Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1861-08-23

q
confusion aud speed of the baggage carts
became greater, and that many of them
were crowded with men, or were follwed
hy others, who clung to them. The am
balances were crowded with soldiers, but
it did not appear as if there were many
wounded. Negro servants, on led horses,
dashed franticalIy past; men in uniform,
whom it were disgrace to the profession
Of arms to call "soldiers," swarmed by on
mules, chargers, and even draught horses.
which had been cut out of carts or wagons,
and went on with harness elinging to their
heels, us frightened as their riders. Men
literally screamed with rage and fright
when their way was blocked up. On
rode, asking, ''What is all this ab0ut?'
and now and then, but rarely, receiving nn
answer, "We're whipped" or "We're re-
pulsed" Faces black and dusty, tongues
out in the heat, eyes staring-it was a most
wonderful sight. On they came like him,
who having once turned round goes ON,
Aud turns no more his head
For he knOwetl that ieGrfG fend
Doth close behind him tread"
But where was the feud2 I looked in
vain. There was, indeed, some Cannonnd-
ing in front of me and in their rear, but
still the firing was comparatively distant,
md the runaways we're far out of range.
As | advanced the number of carts di
miuished, but the mounted men increased.
and the column of fugitives became denser.
\ few buggies and light wagons filled
with men. whose faces would have made
up '';l great Leporelo' in the ghost scene,
tried TO pierce the rear of the mass of
;artS, which were now Soldiied and NOV
ng on like IL glacier. l crossed Il small
ditch by the roadside, got out on the road
to escape some snake fences and looking
before me. saw there was still crowd of
men in uniforms coming along. The road
was strewn with articles of clothing-ire-
locks, waist-belts, cartOuch- -hoXes, caps,
great coats, mess tins, musical inStru-
ments, cartridges, bnyonets and sheathS,
swords aud Pistols-even biscuits, water
bottles. and pieces of meat. Passing
white house by the road side, l saw, for
for the first time, body of infantry with
slopcd arms, marching regularly and rap
idly towards me. Their faces were not
blackened by powder, and it was evident
they had not been engaged. In reply to n
question, II nOu-cOmmisSiOned officer told
me in broken English, ave fall back to
our lines. The attack did not quite sue
ccedn This was assuring TO one who had
come through such scene us | had
been witnessing. | had ridden, l sup
. pose, about three or three and half
miles from the hill, though it is not
possible to be sure of the distance !
| when, having passed the white house,
| | came outSou an open piece of ground,
beyond and circling which was for
est. Two field pieces were unlimbered
and guarding the road ; the painting and
jndcd horses in the rear looked as though
! they had been hard worked, and the gun
: L., H.
jccted Dropping shots sounded close in
/ front through the woods, but the guns on
4 the left no longer maintained their fire.
was just about to ask one of the men for
Il light, when sputtering fire on my right
I attracted my attention, and out of the for
est or along the road rushed a number of
mcu. The guuners seized the trail of the
nearest piece to wheel it round upon themi
others made for the tumbrilS and horses as
I if TO fly, then shout was raised, "Dont
/ fire; they're our own men," aud in few min
utcs on came pcll-mell Il whole regiment in
disorder | rode across one AMI stopped
him. "We're pursued by cavalry" he
gasped; "they've cut lis ali to pieces" As
! lie spoke, n shell burst over the column,
another dropped on the road, and out
j streamed another column of men, keeping
! together with their arms, and closing up
the stragglerS of the first regiment. /
turned, and to my surprise saw the artil-
lerymen had gone Off, leaving one gun
standing by itself. They had ret Gated
with their horses. While we were on the
hill, had observed and pointed out to my
companions a cloud of dust which rose
through the trees on our right front. In
my present position, that place must have
hcen on the right rear, and it occurred to
me that after all there really might be Il
body of cavalry in that direction, but Mu-
rat himself would not have charged these
I wagons in that deep, well fenced lane. Ii
1 the dust came, as believe it did, from
field artillery, that would be n different
matter. Anyway it was now well estab-
/ lished that the retreat had really COM
mcnced, though l saw but few wounded
men, and the regiments which were falling
back had not suffered much loss. No Que
seemed to know anything for certain.
/ e EN- the cavalry charge was rumor.
Several officers said they had carried guns
and lines. bat then they drifted into the
nonsense which one reads and hears every
where anout ''masked batteries" One or
two talked more scnsibly about the strong
! positions of the enemy, the fatigue of their
men, the want of Il reserve, losses, and
the bad condition of certain regiments.
Not one spoke rs if he thought of retiring
beyond Centreville. The clouds of dust
rising above the woods marked the retreat
of the whole Army, and the crowds of fu-
gitives continued to steal away along the
road. The sun was declining, and some
30 miles yet remained to be accomplished
ere could hope to gain the shelter of
Washington. No one knew whittier any
corps regiment were marching, but
there were rumors of all kiuds-"The
Sixty-uintb are cut to pieces;" "The Fire
eutly tremor ran through the men by
whom was riding, as the sharp reports of
some field pieces ratified through the wood
close at hand. a sort of subdued roar.
/ like the voice of distant breakers, rose in
| front of us, and the soldiers who were,
think, Germans, broke into double,