Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1861-08-10

I The Defeat of the Rebels at Bulls
Run, II Our Troops had Known IL.
! From louisville yesterday, We received
/ files of the Charleston Mercury to August
Sd. The correspondence from the battle
field at Manassas, and from Richmond,
concerning the battle, still continues. We
are struck with what the correspondent
gives as the history of the defeat lat one
time in the day. of the rebel forces:
1t is settled, without question, that, at
one time during the fight, our army was
on the eve Of being defeated. This was in
the early part of the afternoon. Our lines
extended Eve or six miles, parallel with
the course of Ball Run and behind that
stream. Gen. Beauregard had entreuched
himself here, and had skillfully prepared
this place as the battle field. Beauregard's
headquarters were4o the right of the CEN
tre of the line, and Gen. Johnston was on
the extreme left. Bull Run is an easy
fordable stream, except during heavy
rains but, IN front of the army, its banks,
in most places, were steep. AT the ex-
IRENE left of our lines this stream had
bend southW ard, which enclosed the forces
there in a sort of semi-cirele, and
enemy first made his appearance in
force on the right, in front of Beaure-
gard. BE made demonstrations there,
as IL be had selected that as the battle
ground. he opened, and continued a
heavy FIRE from his batteries, but did not
advance to make any attack with his in
fantry, But little damage was done by
this distant canonading. After this bad
continued for some time, ard no advance
being made, Beauregard became convinced
the attack was to be made in another
/ direction, and that this demonstration was
designed TO cover the real purpose of the
enemy lie proceeded to the left, where
Johnson's wing of the army was placed,
and there he discovered the enemy's col
ulnns were arrayiug in immense masses,
to outflauk him, and johnson engaged in
desperate fight with greatly superior mum
bers. 1t was apparent the enemy's Pur-
pose WIS to turn the extreme left of john
sons forces. This was our weakest point,
and the movement showed good general
ship. johnson had less than fifteen thous-
and men, With which to resist thirty-6ve
thousand; as this attacking column of the
grand army was estimated. Beauregard
saw instantly the battle ground was there.
He Immediately called up the available
forces near, and directed them to support
johnson. The latter General was making
a most gallant defence. The battle ragged
furiously for two or three hours. An eye
witness of the scene, who stood on an
eminence, about mile and quarter
off, says he saw the immense masses
move 10 and fro like the undulations
of the waves of the ocean, as the tide
of battle inclined to one side or the
other. The fate of the day hung in
an uncertain balance. The heavy column
of the enemy pressed down upon our gal
liant regiments, and, cutting them to pieces
with artillery, made them waver. Detach-
ed squads of broken companies and regi-
ments had begun to leave the field, and
were making the best of their way for Ma
nassas Junction. The day was all but lost.
Scattered and exhausted as were our men,
victory, for n time, inclined to favor the
overwhelming army of the enemy, and its
| General, believing he had gained victory,
despatched the news TO Washington. Hnp-
PLY at this critical juncture, KersEaw,
( Cash and Kemper stemmed and turned the
adverse tide, driving the frightened foe be-
( fore their accurate fire and rapid charges.
| Both Beauregnrd and Johnston rallied their
forces, and led them in person to the at
| tack. Soon sitter, Elzey's and Smiths Bril-
I gndes, of about four thousand men, came
up OPPORTUNITY and reinfoeed our army.
This reinforcement, with the heroic rally
made by the Generals, after Kershaw turn
ed the tide of battle in our favor, decided
the fortunes of the field. The rout, which
bad been begun, was followed mp with
Carnage-and the vast amount of guns,
arms, ammunition, baggage, and other ma
terials captured, you have been informed
about.