, 1861-07-26

~BatNe DcciMIxfY I|0's-Singutar 0T7sr to Re.
trtd-A Ianic 1mong The Transfers Effect
stse-They are Repnlsed BY TIE ~ Y. Eighth
I'raistwo7khu c0nduct qf the Eighth-Aot one,'
500 Killed and IfonHdfd- d-12toyyanizatio Of
MeA47ny-gen. 1cC1ellan Called to its Com
mdnd.
Especial Dispatch to the n. I. Tribunc1
WAsu1Sa7oS, Monday, July "a, 1861.
Tue RETREAr-TuR EVENT or THE DAT. j.,
The retreat Of the Federal tr oops yesterday
was one Of those extraordinary events which
can no more be explained than it can be iusti-
ticd or pallisted. The day was ours. The
enemy had been driven step by step from
every position, and the field was occupied By
cur t1oopa. Our columns had united in the
very heart Of the rehels' stronghold, when the
order to retire was issued. From victory to
the n oment If our greatest hope all changed,
and the spirit aud the 7alor of the army were
gone.
will briefly review the events Of the day.
Our forces starred upon their march at half.
last TIVE IN the morning, taking road to
ward Bulls Run, about half q mile to the right
OF that upon which the First Division I'D
vanced on Tturs:iay. Wheu near the enemy,
column shot or by The side road to the right,
with the purpose Of hnnking the position and
attacking in the rear. This column comprised
tie divisions Of Gen. Hunter and Col. Heint-
zelma1. The division under Gen. Tyler ad-
rsnced direct, and By 6 o'clock reached the
ncighborhood Of Bulls Ruu, beyond when
the enemy Was eeen drawn up In line, and ap-
Iarently awaiting the battle.
The fret demonstration from our side Was
made BY Capt. Car1isle,s battery Of artillery,
With thi1ty-tWo pound Parrot ritIed cannon,
Two shells from which were fired without anr
az nhnf7f fha Same $it1, :,
brigade, under Gen. Schgnck, was formed at
nc LEFT, and the third, under Col Sherman,
Light Ekismlehiug soon after began, in which
our mee we're wounded by discharges from o
mask ked battery which they encountered, and
before which they slowly retrcated. Between
and o'clock cannonading WIS heard from
Col Richardson's position, he having been di-
reeted to open direTsion 70 conceal our real
purpose. For an hour after, the koWitzsrs of
Capt Carlisle kept the enemy active, and it Was
not until Rear noon that other batteries were
drawn in, aud the infantry engagement Was
prepared tor.
The Sd Brigade, including the G9:h, 10Th,
ard 18Th New York, and I'd Wisconsin Rssi.
naents, moved forward to the right. and ad-
vaneed regplar1y up the hill eiopu beyond
Bulls Run, upon which the enemy we're sta.
tened in force The thick woods on either
Eide obstructed the siew, but presently Eoueys
left, and in the distance, Us if Hunters Diyis-
ion were approaching AID getting at work.
Immediately after, this belief was conticmed
By the thick cloud OF smoke which rose from
afar, and presently the troops themselves
Eere seen moving rapidly forward, and driving
ire enemy before them a distance Of about
The 3d Brigade was by this time menactng
one Of the enemy's car!hworks, and appearej
10 be hotiy engaged. Col keyes's division,
the 4th, was accordingly ordered down to re-
anforce. and at cEce pushed forward in sup
Eo1t, The Cd Brig4de remained firm At tue
I;Ght, cEt not yet actively engaged From
Co!. RicLardson's pest, q milo or two to the
LEFT around to Gel. Hunters, two miles to the
right and front, the battle thus aprccd over
some i've miles Of space.
Their artillery Was 1ue1g worked, aud was
quick to discover the places whenever oEr
men gathered; but, up to ti1i3 time, the IN
jury do7e by them was slight In infantry
cGntests they were Ferpatnall3 beaten, bat,
Waen they retreated, 1t was to take d new
and more strongly fortified position. at times
they r:.pged themselves upon the open field,
az ieaaz hut were invariably driven back By
hunters or sherman's men.
i1c1r force Rss very 1arEc, aud I should
Judge from the bodies which kep: pouring
ac"n IRON Manassas, greatly superior to ours.
They fought well, aud eveu in their retreats
showed considerable order, but their works
we're one by one taken from them, urtil they
nelt only Two or thIee, one IL the highest
The LETT OF Ger. Tyle1's dirisioa. The firat of
these Was atormed by the Zouaye Regiment,
llt was either rot iaker, or WIS ret held.
