The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1861-08-09

THE Bull RUS REKKAr-SOSE INFORMANT
FACrs.-It isnot always to those who jOin
the battle that the highest honor belongs
The real hero of the terrible Sunday in Vir-
ginia was Col. Blenker, Of the New York
German Rias. who was not upon the field,
aud who never approached within four mil
of il. Col. Blocker commanded brigade OF
the reserve, which, having been summoned
too late, had only advanced "a mile beyond
Ccntrcville, when the stream Of the panic
stricken encountered him. He formed hIs
first regiment, the rides, in line across the
fields, and scut for his second and third 10
iain him. His men stood mOtionless. resist
ins, under Blenkcr' influence. the awful con-
tagion Of the sight Of ten thousand terror.
cnIazed men, who rushed by them at the very
hight Of their frenxied disorder. Blcnker
rude considerably in advance Of his line,
watching tor the trst indications Of the enc
INV, which Of course was Immediately expec-
Ted, in view Of this pell laell digit. "Be
easy" he said TO thOss who were for a mo-
meat res.ssuroi by the manly stand he took.
and aocked about him anxiously "5s easy"
II will save YOU" Aud the manner OF his
speech wa. 81 honest, and 81 simple, none
who heard him doubted. lie did save the
army. At night the opening Of an attack
was made, which, II not repelled. would have
involved our men in utter ruin. Blenker
successfully opposed this, and at last took up
his retreat in obedience to orders which be
had thrios endcasored to get couutermandcd.
lis three regiments returned 10 W ashington
STEADY and in perfect order, protecting the
last groups of Struggling run-aways.
Ills services were the ruest in every moral
ant military sense that were renderes on that
day, and IL anybody would say in objection,
.iie vas not in the fight, We would answer
that the courage Of resisting rs no dids panic
such as the world has seldom seen, and saw
ing the army from its wvrst results is far
beyond that Of sastaing . part in q combat
which 10 known 60 have bad 20 little hazard
in IL that not more than 500 mcn fell dead or
wounded out Of twenty thousand or more en-.
gaged.
Every day develops some new facts tending
% show that the retreat Of our army from
Bull Run Was nothing like the rout IL was
first represented The reports first sent to
the country we're exaggerated recitals from
the fugitives themselves, who, to justify their
flight, represented everything To bea hundred
times worse than they really were.
Very few Of our regiments were broken
and scattered in the retreat, and majority
VI tia brigades came back in ~ good order
as they went out to the battle field. The
whole OF Col. Miles's division, the reserve.
composed OF Richardson's and Davies and
Blsnkers brigade, brought up the rear with
out the slightest symptom Of disorder or con-
fusion In their rankr many Of the brirades
Of other commanders were unbroken, among
them that Of Col. Keys, composed Of three
Connecticut and one Maine regiment, which
marched back in excellent order their encamp
ment at Falls Church and removed thence
TO Washington, with careful elaboration
not only all their own camp equipagc, bu
that also Of the Ohio and N. York regiment
that were enesmpcd near their position. -
Major Sykes battalion OF United States in
fanry remained upon the field Tor ioni
time after IL had been abandoned, anu onl,
left when orders were sent to them to 70
treat, after tho fact Of their remaining DO
hind was made known to Gen. Mcdowell.
This IA an additional fact showing that th'
enemy were not aware Of the retreat Of GU