmed by on mules, chargers. and
even draught horses, which had been cut out
OF carts or wagons, and went on with bar
ness clinging to their heels, as frightened as
their riders. Men literally screamed with
rage and fright when their way was block
ed up.
On rode, asking all. what is all this
about ~ and now and then, but rarely re-
ceiving the answer, Were whipped;1
"We're repulsed." Faces black aud dusty.
tongues out in the heat, eyes staring-it VAS
most wonderful sight. But where was the
iend? looked in vain. There was, indeed.
some cannOnading in front of me aud in the
rear, but still the firing was comparatively
distant, and the runaways were far out OF
range. As | advanced the number of carts
diminished, but the mounted men increased,
and the column of fugitives became denser.
A few buggies and light wagons filed with,
mn ruh h-.r- do s&a
great Leporello" in the ghost scene, tried to
pierce the rear of the mass of carts, which
were now sOlidified and moving on like
glacier. crossed a small diaca by Their ssic--
side, got out on the road to escape some
snake fences, and looking before me saw.
there was still a crowd of men in unlS1z-s
coming along. kE&1z
The road as strewn with articles of eiotli-
ing-frelocks, waist-belts, cartouch boxes-
caps, greatcoats, mess thus, musical inetFus
ments, cartridges, bayonets and sheatuss
swords and pistols-even biscuits, water botes
ties, and pieces of meat. Passing white3
house by the roadside. saw, for the first time
a body of infantry with sloped arms marching
regularly and rapidly toward me. Their
faces were not blackened by powder. and u
was evident that they had not been engaged
In reply to a question, a non-commissioned
officer told NE, i'll broken English. I'VE fall
back to our lines. Tue attack did not quite
succeed" This was assuring to one who had
ONE thrOu gh such a scene as l had been wit
Messing.
L had ridden, suppose, about three or
three and a half miles from the hill, when l
came out on an open piece of ground, beyond
and circling which was forest. Two field
pieces were unlimbered and guarding the
road; the painting and jaded horses in the rear
looked as though they mad been hard worked.
and the gunners and drivers looked worn aud
detected. Dropping shots sounded close in
front through the woods. but the guns on the
left no longer main aimed their fire. | was
Just about to ask one of the men for light
when sputtering fire on my right attracted
my attention, and out Of the forest or aieng
the road rushed a number of men. The gun
ners seized the trail OF the nearest piece toF
wheel it round upon them; others made for
the tumbris and horses. as if to fly, when a.
shout was raised Don't fire /! they are our
own men ~ and in few minutes on came,
pell NELL, a whole regiment in disorder.
l came across an officer and stopped him.
"We're pursued by cavalry he gasped:
'They've cut US all to pieces" As he spoke
a shell burst over the column; another drop
ped on the road, and out streamed another
column of men, Keeping together with tner
arms, and closing up the stragglers of the
first regiment. L turned. aud to my surprise
saw the artillery-men had gone off, leaving
one Suu by llSell- lHty ndd re-
treated with their horses. 1t was now welt
established that the retreat had really com
menced, though | saw but few wounded men
and the reg iments which were falling back
had not suffered much loss. No one seemed
to know anything for certain. Even the
cavalry charge Was rumor.
Several officers said they carried guns aud
lines, but then they drifted into nonsense
which one reads aud hears everywhege sii,ips
Id laft n...x f..4A NJ
more sensiby about the strong positions Of
the enemy, the fatigue OF their men. tbs. ssa8t.
of a rt.s.rve iosses, aud the bad ooEslS7
duct of certain regiments. No one spike as
if he thought of retiring beyond Centreville.
fhe clouds of dust rising above the woods
marked the retreat of the whole army. and
the crowds of fugitiveS continued to steal
away along the road. The sun was decin-
ing, and some thirty miles yet remained to
be accomplished ere could hope to gain the
shelter of Washington.
No one knew whether any corps or regi-
ment was marching, but there were rumors
of all kinds-'the Sixty-ninth are. cut to
pieces" "the Fire Z>uaves are destroyed"
and so on. Presently a tremour ran through
the men by whom | was riding, as the sharp
reports of some field pieces ratified through
the woods close at hand. A sort of sudden
roar, like the voice of distant breakers rose
in front of us, and the soldiers who were,
think. Germans, broke into double. look
ing now and then over their shoulders. There
was no choice for me but TO resign any fur
ther researches; so [ put my horse into a trot,
keeping in the fields alongside the roads as
much as | could, to avoid the fugitives, till
l came once more on the rear of the baggage
and store carts. and the pressure Of the crowd. |
who, concious of the aid which the vehicles
would afford them against a cavalry charge,
and fearful, nevertheless, of their proximity
clamored and shouted like madmen as they
ran. The road was now literally covered
with baggage. 1t seemed to me as If the |
men inside were throwing things out pur-
pOsely.
Ga approaching Centreville body of Ger |
man infantry of the reserve came marching
down and stemmed the current in some de- !
gree; they were followed by brigade of !
guns and another battalion of fresh troops. |
turned up on the hill half mile beyond. |
A battery of fields guns was in position where |
we had been standing. The men looked we'll. |
As yet there was nothing to indicate more |
than retreat, and some ill-behayiOr among |
the wagoners and the riff raf of different re-
gime nts. l turned my horses head and |
rode away through the village. and after |
got out upon the road the same confusion |
seemed to prevail. Suddenly the guns OF the |
hill opened, and at the same time the Lhuds /
of artillery from the wood on the right rear. |
The stampede then became general.
What occurred at the hill cannot say, butt
all the road from Centreville for miles pre- |
sented such a sight as can only be witnessed |
in the track of the runaways of an utterly |
demoralized army. Drivers fogged, dashed, |
and beat their horeses, or leaped down and
abandoned their teams and ran by the side of
the ruad, mounted men, servants, and men /
In uniform. vehicles of all sorts, and commits |
sariat wagons thronged the narrow ways. At |
every shot a CONFUSION, as it were, seized mp (
on the morbid mass of bones, sinew, wood, |
and iron, and thrilled through it giving new |
energy and action to its desperate efforts to
get free from itself. Again the cry OF Cav |
alrYn arose, GWhat are you afraid orr said |