Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1861-07-28
Slailp AppeaI,
THE cnEAr BATTLE AT mANAs'

THE GREAT BATTLE AT mANAs-
SAS.
TIE DEFEAT ACKEOwLEDGED By THE NORTH
ERN PRESS.
The statements Of the northern press Tela-
tive to the battle at Manassas, are beginning
TO reach US f: ana from the extracts which we
subioin. it will be seen that they acknowledge
their defeat to have been Of the most disss-
trous character.
The New York Tribune says:
The engineers were about constructing a
bridge for the artillery, the regular stone
bridge having been mined, and the two col
umrs under Gems. TYLER and Hunter. the latter
Of which was led by Gen. Mcdowell, had ac-
tusIlv completed the junction, when tha order
to retreat was given. Wy il was given, no
peTson Who witnessed the battle and saw the
condition in which affairs stood can attempt
TO comprehend. The only point positively
ueld bv the enemy was in hollow to our left,
and although an attempt was undoubtedly
made to oyerreach Us at the left, an ample
force-one entire brigade-wSs ready TO re-
ceivs them, and cid receive and repuise them
afler-ar3, in spite Of the panic which reigned-
But at the beginning Of the retirement, few
ambu1ances and baggage wagons were driven
hurrieGly awav, the noise OF which seemed to
spread terror among the troops within hear
ing, who Instantly broke ranks and ran, pell
nell. toward Centervile.
This contagion caught tbs rest, and in less
than ten minutes our army was flying in the
utmost disorder. Everything was abandoned.
The wounded were deserted in The hospitals,
and the only thought was Of Individual safety.
Guns were thrown aside, and blankets and
Knsnsscks were ct and trsmpled upon. The
artillery shared the panic; the guns were cut
loose, and the gunners used the horses to es-
cape the more swiftly. Those on foot begged
piteously 20 be allowed to share the horses OF
those who rode. Many strcye to Chamber into
wagons, and were pushed back by the bayonets
OF those who occupied them.
The ground was strewed Wi'h food, apobsi
and clothing Of every kind. Manv Of our guns
were left to fall into the enemy's hands, in
cluding the large 30 FOUNDERS, which bad done
so much service during the fight. All courage,
all manliness seemed TO have forsaken our ter
ToT-stricken men.
The last stand upon the Geld was made by
one of the Ohio regiments, under Col. mcCook,
I believe, but about three miles back the re-
serve brigade of Gen. Bienker was drawn up
in line to cover the retreat and effect whatever
service was needed. The stand of General
Blenker saved ms from great losses.
Inc QasGLueE OF our men EOullUuGA uul Anks
the night There was no army, only vast
rsbble BY midnight they were all scattered
in the road to Fairfax Court House, aud soon
after General Bleaker, with the Eighth New
York regiment, took up bis retreat in perfect
order-the only body that 80 retrested
left Centergille at O'Clock this morning.
The last fragments Of eur force had all been
long gone: even The hospitals were nearly
deserted, all who could lump having started
forjh with crutcbos and canes. The rebel
scouts we're passing through the town, and
apparently endeayoTing to ascertain in which
way they could best succeed in cu'ting off the
strsgglers. | DO not know, however, hat any
serious attempt to do this was made
The rsad from Centervilie to Fairfax was
thick With the debris OF the retreat. Baggage
wagons were overturned, and the horses lying
dead and dying. Guns, smbulancss, and
s ores Of provisions were siTewn everywhere.
At Fairfax c. H The iDbsbitants were plum
dering cur deserted baggage. Toward Airing
ton the evidences Of the disgraceful retreat
continued.
STILL ANOTHER ACCOUNT.
The Philadelphia Inquirer publishes de-
ecription Of the battle and the retreat, by a
person who VAS present during The whole day.
We extract the following statements:
Ten men were killed and wounded belonging
to the New York second regiment, and also
four in the second Ohio regiment, by the pre-
mature discharge Of our own muske's in their
hands. a retreat was ordered, and cur men
fell back.
