The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-07-23


road Their CONSERVATION was shared in by hume
roA civilians who the ground, and for tino
hefned as II cur whole force was failing back Many
baggage wagons empted and their horses galopcd
across the open fields all Me fences Of which torn
down to allow them rapid retreat A perfect
panic prevailed among the wsgners, which comr,u
nicated 70 he vicinity Of Centreve and every available
conveyance was seized upon by agitated citizens who
had coma out to tho battle. wounded soldiers
cried the road side for assistance but tho alarm
80 greet that numbers were passed by apheedod.
SEVERED similar alarms occurred on previous occasions
when change OF tho rebel batteries rendered necessary
The retirement OF our artillery and most probable that
the alarm owing the fact The reserve force
at Centreyii,e Immediately brought up Col, Ensein y
Twenty seventh Pennsylvania resincnt, with guns
marching 1rst Then the Garbadi Guard and Col Blen-
kers First Rife regiment, with Its batteries followed at
several miles distant by the De Kalb regiment.
When courier left, at isHpast four O'Clock, it was
in the midst Of this exeiscmeat Two masked bat
cres had opened by the rebels the left flank and
that portion of the division had ts line broken and de
handed immediate reinforcement. The right 1ank WAS
in good order The battery crested the hillside directly
opposite the main battery Of the enemy doing good
execution, and additional guns being mounted On
the arrival Of the courier at Fairfax Court House
he overtaken by government messenger, who
reported that our army in full retreat towards Cen
trevie He was followed by less agtated parties, who
atad that oxyifp tn
that the alarm among the teamsters had communicated
itself the volunteers, and in instances TO the
regulars that the lines broken, and that retire
ment of forces across Bulls rendered
sary Colonel Hunter passed at the time vehicle,
wounded.
II was known TO our troops at the time of the battle
yesterday that General Johnston had formed counec
ton with General Beaurcgard the night Of the st
action at Bulls Our could distinctly hear tho
cars coming Manassas Junction. and the cheers with
They knew that the enemy superior in numbers
and in their own position.
These facts further confirmed by prisoners taken
and and spies but these facts probably
known at Washington, and the officers in leading our mon
into action only obeyed orders.
General Mcdowell undertook TO mako stand in the vi
ciny of Cereve, but the panic great that the
attempt to rally the troops was entirely in vain
firm stand had been made there troops could have
been reinforced and much disaster prevented He intend
cd make another stand at Fairfax Court House. but
could not accomplish the object General Mcdowell was
thus foiled in his well arranged plans
Beyond Fairfax Court Eouse the retreat continued
until the men reached their regular ecampments scmo
Der went inside the intrenchments.
In the retreat many Of the troops fell on tho wsysde
from exhaustion and scattered along the route al tho
way from Fairfax Court House We lost large number
in this way.
The road from Bulls strewed with knapsacks,
arms and appurtenances which some of troops de-
lberately threw away the better TO facilitate their
cape The Of the army made their retreat order
General Mcdowell In the Of the rotrest
ing himself to rally his men, but only with partial effect
He was completely exhausted having slept ba, little
for three nights His orders the field did At all
times reach those for whom they were intended.
Gen schcnck, as well as the older fold officers acted
admirably He collected his forces and covered the
retreat and up the last moment was personally engag
ed in the cndsavor TO rally bis to mako stand
Centrevile.
1T was the arrival Of fresh reinforcements tho enemy
in superior numbers that turned the scale Of battle.
The euemy before might perhaps have more 10
boast Of they had followed up their advantage last
night
From the statements Of Quartermaster Pryor, rebel
soner appears that ARTILLERY created great havoc
among the rebels Of whom there were from thirty
thousand 10 forty MISUNDERSTANDING large number Of
cayalry-in the field under command Of Bearegard
whae they had reserve Of sevenyve thousand At the
Junction. Owing 70 rsinforcements from Richmond,
strausburg and other points, the enemys effective force
was over ninety thousand men.
Grfhns West Point battery was taken by the enemy,
and the eight siege hirtytwo FOUNDER rife cannon tho
latter being too cumbrous to remove They were two
mites the other side Of Centrevlle.
The Rhode Island battery taken by the rebels at the
bridge across Bulls rum where their retreat was cut off,
Their horses all killed Captain Ayres battery was
also reported as lost.
The Sixty ninth and other regiments frghtfuy suf.
fered In killed and wounded The number cannot now be
known.
Is reported that the Black Horse Cavalry made an at
tack the of the retreatng army, when the latter
turned and fred killing all but six of the assantng party
II was the remnant Of the Zouaves who attacked by
the Black Horse Cavalry and repulssd hen leaving but
six to return
The Seventy fret New York regiment lost about half
their
Nearly all the provision trains belonging to the United
States government saved. Some rcgimental trains
were overturned by accident, the wheels off, and
they had therefore to be abandoned Large droves Of cat
tie saved by being driven back in the advance of the
retreat.
Colonel Marston's New Hampshire regiment reached
here this morning. He was wounded Colonel HeintxeI
man was also wounded in the wrist.