Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-07-28

horse we heard rushing through the wood sua
caught him; he had shot through him in thefanks
and was bleeding profussy, and had no saddle or
bride. We mounted him and clingiDg 70 his name,
made for the road sgain leading 20 Centreville.
Here the road is strewn with wrecks of wagons,
provisions, muskets blankets, ammunition, and
everything the men could diyest themselves Of. The
ground was full. The fields in all directions
full. The fire Of the enemy was kept up in the
rear Pat Of SheTnanis battery breaking dOIoa, the
nleR eld The trGces and fled The GBmtRiti0a etGQOn
lcls left on Ge fsd We should jtdqs that ten h0tl.
sand guns and rifles lesrs lost on the way, while the
cartridge boxes, bsyonets, sabre bayOnets and
swords were innumerable. About a mile from
Censreville an attempt was made to rally the men,
bet with little success. n few thousand were
stopped but m9ny without weapons. On the high
hill top at Ceutreville column Of infantry was
seen, with their cleaning bayOnets On the top the
artillery were also drawn up, prepared to Ere.
The GasibaldiaBs. Einstein's and Blenker's regi-
ments were drawn up at the foot of the hill and es-
Gaping men were ordered to fall in. Loud cheer
ing done; and the ralyiBg cry glVen but 1t was
but little or use-men had no officers when they
did halt, and so they kept retreatiDg. "Water
! water" was the cry; give me water or III sink"
was heard from all sides. Not 8 drop TO be
had fis to drink. The wells were all drained, and
the clouds Of dust filed the air at every point We
got IN the rear of negro hus and there secured
water thick with filth. but il was the best to be
had. number Of buildings were used for hOspi-
tails, and on every side cries were made for sur
geOns.
All the inhabitants nearly had fed from Centre.
vile expecting to be sormed by the rebels. Guards
were stationed at the few wells not dry, to allow
no water except to the wounded and sick. A house
on the top Of the hill had been burnt the previous
night and what few meu could be induced to work
were engaged in throwing up embankment some
eight feet thick of the ~ and of dilt it WIS
about two hundred feet square. Orders were
circulated for the men to gather at their last camp
ing ground. around Centreville; it was needed BY
some but others neglected it and kept up the STAN
pede. No provisions 1ers 10 be had, and the
loere al hungry, haUing had nothing 10 eat since oO
O'Clock d. H., and bat little or no todtsr. At six
and half O'Clock p. m, whom we started for Wash
ingtOn, the troops were coming in and Of any
GOODNESS or self possession supposed our forces
would retreat from Centreville.
As the hours passed on the fight became more and
more terrific. The fortunes OF the day begun to
waver, especially as the Federal troops did not
seem to gain any material Vantage and only made
their advance slowly, lsboriously and at greatoss
OF life. The rebels were strongly entrenched be-
hind masked batteries of rfed cannon. Theg seemed
to be innumerable Again and again our men charged
upon them. only to fad when they had dIsl0dged
them in one place they had reappeared in another
until at last the Federal soldiers were compelled to
fall their faces to avoid the swift messengers of
death. 1t was found, too, that the rebel forces
largely outnumbered those Of the Republic. IhaYe
no means of knowing the exact strength of either
of the armies but the best authorities state that the
secessionsts numbered 20 900, while at no time had
General Mcdowell in action many as 10000
Our troops were mainly infantry our batteries.
as general thing were small, and although well
managed, they were no match for the cannon Of
lager calibre manned by the rebels.
The fight continued until after five o'clock. with
out exhibiting any material result. The Rebels
had most decidedly the advantage in position and
guns and they used it with fearful effect. The
bravery Of our troops was superhumsn, but what
bravery could meet the unnrring and unceasIng
non which came sweeping from almost every tree
or heap of brush7 Our men unmarked them, bate
~ upOl battery only to find their lessoned ranks
were unequal to the task. A retreat was com
menced by New York Regiment and very soon
became general
The firing Of the enemy was kept up on rear
with artillery, and their cavalry rode through and
through cutting and sashing with perfect iendish-
ness. We heard of numbers Of the most infamous
and damning acts ever committed by savage tribes.
Colonel Miles was sent with dispatches from Gen.
Scott, while he was lying in Centreyie, in the hot
test If the fight, for Gen. Mcdowell, which he had
orders 10 deliver Immediately. He at once, without
making any attempt to do so, said if General Scott
wanted to get his head blown of let him take them
himself he would not do 50, and so they never
went.
We left CentrevilIe with the cheering news that
General Mansfield, with artillery and an immense
force, was coming up to turn the rebels back
About a mile East of Centreville, met the First
New Jersey, with their Colonel riding their head,
and his staff pleading for the men 70 return; his
drummer corps were playing Yankee Doodle
and ktheir cOlOrs were flying; 1.-THE men kept
cheering all the time, and urging another to
return, they were nearly worn out with Their
forced march from YieRnA. They were followed
by the New Jersey Third.
They inspired courage into the retreatIng sold
iers, but many fell exhausted by the waysde. con
sideriOg il safe to remain few minutes longer to
rest. Large numbers Of the fell into their old
camp grounds, and the baggage wagons drove in
the fields all along the road; but the most sOrTOtghd
sight the Jss OF PROFESSIONS Gad al ER15 Ct
stores that lined The road for tirs miles.
The c0wardly retreat, on the morning Of the fight,
by the Pennsylvania Fourth, and various batteries
had depressing effect upon our force, and encour-
aged the rebels by the story that our men were
running. That their "time was up" is an excuse
that will not answer.
From the Baltimore American