The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-08-20
NEW YORK HERALD, TUESDAY, AUGUST 90 1861.

current in degree they followed by brigade
OF guns and another battalion OF fresh troops turned
up on the hill half mile beyond. The vehicles had al!
left but two-my buggy gone. battery d neu
guns was in position were we had been standing. inc
men looked well. As yet there nothing TO indicate
more than retreat and some Ill behavior among the
wagoners and the rfraH Of different regiments Cen
treve was not bad position properly occupied ana
saw why it should not no held II it was meant
10 the attack, any why the the attack
should not be renewed, if there had been any why
should have been made. l swept the field once more
The clouds OF dust denser and That was all
There was no irng-no musketry. turned my horses
head aud rode away through the village and after got
upon the road the confusion seemed 70 prevail
Suddenly the guns the hill opened, and at the same
time the thuds of artillery from the wood ON the right
rear The stampede then BECAME general.
DEMoRALIzED AHMy-THE SPECIAL IN
DANGER FROM TRucUIENT RUNAWAY
What occurred the hill cannot say, but all the road
from Cenrevie for miles presented such sight as can
only be witnessed in the track OF the runa~ays OF an
utterly demorazed army. Drivers Tagged, dashed, urred
and beat their horses edred down and abandoned their
dms and by the side Of the road mounted men, ser
wants and men in uniform, vehicles Of all
sorts, conmissariat wagons thronged the narrow
seized upon the morbid mass Of bones, sinew,
wood and iron. and thrilled through it, giving new
from itself Again the cry Of 'Cdrasry' "What
you afraid Off" said 10 man cho ds running beside
me Im not afraid Of You replied the ruiian tese,ng
the cap not ON, for the gun did not go of was
unarmed and did not on as fast could resolved to
keep my own counsel for the second time that day.
And so the fight went AZ one time whole mass
of infantry, with fixed bayonets down the bank OF
the road and falling they must have killed
and wounded those among whom they fell As knew the
road would become impossible or blocked up, put
my horse to gaop and passed on towards the front
But mounted men still rode aster shoutngout, cavalry
are coming"
Again ventured to speak to officers whom over
took and sad II these runaways are not stopped the
whole Of tho posts and pckets into Washington will fly
aso' One of them without saying word, spurred his
horse and dashed in 'front.' do not know whether he
ordered the not but the Of the fgtives
WINS checked and pressing through the
wood at tho road side, l saw regiment OF infantry
blocking up the way, with their front towards Centre
vile.
NIX n STOPPED A skNTNE-OIAIxs HIS CITIZEN PROTECTION
OF ENGLISH AIIEGiANCE
A musket was leveled at my head as pushed to the
'front.'" Stop or I'll ren At the time the officers
shouting out, Don't let soul pass" addressed
one Of them and said
= Sir, l am a British subject / am not, ] as
sure you, running away. had done my best to stop
this dgraceful rOut had and have been telling them
there are no cavalry within miles of them" al can't let
you pass srn bethought of General Scotts pass.
The aduant read IT, and the word was given along the
line Iet that man pass and so rode through uncer
tain II could gain the Long Bridge Ia time TO pass
over without the counter sign.
about this time met cart by the roadside sur
rounded by group of soldiers, some OF whom had 69
their caps. The owner, as ] took him to be- was IN
great distress, and cried out as passed, Can you tell
me- sir where the Sixty ninth arcY These men say they
are cut to pieces 81 can't tell you" 'Fm in charge
OF the mails sir and will deliver them if die for it,
You are q gentleman and can depend on your
word. Is it safe for me to go onr' Not knowing
asked the of the regiment how they happened
to be there shure the Colonel himself told us to go of
every man his hook and to fly for our ves,' rc
Piled of them The mail agent, who told me he was
Englishman, started the cart again. sincerely hope
no bab result to himself his charge followed my ad
vice. reached Fairfax Court House, the people, black
and white with anxious faces at the DOORS and the
infantry were under / besieged with qups
tons though hundreds of fugves had passed through
before me- At house stopped to ask for water for
my hoose the sent his servant for 1t cheerfuly
the very house where we had in vain asked for something
There's fright among them,' observed in reply
to his question respecting the commssariat drivers
They're afraid Of the enemy's cavalry"
mo, am not"
Well, then he said, there sciu be cavalry on them
soon enough There's t,cety thousand Of the best horse~en
Washington was stfl eighteen miles away The road
was rough and uncertain and again my poor steed was
under way but II use trying to outstrip the run
aways. Once twice imagined heard guns in the
rear but coud be Of It, in consequence of the
of the flight behind me- 1t was most surprising to
how the oe soldiers had contrved to get on in ad-
COLONEL HUNTER WOUNDED.
