New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1861-08-27
NUMBER I49.

d.
hgltihg, and he had JUST up to Centreviie to
ioos aiter something to eat and drink, and to pro-
cure Ilttie heceasaRies, in case Of need. Suddenly
ap rode an ofiscer, with crowd of soldiers after
all points he shouted. e We've taken their
batteries and they're all retreating,,' Such an
ufFoar as followed! The spectators and the men
eheered again and again, and cries of Bsavortf
7 Bully for us! Z " Didn't tell you 80 ~ and
cultural 7" hochs y from the Deutschland folk and
ioud !" hurrocs" from the irish. Soon afterHard
my morse was brought up the hiI and my friend
ana the gentleman have already mentioned set
!. oat 70 Ralk toward the 'front.' .. ~ u r
AS tilrned down into the narrow road, or lane
aiFeahy ineHti0nedi there was forward movement
among the four wheeled Tilt wagons, which raised
great deal of dust. had met nv friends an tte
road, and after few words rode forward at a long
tTot as well as could past the wagons and through
the dust, when suddenly there arose a tufnuIt In,
front Of me at asmall bridge across the road and
then perceived the drivers of set of wagons
with the horses turned toward 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 were number Of
commissariat men and soldiers, whom at first sight
took to be the baggage guard They looked ex
cited and alarmed, and were running by the side
OF the horsesin front the dust quite obscured the
view. ttFs
At the bridge the currents met in wild disorder.
" Turn back. Retreattn shouted the men from
the front, " we're whipped we're whipped r.
They cursed and tugged at the horses' heads, and
pHFtBII 70 Beb past. RUNNING DY
me on foot was a man with the shoulder straps Of
an offcer. Pray what is the matter, sir?' 81 It
means we're pretty badly whipped. and that's a
fact he 5lurted out in pufs, and continued his
career | observed that he carried no sword. The
teamsters OF the advancing wagons now caught up
the cry. g Turn blackburn yonr horses u was the
shout up the whole line, and, backing, plunging
rearing and kicking, the horse which had been
proceeding down the road reversed front and went
off toward Centrevelle. Those behind them went
madly rushing on, the drivers being quite indifer-
ent whether gloryor disgrace led the way provided
they could fad itf f- b. rs -
officer, escorted by some dragoons rode through
the ruck with a light cart in charge. Another
officer, on foot, with his sword under his arm ran
up against me. :. What is alths about?'; I Why,
we're pretty badly whipped. We're all in retreat.
There's Gen. Tyler there, badly wounded" And
on he ran. There came yet another who said,
Il" We're beaten on all points. The whole army is
in retreat.' Still there no fight of troops no
retreat OF an army, no reason for all this precipi-
tation. True, there were many men in uniform
flying towardthe rear, but it did not appear as
they were beyond the proportions of a large bag
gage escort a . l,a,ry qal. al. N -, n +.
! got my horse up into the field out Of the road
and went on rapidly toward the front Soon met
soldiers who were coming through the corn mostly
without arms and presently saw tirelocks cook
ing tins, knapsacks aud greatcoats on the ground
and observed that the confusion and speed of the
baggage carts became greater, and that many Of
them were crowded with men, or were followed by
others who clung to them. The ambuances were
crowded with soldiers, but it did not look as il
there were many wounded. Negro servants on
led horses dashed frantcally past men in uni
form, whom it were disgrace to the profession of
arms to call g soldiers" swarmed by on mules
chargers, and even draught horses which had
been cut ont of carts or wagons, and went on with
harness clingng To their heels, as frightened as
their riders. Men literally screamed with rage
e slsR aska fhsP way was Goekd @ tau up
and now and then, but rarely receiving the answer
"We're whipped !" or " We're repulsed.' Faces
black and dusty, tongues out in the heat eyes
staring-it was most wonderful sight. - !.
| The road was strewn with articles of clothing
fireiocks, wast-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 Pass
ing white house by the roadside, saw, for the
first time, body of infantry with sloped arms
marching regularly and rapidly toward me- Their
faces were not blackened by powder, and it was
evident they had not been engaged. In reply to
| question, q noncommssicned officer told me, in
broken English, "We fall back to our lines The
| attack did not quite suceeed.n This was assuring
to one who had come through such scene. as
had been witnessing.
came across an officer and stopped him.
| We're pursued by cavalry he gasped. They've
cut us all to pieees.h As he spoke shell burst
| over the column; another dropped on the road,
| and out streamed another column of men, keeping
together with their arms and closing up the strag-
! glers OF the first regiment. Iturned. and to my
surprise saw the artillery men had gone off leaving
one gun standing by ITSELF They had retreated
with their horses 1t was now well established
| that the retreat had really commenced, though |
saw but few wounded men, and the regiments
| which were falling back had not suffered much
loss. No one seemed to know anything for certain
Even the cavalry charge was rumor.
No one knew whether any corps or regiment
was marching but there were rumors of all kinds
8 the Slxty-ninth are cut to pieces" the Fire
Iouaves are destroyed,n and so on. Presently a
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
sudden roar, like the voice of distant breakers,
rose in front of us, and the soldiers who were,
| think, Germans, broke into double, looking now
and then over their shoulders. There was no
choice for me but to resign any further researches
| so put my horse into trot, keeping in the fields
| alongside the roads as much as could, to avoid
the fugtives, till came once more on the rear of
| the baggage and store CARTS and the pressure of
| the crowd who, conscious of the aid which the
vehicles would afford them against a cavalry
| charge, and fearful, nevertheless, of their prox-
unity, clamored and shouted like madmen as they
| ran. The road was now literally covered with
| baggage. 1t seemed to me as if the men inside
| were throwing things out purposely.
| What occurred at the hill cannot say, bat all
| the road from Centreve for miles presented such
sight as can only be witnessed in the track of the
| runaways OF an utterly demorazed army. Drivers
| fOgged, lashed and beat their horses or leaned
down and abandoned their teams and ran by the
| side of the road; mounted men, servants, and mer
in uniforms, vehicles of all sorts, and commits
sariat wagons thronged the narrow ways. Al
| every shot convusion, as it were, seized upon
| the morbid mass of bones, sinew, wood and iron
and thrilled through it, giving new energy and
action to Its desperate efforts to get rid OF itself
Again the cry of g cavalryh arose. "What are
| you afraid of?' said to man running beside me.
81 | am not afraid of you," replied the rufian,
leveling his piece at me aud pulling the trigger.
| 1t was not loaded or the cap not on, for the
| gun did not go off. l was unarmed, and did go
| oil as fast as ! could, resolved to keep my own
! counsel for the second time that day. And SO the
| fight went on.
| AT one time whole mass OF infantry, with GXed
bayonets, ran down the bank of the road, and
some falling they ran must have killed and
wounded those among whom they fell. AS knew
| the road wouId soon become impassable O,
| blocked up, put my horse to gaHop and passed
| on toward the front. But mounted men still rode
| faster, shouting ont, " cavalry are coming
! Again ventured to speak to some officers whom
| I overlook and said - If these runaways are nc
stopped, the whole Of the posts and pickets into
Washington vii! fly ason One of them, withou
saying aword, spurred his horse and dashed on il
front.
] reached Fairfax Court House: the people
black aud white, with anxious faces, We're at the
doors, and the Infantry were under arms. | was
beseged with questions, though hundreds of fugi
tives had passed before me. Washington was still
| eighteen miles away. The road was rough and IN
| CERTAIN, and again my poor steed was underway
Dut twas no use trying TO outstrp The runaways