Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-07-28

in the flank. and was blecding profusefy
aud had no saddle or bride. We mounted
him and clipging to bis name. made for the
road again leading to Centreville.
Here The road was strewn with wrecks of
| wagons. provisions. muskets, blankets, sm-
mu1itioni and every thing the men could di-
vest themselves of: The ground was full.
The fields in all directions were full. The
IRE OF the enemy was kept up in the rear.
Part OF Sherman's battery breaking down,
the men cut the traces aud fed. The ammu-
milton wagon was left GU the field We
should Judge that ten THOUSAND guns and
rifles We're lett on the way. while the Cart
ridge boxes, bayonets. sabre bayonets aud
swords were inuumerable. About mile
from Centreville an attempt was made to
rally the men. but with little success. A few
thousand were stopped, but many without
weapons. On the high bill top at Cehtre-
vile column of infantry was seen with
their cleaning bayonets- 90 the top the
artillery were drawn up, prepared to fire.
The GaIibaldians, Einstein's aud Blen kerr
regiments We're drawn up at the foot of the
hill, and escaping men ordered TO fall in.
Loud cheering was done. aud the railying.
cry given, but it was little or NO nse-men
had 40 officers when they did halt, and 80 they
kept on retreating- water," was the
cry; "give me wafer or I'll sink" was heard
from all sides. Not drop was to be had fit
to drink. The wells were all drained, and
the clouds of dust filed the air at every
point. We got in the rear of a negro hat,
and there secured water thick with til;h. but
it was the best to be had. A number ut build
ings were used for hospitals, aud on every
side cries were made for surgeons.
All the Inhabitants nearly had fled from
Centreville, expecting it TO be stormed 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 men could be induced TO work
were engaged in throwing up an embank-
ment some eight feet thick. out of the ruins
and of dirt; it was about two hundred feet
square. Orders were now circulated for the
men TO gather at their last camping ground,
around Centreville; it was needed by some,
but others neglected it and kept up the stam-
pede.-A0 ProcistoHs iceTe 10 be had, and the n.n
ioere all hungry hdring hsd nothing TO eat .snce
tsco o'clock, Il. NJ, and but kiuie or no sodfer. AT
six and half O'Clock. p. NJ. when We started
for w ashingtOn, The troops were coming in,
aud no one ot any coolne-s or self-possession
supposed our forces would retreat from Cen
trevllle.
The firing of the enemy was kept up on
our rear with artillery. and their cavalry
rode through and through, cutting aud slash
ing wish perfect fendishness. We heard of
numbers of the most infamous and damning
acts ever committed by savage tribes.
Colonel Miles was sent with dispatches
from General Scott, while be was lying in
Centreville, in the hottest of the fight, for
General Mcdowell. which be bad orders TO
deliver Immediately. lie, at once, without
making any attempt to do 30, said il General
Scott wanted to get his head blown off let
him take them himself, he would not do So
and SO they never went.
We left Centreville with the cheering news
that General Mansfield. with artillery aud
al immense force, was coming up to turn the
rebels back. About q mile east of Centre
Vile we met the First New Jersey, with their
Colonel riding at their head, and his staff,
pleading tor the meR to return; his drummer
corps were playing Yankee Doodle" and
their colors were flying; the men kept cheer
ing all the time, and urging one another TO
return; they were nearly worn out with their
forced march from Vienna. They were toll
lowed by the New Jersey Third
They inspired courage into the retreating
soldiers, but many fell exhausted by the way
side, considering it safe to remain few min
utes longer 10 rest. Large numbers of the
men fell into their old camp grounds, all
along the road; but the most sorrowing sight
was the loss OF provisions and all kinds OF
stores, that lined the road for five miles
The cowardly retreat on the morning of
the fight, by the Pennsylvania Fourth aud
various batteries. had u depressing effect upon
our force, and encouraged the rebels by the
story that our men were running. That their
thine was up" is an excuse that will not an
swer. .