SchsBck failed to rally his column in any
order. The Ohio and New York men scatter
ed rough the woods in pursuit Of shelter and
water. Tie sun was broiiDg bot, and almost
suffocating, for the men were DOW out Of wa
ttr
We were in the center Of Tyler's division,
on the bin Just east Of Bull's run, on The War
Tenton road. About P. n we saw clouds Of
dust rising TO our left, as though they were
irving to outfsnk US and come on us in The
rear. We called several officers attention 10
r., but there seemed TO be no man who could
have reiRfoTcements sent for TO cover ouI
dsnk.
On The left OF the road was Sberm8n's and
Carlisls's batteries, drawn up for fight; on The
right were three thousand men, consisting oi
parts Of the Ohio and New York regiments
and the New York Sixty-ninth. About three
O'Clock P. NJ, their batteries opened on Us
every bail was well fired; the first fell in from
Of ,hs batteries, and the next one took off thl
heads Of two men, few yards below Us. wher
Nessrs. s. R. Smith, Sheriff J. Harper, Mr.
Shaw. Of the New York Hergld, and ourself
were standing Orders were given for the mel
to lie down, and let the balls pass over; ant
lust as The order was given another cne sWep
over our heads, and Ploughed the field fe7
steps in our rear. Oar battery did not FIRE
gun. The enamY were not to be seen, owin
TO the woods between them and rs. Our heaV
siege gun was lying to the right, disabled b.
the carriage being broken down; the balls feg
faster and faster, and the batteries were sp
parendr beirg brought closer.
About foEr P. II a report few from man
man That Gen. C2meron's brother, colonel @
the Ssvepty-ninth, was shot through he breas
bv cannon ball. and instantly killed.
Lieut. Col. Elliott, Of the SeveEty-aintt
rode toward his regiment, having been aftG
rciDforcements, when a cannon ball cut hi
horses head Of, and threw him down, bruis
ing him SO that be could barely escape. Al
the stragglsTs now commenced to run towsT
CenteTvils, and the csissons, ambuisnces an
suffers wagons were ordered to be taken bdc
at once toward Centeryille.
The batteries were ordered around to cove
UT retreat, and keep the rebels fros cuttin
us eff from CenJeTviile, which was about thre
miles in our rear, and where We had about fou
or five thcussnd Of a reserve force; the BAT
teries wheeled of and took Up the road, an
were retreatEg in good order, when, abou
half a mile out, one Of the gun carriages va
upset.
"a
left on the roadside, The gunners cutting th
traces and running their borses. This put ID
infantry il a perfect panic; they broke rank
fodiscriminate teiy aud commenced to TuD; knaT
sacks, haversscks, guns, cartridge boxes, hat
coats and everything teing thrown IN al d
reetions. The men were parched for watt
and were falling in every direction. Officer
we're equally panic stricken with The private
and in vain we eDeeaFoFed 70 stop the retrea
Charles Ogden, George R. Smith, Sheri
Harper, Russell Errett, of Pittsburg, begge
our men not to retreat, and plead with teal
for them TO 90 back and get Col. Cameron
bodr. we took nusksts and threatened to shoi
them down If they did not, but We might as we
have plead with The winds - cease blowing.
The enemy appeared in sight, firing the
gpns. sbe balls raining upon US thick; emfra
ingfrom tse valley, we saw the reporter Of ID
Vo,Id. with the standard of the MassschJ
sets fifth, waving Il over him aud plea ling fc
fbe men TO rally around hin; but it was
vain; hey needed hin not. An officer aske
the privilege of riding behind bin. It wa
granted, and before they had gone a hnndTe
wards. a shot from the tbicEet struck the Off
Ger In the bead and be reeied Oft Mr.. Sted
man wrapped up the sJsndard, and gallope
abont 2 mile ahead and after Eard succeeded /
rsilving 4 large force.
Onr friends had now ell left, and the troop
were hving, and at the cry that the csvalr
were riding them down and butchering all, v
started for Centergile. In the edge Of tn
yroadg we noticed Mr.. Willard, Of the NeV
York Herald, trying to pacify the msn, telin
them if was only panic. He was mounted
b,rt couId not take any passengers. Our tbirl
80, rsfognl the dust filling our nOstTil