After the and amid other acguaintan
ces logged alongside officer who was n charge of
Colonel Hunter the commander Of brigade l believe,
who was shot through the neck, and inside cart,
escorted by few troopers. This officer as under
stood the second in command of Colonel Hunter s
regiment he had considered IL right TO take charge Of
driven back the enemy with but had not been
ported and blamedas bad officers and good ones will
do--the conduct of the General
- So mean a fight never saw"
was reminded of Crimean general who made us all
merry by saying after the first bombardment, "ln the
whole course Of my experience never siege con-
Quoted on such principles these. Our friend had
been without food, but not | suspect, without
drink-and that We know, affects empty stomachs
very much-snce two O'Clock that morning. Now,
what is TO be thought OF an oiiccr-gallant he may
be stee--who says, as heard this gentleman
say picket who asked him how the day went in front
We've been licked into cooked hat knocked to
- This was his cry to teamsters, escorts, con-
voys and men on guard and detachment. Whine l. igno-
rant Of the disaster behind tried to moy the effect Of
the by adding, sob, it's a drawn battle. The
troops reoccupying the position from which they
started in the morning" Perhaps he knew his troops
better than did.
It was strange ride, through country now stl as
death, the white road shining Ike river in the moon
light the black ebony in the shade now and then
a figure fitting by into the forest across the road
frightened friend lGrking foe, who could says Then
the anxious pickes and sentres all asking, Whats the
news? and evidently prepared for any amount Of loss
Twice thrice lost way, our certainty about
it and shouted isolated houses and received reply
except from angry watch dogs. Then were set right
as we approached Washington, by teanstcrs.
For hour, however, We seemed to be travelling along
road which in all its points far and near was Twelve
miles from the Long Bridge" Up hills down into val
leys with the silent grim wood for ever by our sides.
Now and then in the profound gloom, broken only by
spark from the horses hoof, dull but familiar
sound like the shutting of distant door.
NEARING CAPITOL INQUIRIES BY THE
DIEss-MR. RUSSELL CROSSES THE LONG BRIDGE AND is
As approached Washington having left the Colonel
and his escort at seven miles on tho south side
Of the Long Bridge, l found the grand guards,
pcksts' posts, and individual sentrics burning for
news and the word used 10 pass along, 'What
does that Fay, JackY Bcgorra he tells me we're
het alonly rctraitng TO the ouh lines for convai
ncncy Of fighting to morrow again. Oh that's igant y
On getting the tete de pant however the councgsgn
was demanded Of course had not got IT, But the OFF,
Ger passed through the production of Gen. Scott s
safeguard The lights Of the city in sight and
leccd the waters of the Potomac, just glstened by
the couded moon shone the gay lamps Of the
White House, where the President probably enter
tanning friends. In silence passed over The
Long Bridge Some hours later it quivered under the
stcrs Of a rabblc Of unarmcd Al the Washington
end regiment with piled arms were waiting TO cross
over into Virginia. singing and cheering. Before the
morning they received orders believe to assist In keep
ing Maryland quiet. For the hundreh time repeated
the caut which TO the best of my knowledge
was true There men, and soldiers to hear it.
The clocks had just struck IL p NJ. as ! passed
Wizards The pavement in front Of the hall
was crowded. The of defeat had
come in bnt few of the many who had been fed
vailed could credit the intelligence Seven hours had
Army Of the North, twas called, had representatives
erery uoroughtdse rithom arms orders officers,
standing out in he branching rain When all these most
unaccountable phcBomena were occurring was fast
cslccp. but could credit my Informant IN the
morning be told me that the fcderasts utterly
r,cd had fallen back upon Arlington to defend the capita
leaving nearly five batteries OF artillery 5000 muskcs,
immense quantity of stores and baggrge and their wound