Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1861-08-14

have lust arrived from the valey WIN INC feoioue
Johns on's army They threw then Ices In tbs wood
on our rsht and towards the rear Of right and open
ed fee Of musketry on men, which caused them Il
break and retire down the hill side. This soon degener
stsd into disorder, for which there was no remedy -
Every effort made to rally them, evsn beyond the
reach of the enemys FIRE, bn 10 vsin The battalion o
regular Infantry alone moved up the hill opposite 70 The
one with the house on il and there maintained i:se
until our men could GO: down TO and across the warren
ton turnpike on the way back to the position we occu
pied in the morning. The plain was covered with
the retreang troops and they seemed to infect those
with whom they 10 contact. The retreat soon be-
came rout and this jeg,nerated still further into
panic. - -
Finding this state OF affairs beyond the efforts OF
Al. thcss who had assisted so faithfully during the long
aud hard days work 10 gaining almost the obi ct OF our
wishes and that nothing remained on the ed but 70 re-
coguizs what we could No longer prevent gave the ne
CESAR orders TO protect their Withdrawal begging the
men TO form in line and offer appearance at least OF
DISCRIMINATION They returned by the fords TO the War
renton road protected by my order, BY Col Portsrs
force of regulars Once the road, and the different
corps coming together In small PARTIES many without Of
Hcsrs they became ntermngled, and all organisation
was lost
Orders had been sent b.ok to Niles division for br.
gade to move forward and protect this retreat and Col
Blenker's brigade detached for this purpose, and
was ordered 70 20 far forward the point where the
road to the right efs the main road.
BY referring 70 the general ofuer kesu tnht
while the operations to go on In 'front.' Al attack
was TO be made at Blsckburn's Ford by the brigade
ichsrdsons) stationed there. reference TO his report
and to that OF Major Hunt. commanding the artillery,
will show that this part OF the plan was well apd ef'c
lively carried out. 1t succeeded in deceving the enemy
for considerable time and 10 keeping 10 check part Of
his force. The FIRE Of the artillery at this point is re-
presented as particularly destructive.
At the time Of our retreat seeing great activity in
this direction much firing, and columns Of dust, be
came anxious for this place. fearing If it we're turned or
forced the whole stream Of retreaiing msss would
be captured or destroyed After providing for the pro-
lection of the by Porters and Blenkers brgades
repaired to Richardson's and found the whole force
ordered 10 be stationed for the holding OF the road
from Manassas by Blackburns Ford TO Centrevils, on
the march, under the orders from the Division Com.
msnder for Centreyille. l Immediately halted H.,
and ordered TO take up the best line Of defence across
the ridge that their position admitted Of and subsequent
taking person the command Of this part OF the army,
caused such disposition OF the forces which had been
added TO by the LET and 2d New Jersey and the Dekab
regiments ordered up from Runyons reserve before CO.
ing forward would best serve to check the enemy
The ridge being held In this way, the retreang current
passed slowly through Cenreve 10 the rear The enemy
followed US from the ford far as Cub run and owing
to the road becoming blocked at the crossing caused
us much damage there for the artillery could not pass
and eyera pieces and cassoDs bad to be abandoned In
the pauc the horss hauling the caissons and ammuni.
ton we're from their places by persons to escape WITH
and in this way much confusion was caused the panic
aggravated, and the road encountered Not only we're
pieces Of artillery lost but also many OF the
| carrying the wounded.
By shutdown most of men had gotten behind Gen.
trevile ridge, and IL became question whether We
| should or not endeavor TO make stand there. The
condition of our artillery and is ammunition, and the
want of food for the men, who had generally abandoned
or thrown away all that had been issued the day before
and the utter dsorgan cation and consequent demo- alt
z,ton Of the OF the army seemed 70 all who we're
mar enough TO be consulted-divson and brigade COM
manders and stsf-to admit OF alternative but to fall
back the so IS the position st Blaekburps Ford
was thsn IN possession Of the enemy and he Was already
turning our left On sending the officers OF the stat 70
he different camps they found they reported to me-
that our decision had been anticipated by the roope
most of those who had in from the front being al
ready the road to the rear the panic with which they
came in still continuing and hurryng them along.
