Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-08-22

mlost Oh cur lltue rec0nnolSsance mr. Nlzetelly,
who has been living, and indeed marching
with one of the regiments as artist of the Illus
trated London News, came up and told us the
action had been commenced in splendid style
by the Federalists, who had advanced steadily,
driving the Confederates before them-s part
of the plan, as / firmly believe, to bring them
under the range of their guns. He believed
the advantages on the Federal side were deci-
ded, though won with hard fighting, and he
had just come up to Centerville to look after
something to eat and drink. and to procure
little necessaries, in case of need, for his COM
rades. His walk very probably saved his life
Having seen all that could be discerned
through our glasses, my friend and myself had
made feast on our sandwiches in the shade
and L was forced to give him half an hour or
more before mounted, and meantime tried to
make out the plan of battle, but all was OBJ
scure and dark. Suddenly up rode an officer
with a crowd of soldiers after him from the viii
lage. "We've whipped them on all points,"
he shouted. "We'ye taken their batteries,
and they are all retreating!" Such an uproar
cheered again and again, amid cries of "Bra-
vo," "Bully for us!'' Didn't tell you so'"
and cultural "hochs" from the Deutschland
folk and loud "hurreos" from the Irish. Soon
afterHsrd my horse was brought up to the
bill, and my friend and the gentleman
I have already mentioned set out to
walk toward the front - the latter to rejoin
his regiment if possible, the former to get a
closer view of the proceedings. AS turned
down into the narrow road, or lane, already
mentioned, there was a forward movement
among the large four wheeled tilt wagons,
which raised good deal of dust. My atten-
ton was particularly called to this by the
occurrence OF few minutes afterwards had
met my friends on the road, and after a few
da ri or
could past the wagons and through the dust,
when suddenly there arose q tumult in front of
me at small bridge across the road, and then
L perceived the drivers of set of wagons with
the horses turned towards me, who were en-.
deavOring to force their way against the stream
of vehicles setting in the other direction. By
the side Of the new set Of wagons there was a
number OF commissariat men and soldiers,
whom at first sight took to be the baggage
guard. They looked excited and alarmed, and
were running by the the side of horses-in
front the dust quite Obscured the view. At the
bridge the currents met in wild disorder
"T Turn back! Retreat" shouted the men
from the front, We're whipped, we're
whipped 10 They cursed and tugged at the
horses heads, and struggled with ffenzy to yet
past. Running by me on foot was a man with
the shoulder straps of an officer. pray what
Is the matter, sir?'' "It means that we're
pretty badly whipped, and that's a fact" he
blurted out in puffs, and continued his career
observed that he carried no sword The
teamsters OF the advancing wagons now caught
up the cry. I" Turn back-turn your horses -
was the shout up the whole line, and backing.
plunging, rearing, and kicking, the horses
which had been proceeding down tho road re-
versed front and went of towards Centreyille.
Those behind them went madly rushing on,
the drivers being quite Indifferent whether
glory glory or or disgrace led the way, provided they
nary spectacle an officer, escorted by some
Dragons, rode through the ruck with a light
cart in charge. Another officer on foot. with
bis sword under his arm, ran up against me
" What is all this about ?" ''Why we're pretty
badly whipped. We're all in retreat There's
General Tyler there badly wounded" And on
he ran. There came yet another, who said
"We're beaten on oil points. The whole
army is in retreat" Still there was no fight
OF troops, no retreat of an army, no reason for
all this precipitation. True there were MANY
men in uniform flying towards the rear, but il
did not appear as if they were beyond the pro-
portions of large baggage escort. got nv
horse up into the field out of the road and
went on rapidly toward the front. Soon I met
soldiers who were coming through the corn
mostly without arms; and presently saw fire.
locks, cooking tins knapsacks, and gr reat-coats
on NE ground, and observed that the copfu-
sion and speed of the baggage carts became
greater, and that many Of them were crowded
with men, or were followed by others, who
chung 10 them. Inc ambulances were crowded
with soldiers, but 1t did not look as if there
were many wounded. Negro servants on led
horses dashed frantically past men in uni
form, whom 1t were a disgrace to the profess
sion of arms to call SOLDIERS" swarmed bv
on mules, chargers, and even draught horses,
which had been cut out Of carts or wagons,
and went on with harness clinging to their
"a na w. Al
orally screamed with rage and fright when
their way gas blocked up. On rode, asking
all, What is all this about?'' and now and
then, outrarely, receiving the answer. 'We're
whipped" or, ~ ere repulsea." Faces black
and dusty, tongues out in the heat, eyes star
ing-it was most wonderful sight. On they
came like him
who aHd 9n,nv having once turned round goes on,
For he knoweth that fearful dend
Doth close behind him tread "
But where was the fend? looked in vain.
There was, indeed, some cannon aiding in front
Of me and in their rear, cut still the firing
was comparatively distant, and the runawsys
were far out Of range. As L advanced the
number Of carts diminished, but the mounted
men increased, and the column of fugitiyes
became denser. few buggies and light
wagons filled with men, whose faces would
have made up "a great Leporello" in the
ghost scene, tried to pierce the rear of the
mass OF carts, which were now solidifed and
moving on like glacier. 1 crossed a small
ditch by the roadside, and got out on the road
TO escape some snake fences, and, looking be-
fore me, saw there was still a crowd of men In
uniforms coming along. The road was strewn
with articles Of clothing waist belts,
cartouch- boxes, caps, great-coats, mess-tins,
musical instruments, cartridges, bayonets and
sheaths, swords and pistols-even biscuits,
water-bottles and pieces of meat.
TO BE CONTINUED