Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1861-08-02

The BATTLE OF BULLS RrN.-We f,I
the Freeman an interesting letter WRIT, -
day after the battle, from Capt. Randall
the Montpelier company, from which Va,
tract the following:
Our troops had, up TO the time we were
onward, a general advantage 10 the fight a,it
driven the enemy from their position: bp.
position was so chosen that they could retrs..
high and favorable position on the brow n .
hill. When we came in sight they bal a.,
gained this point, and our artillery bad N,
ceased firing, having exhausted its amnu-,..
whiIo the enemy were well in position -;.t -
batteries. On cur arrival all other i,e,,.,- !
tired, and We formed in line Of battle. O1-t
were very much exhausted, as We had ,,ns
| to this point on a rum. We were quics " -
| ut the foot Of the hill and ordered 10 aivare1
Our course led up a gradual slope tbruyI :.
| underground Of oak tress quite difficult "a ~
We passed entirely through this bsd,p a..
| when we emerged, the eEemy's linz. -
before US and in musket shot. Their fire ora
on us at once, but on account Of the miss.sbls
guns we carried, we were unable 70 respond NM
we gained a more advanced position. This we MI
promptly, and at the instant we came 70 the rigb,
point, a blaze of fire rolled from from one end h |
the other of our line, the artillery sending W..
leys of iron hail among Us, and we had Ioce
respo1d.
The Vermont Second vera on the LEFT = 1
which brought US directly opposite a port,.
the enemy's line stationed behind a fence; b1.,
about ten minutes we had the pleasure of SEEING
their lines give way, and they fled to the wood
But at the same instant l discovered a movement
Of a large body of their troops towards Us, with
the evident design of outfanking our right. We
seemed to have the battle now Immediately before
US, and the necessity of a change of position Of
our Regiment was apparent to all. We bad near
ly ceased our fire, when 1 noticed Capt. Walbridge,
who was on my right, and on the right Of tie
Regiment, facing his men to deploy TO the right
1 inferred from this that the general order mad
been given to deploy, although L heard no such
order. But it was impossible to hear, and We had
to go by signs, and guess our way through. L
immediately gave orders to my company b face
10 'e right, anu we marched around so as pre-
vent their outfanking us. L discovered at THE
time that Capt. WaIbridge and myself were alone
in this vancouver, and 1 have since learned that
| no order was given to this effect; but the move
ment saved a part of our artillery, at least. Ar
| concerned had by this time discovered that, on
| account of the superior numbers of the enemy
| reserve, we should not be able to hold the grounf
against them; but the 4th Maine, which was now
on our left, and the Vermont Regiment-part On
the left and part on the right-held the positian
a long time, retiring slowly, while our wounded
baggage and artillery mostly gained the line ai
/ retreat III was now ucdIlJ HiSueI duu 'Di SAWS
me from another such scene as followed. TIE
ground where we were, was so ated that w.
could only retreat along one road, which p1ssel
through a dense wood, and that vast army OF
wounded and whole, baggage and artillery. a.
rushed for this pass. Why we were not all cut,
pieces, L do not know. The Rebels evidently Oh
not see cur entire defeat, and did not pursue
promptly As they might have done, and W.
gained a very fair start on them. El-
night was setting in, and we could not get ,r-
panies together, much less regiments. and ere---
ne rctreated on his own hook. Horses were
unhltched from baggage trains, and turned b8cs.
covered with riders, and the wagons left . block
the already narrow pass HOrse7 AID wagons
were often overturned, and left piled pell-meu in
the cutters. At one place we hal a bridge 70
cross, ami | never saw such confusion. There
we lost most of our baggage. 1 countedas many
as twenty dead horses, with wagons innumerable.
piled in this rayine, and troops actually crossed
over this mass of horse-fesh and wagons, boXe'
and barrels, cannon, &C., rather than over the
bridge. 1 had thus far kept the most OF ny
company together, and from the fact OF o-r
being last off the field, and in the rear, l Vi.
every moment expecting an attack on our retreat
ing columns. But the delay here was so great
that 1 rallied my men, and we passed to the LETT
into the woods, TO a point above the bridge scm'
few ro6s, where we crossed by wading the crees
which was about waist deep. This carried US &
about the middle of the column, and We stoppt-
a moment to witness the dreadful scene at II
bridge. | saw an ambulance in which were Sc:
eral wounded troops, run off the bank, kiln
the horses, but leaving the men still alive. II
sorts Of horrible sights, too shocking to couteu.
plate, were before us. We now proceeded 10 tas
top of the hill. where we sat down to empty tie
water from our boots and wiring il out Of cr
clothes. While thus engaged, the report Ct :
cannon to the rear but too plainly told tia. We
were pursued and overtaker. Our Cavalry, hoE.
ava IL aeems Wara eyDpctinv this AND a -aff7-.
charge from them saved US from utter a11ilii-
ton.
We were now ten miles from the camp vets
left in the morning, and thirty-fve miles :ru
Alexandria, the only point where we could y--,
ourselves safe. If we could have stopped -s
retreating column here, and formed ia Szs
order, We might have made a successful star
but this was impossible. If / had now hsiL
my company together, l would have given all q
money L ever saw IN Vermont, or ever expect !
You may perhaps family appreciate my feel |
in thinking that out Of nv whole COMPANY y
were anxiously looking to me for advice AMI
%rection, only about twenty could be counted; az
among the missing was my own boy. l halle
and We held a counsel as to whether we wou. l.
proceed, or wait and try to gather in the res, |
We concluded that we could not aid them By r..
naming, and having with US all that We kne'
were wounded, We concluded 10 keep along an
pick up what we coold. Our march was now d.
rect to Alexandria, t~hirty-fve miles, and we di
not make any long halt until we reached here
about ten o'clock this morning, a terribly tire. |
and worn-out set of fellows. We ate son
luncheon from our haversacks about eleven ys
terday, just before going in the battle, and Z
was tho last we had until some time after n
to-day. have been trying to get up life enas
with the boys to have them wash and iurf
their looks a little, but all except QUE or t'r
still sleeping in the dirt, so black you cOuA.
recognize them. We succeeded to-day in gsI-
some bread and butter, which is all We have >
to cat, but the men are so tired they a. d
around me unconscious Of hunger.