At - o'clock the rear guard (Blenkers brigade)
moved, covering the retreat which was Effected during
the night and morning Tho troops at Fairfax sta
ton leaving in tho cars took with them the bulk Of the
supplies which had been sent there. Ny aid de camp.
Meior Wadsworth stayed at Fairfax Courthouse till s!e
in the morning. that the sraggers and weary and
WORKOUT soldiers were not left behind
transmit herewith the reports Of the several divisions
and brigade commanders to which refer to the con-
duct of particular regiments aud corps and consoi.
dated return of the killed. wounded and missing From
the latter il will be that killed amounted to ~
officers and 4s2 non-commssioned officers and priva.es,
and 1ded to 81 officers and e47 noncomms,ion'
ed officers and priVates Many of the wounded will soon
be able to Join tn, ranks and will leave our total OF
killed and disabled from further service at under 900
The return Of the missing IA very Inaccurate the men
supposed be missing having fallen into other regi-
ments aud gone to Washing 'on-many Of the 2ouaves
to New York. 10 one brigade the number originally re-
ported at 6i6 wss Yesterday reduced to IA. These re-
auctions being made daily. In few days mora
correct return can be made.
OF course hing accurate Is known Of the ios OF the
enemy An officer Of their fsrces, coming from them
wish flag Of truce, admitted eighteen hundred killed
and wounded and other information shows this TO be
much under tho trle number.
Tho officer commanding the llth New York Zouaves
aud Colonel Heinzsman say that the returns of that
regiment cannot be relied on many Of those reported
among tie casualties have absented themselves since
their return and have gone to New York. Among the
ms ing reported many OF our surgeons who re-
NAMED in attendance on our wounded and vers against
the rules Of modern warfare, made prisoners
The issue Of this hsrdought battle in which certainly
our troops lost credit in their conflict on the Geld
With an snemy ably commanded, superior In num'ers,
who he'd tgt short distance 70 airch, and who acted
on hl own ground on the defensive and always under
cover whilst our were Of mccarthy out on the open
fields, should not prevent full credit being given TO
those officers aud corps whose services merted success
If they did not attain i.
Of those not embraced in reports Of division and brigade
commanders beg refer to their reports for the Dsmes
of those serving under their immediate orders, desiring
that on this subject the! be considered as part OF my
own. claim credit for the officers Ct my saG. and for
those acting as such during the day. They did every
pg in their power exposing themselves freely when re-
quired, and doing all that could do, communicating
orders guiding the columns eIhorng the troops, rally
ing them when broken and providing for than the best
the circumstances admitted They were as follows:
First Lieutenant q. W. Kinsbay, Fifth Artillery aid
decsmp.
aid-de-csmp.
M,jor James s. wadsrorth New York Militia volun.
eers aidde.csmp. The latter, who does me tho honor
to be on lay personal sa he'd horse shot from under
him In the hottest of the fight.
CAPTAIN James B. Fry, Assistant Adjutant. General
Capt II. Tlighast, Assistant Q iartermaster, who
discharged alone the important and burdensome dutiei
of his department with the army, aud who was mortay
wounded while acting with the artillery, 10 which be
formerly belonged and in which be was deeply inter-
e,ted
Major Meyer, Signal Officer, and Asj Malcolm hcDon-
NELL Who acted as aide.
Surgeon ". 8. King and Assistant Surgeon hagrudsf,
Medical Department.
M,jor J. g. Barnard, Engineer and senior Of bis de.
psrtmenl With the army, gave mos. important aid.
First Lieut.. Fred. 8 Prime, Engineers.
Capt A ". whipple.
First Lieut.. q l. Abbott and Second Lieut. Il. 8. Put
nam, Typographical Engineers.
Nsjor W. E. Barry, Fifth Artillery, Chief of Artillery.
Lieut. George o. Strong, Ordinance Officer.
Major W. B. Wood, Pirst Infantry Acting Inspector
General
Second Lieutenant Guy Henry, Who Joined me on the
field, and vas OF service Is 40 sid.de-camp.
The following officers commanded divisions and brig.
ades and In the several places their duty called them did
effective service, and behaved in the most gallant
manner.
Brigader General Tyler, Connecticut volunteers.
Colonel David Hunter, Third Cavalry, Severely wound.