Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1861-07-25
Disaster to the National Army

1 y
Retreat of 8I,DoIveI's Command-FuIl
10000 Of the Nafiensf Forces IN IN
ActiOn-9O, 900 Rebels fn the Field
Editorial Correspondence of the y. Y. Times
t- WAsHlNGToS, July %, 1861
The battle yesterday was one of the most
severe and sang >ipary ever fought on this
continent, andit ended in the failure of the
Union troops to hold all tie positions
which they sought to carry, and which they
actually did carry.
AS teIcgraphcd you yesterday, the at
tnCk was made in three columns, two of
which, however, were mainly feints, inten-
ded to amuse and occupy the enemy, while
the substantial work was done by the third.
! 1t has been known for long time that the
! range of hills which border the small,
swarnpy stream known as Bulls Run, had
been very thoroughly and extensively for
tilted by the rebels-that batteries bad
! been planted at every available point, usu-
ally concealed in the woods and bushes
which abound in that vicinity, and cover
| ing every way of approach to the region
| beyond. These are the advanced defences
! of Mannnsscs Junction, some three miles
| fu' ther off. Until these were carried, no
approach could be made 20 that place; and
| similar character would have to be over
come at every point where they could be
| erected. The utmost that military skill
and ingenuity could accomplish for the de-
! fence of this point was done. Gen. Nc
! Dowell was unwilling TO make an attack
directly in face of these batteries, as they
would be of doubtful issue, aud must in
evitably result iD very serious loss of
| life. After an attack had been resolved
upon, therefore, heepdeavored to find some
way of turning the position. His first in
| tentiOn was to do this on the Southern side,
| to throw strong column into the place
| from that direction, while feigned attack
should be made in front. On Thursday,
when the troops were advanced TO Centre
Vile, it was found that the roads on the
/ South side of these positions weie almost
| iimpracticabe-tha they were narrow,
! crooked and stony, and that it would be
almost impossible 10 bring up enough ar
tillery to be effective in the time required.
! This original plan was, therefore, aban-
doned; and Friday was devoted to an ex-
animation by the Typographical engineers
OF the Northern side OF the position. Maj.
Barnard and Capt. Whipple reconnoitred
the place for miles around, and reported
| that the position could be entered by path
coming from the North-though it was
somewhat long and circuitous. This was
selected, therefore, as the mode and point
of attack. ..4-
On Satu' day the troops were all brought
closely up to Centerville-and all needful
preparations we're made for the attack
which was intended for the next day. Yes
| terday morning, therefore, the army march
ed-by two roads-Col. Richardson and
his command taking the Southern, which
leads to Bulls Run, and Gen. Tyler the
! Notwithstanding parallel to it at II dis
tance of ab ut a mile and a half The
movement commenced at 5 O'Clock. | got
| up u little before 4, and found the long
line of troops stretched out far out on Ell
ther road took the road by which Col.
! Hunter with his command, and Gen. Nc
1 Dowell and staff, had gone, and pushed on
directly for the front After going about
! 2 miles, Col. Hunter turned to the right,
marching obliquely towSrds the run,
I which he was to cross some four miles
| higher up. and then come down upon the
/ entrenrhcd positions of the enemy on the
| other side, Col. Niles was left at Center
ville and on tue road, will, reserves, which
/ he was to bring up whenever they might
/ be needed Gen. TYLER went Immediately
! forward to engage the enery in front, and
| send rcinforcemcnts to Col. Hunter, when
/ ever it should be seen that he was engag-
ed.
went out, as I have already stated, up
on the Northern road 1t is hilly, like all
/ the surface of this section. After going
out about three miles, you come to point
| down which the road. lending through n
forest, desceuds;-then it proceeds by a
succession Of rising and falling knolls for
a quarter of mile,-when it crosses n
stone bridge and then ascends by steady
slope to the heights beyond. AT the top
If that slope, the rebels had planted heavy
batteries, and the woods below were filed
with their troops and with concealed cam
non. We proceeded down the road TO the
! first of the small knolls mentioned, when
the whole column halted. The 3o-pouuder
Parrot gun, which has longer range
| than any other in the army, was planted
was stationed in the woods a little to the
right. The First Ohio and Second New
York Regiments were thrown into the
woods in advance on the left. The Sixty
! Ninth New York, the First. Second and
| Third Connecticut Regiments, were rang
| ed behind them, and the Second Wis
consin was thrown into the woods on
1.-The right. At about half past six o'clock
the 30-pounder threw two shells directly
into the battery at the summit of the slope,
on the opposite height, one of which, as |
learned afterwards, struck and exploded
directly in tue midst of the battery, and
occasioned the utmost havoc and confu-
sion. After abont half an hour Capt.
Ayres threw ten or fifteen shot and she'll
from his battery into the same place But
both failed to elicit any reply. Men could
be seen moving about the opposite slope,
but the batteries were silent. An hour or
SO afterwards We heard three or four heavy
guns from Col. Richardson's column at
tBull's Run, and these were continued 3at