Ile o1hcrs we're we'll employed by the rsbple,
WEo ttzeT ;rcessant SHOT and snel. among
our most exposed men. We stii1 pushed for
the second brigade Of the first division, had
crossed Brll's Run.
The engineers were about constructing q
hs!cse for the artillery, the regular stone
bridge having; been mined, and the two col
nn;ns 3co. under Gtnere1s Tyler and Hunter, the
had actually completed their junction, when
inc cIder to retreat vas given. Why it was
given, no pereon who witnessed the ba:tle
and SAW the condition in which aE:lra stood,
can attempt to comprehend. Tie only point
positNely teld by the enemy Has il 4 hollow,
TO our lett, and although an effort Eas un-
doubtedly meds 10 oyerreach Us at the Ieft.
an ample force-one entire br;gade-was ready
70 receive them, and did receive and reaulsc
them afscTWard, in spite of the panic which
re,gnsd. But, Ut the beginning Of the retire
acnt, 2 few ambulanees and baggage wagons
Mefe Se,. driven hurrledly away, the noise Of
E11ch scented to spread terror AMONG the
troops within hearing, who instantly broke
rauks and rsr, 1e1l neil, toward Centreyi1.c,
;, The cont3gton csught the rest, and in less
Tran len minutes our army was flying in the
:oimost disorder. rerything WIS abandon
ed. The wounded were deserted in the hos
pitals, and the only thought was u Individual
safety. Guns we're thrown aside, aud hlauk-
cts aid knapsacks we're lost and trarupled up.
on. The artillery shared the paaic; the guns
were cut loose, and the gunners used the
horses to escape the more swiftly. Those On
i1ot begged pi;eonsly to be allowed to share
the hcrses OF those who rode. Many stroEe
10 chamber into wagons, md were pushed
them,
The ground vas strc1cd with food, weap.
ors, and clothing Of every kind. Many Of our
guns were left to fall into the enemy's b aads,
including the 1a:se 32pounders which had
acne 50 much fervice during the fight All
courage, all maniincss secned to have for.a.
ken our terror stricken men.
Ile last STAND uron tts tlela was made by
Sne OF the Ohio regiments, III der Colonel
MeCook, believe, hut about three miles back
tue reserve brigade Of Gen. Blenker, was
fect :" "halever service was needed. Tie stand
ot zen. Blcoker saved us frola gre1t losses.
Inc enemy came up in small force At II
oc;or4 at night, anG charged upon The S.h
ScW ! c1k regiment, capturing Elk OF its men.
the charge YVES repulsed, a1d the emmy at.
,acked ..t ', E.th such vigor as to cen:s tlcn to
ly@ leaving tleiE prisoners. Tie disorder of
cur men continued during The ni.b.. The-c
Wat no army, only vast Tabb1c. Dy 1nisln<gb:
they were all scattered in the road to Fairtax
CoErt Nouse, and soon after, Gen. Bienkar,
with the Sth New York Regiment, took MP
Lis retreat in perfect order-the ouly 5cdy
that so rctseated.
] left Centreville at o'clock this uorysu-.
Tie list fragments OF our force had all bssn
long gone; even the hospitals were nearly de-
ktr1ed, all who could limp hayiug started
forth with crutches aud caae5. Tue rebel
scouts were passing through the towr, and
ar. arcnt1y cnde1Tcring to ascertain in which
var they could best enccred in cue.iu. oil ;he
st1aEglers- DO not knox, however, Tuat aay
scIlou6 attempt to do this was made.
The road from Centresilte to F.irfx was
tkics with the debris of the retreat Baggage
wagons we're overturned and the horses l;i1g
dead and dying. Guns, arnbulances, stores
OF provisions were streHn everywhere. At
Fairfax Court House tile inhabitauts were
piunderlnE our deserted baggage. Toward Ar
:tpgtCn The evidences OF the iie.raccfut
retreat continued. About f,,ur miles from the
Long Bridge Gen. Blenker was moving rrgu-
lurly toward Washington, bis force il thor
orsh order. AS he passed, he DESTROYED tue
important tri3gcs to secure against sudden
pursuit.
Probably not more than 1000 Federal
troops arc killed. The enemy were badly
damaged.
From the Washington Daily Republican,
ADDITIONAL INCIDENTS.
7-7r3