The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1861-07-30


ed three days work, and should have restcC
long before But Mcdowell tried to yanquisl
the South in single struggle, and tho sad re
suit is before us.
As it was, Capt. Alexander, with bis Sap
pers and Miners, was ordered to cut through
the abattis by the side of the mined bridge
in tho valley directly before u.s. and lay pom
toons across the stream. Carisle's artillery
WAS detailed 70 protect the work, and the
Ohio and Wisconsin reserve to support the
artillery. Meanwhile, in the lull which !
have mentioned, tho thousand heroic details
Of Federal valor and the shameessness of re-
bel treachery, began to reach our ears. We
learned the loss Of the brave Cameron, the
wounding of Heintzelman and Hunter, the
fall Of IIaggerty and Slocum and Wilcox
We heard Of the dash of tho Irishmen and
their decimatiop, and of the havoc made and
sustained by tho Rhode Islanders, the High.
landers, the Zouaves and the Connecticut
Third; then Of the intrepidity of Burnside and
Spragus-how the devoted and daring young
governor led tho regiments he had so munif-
Gently equipped again and again to victorious
charges, aud at last spiked, with his own
hands, the guns he could not carry away. -
Tao victory seemed ours. 1t was an hour
sublime in unsefshnsss, and apparently glo.
rious in its results
At thi, time, near o'clock, rode forward
through the open plain to the creek whore
the abattis WAS being assailed by our eng-
neers. The Ohio, Connecticut and Mnneso.
ia regimcnta wero variously posted therea-
bout; Others were in distant portions OF the
field all werc completely exhausted and part
~ discovered; no General Of Division, except
Tyler, could be found. Where were our Of,
fcersl Where was the toe9 Who knew
whether we had won or lost!
The question was quickly to be decided for
us. A sudden swoop, aud body Of cavalry
pushed down upon our columns near the
bridge. They came from tho wood on tue
left, and infantry poured out behind thcm.--
Tyler and hi. staff, with the reserve, wore
apparently cut of by the quick ma"mayor. |
succeeded in gaining the position had just
left, there witnessed the capture Of Carl sle's
battery, in the plain, and saw another force OF
cavalry and infantry pouring into the road at
the very spot where the battle commenced,
and near which the South Caroliuiaus, who
manned the battery sileuced in the morning,
lad doubtless all day been lying concealed.
The ambulances and wagons had gradually
advanced to this spot and Of course an in.
stantaneous confusion and dismay resulted
Our own infantry broke ranks in tLc field
plunged into the woods to avoid the road ,aad
got up the bill as best they could, without
leaders, every man saving himself in his own
way.
BY the time | reached the top Of the hill
the retreat, the panic, the hilcous headlona
confusion, We're now beyond a hope. | was
near the rear Of the movement, with the
brave Capt. Alexander, who cndeayorel by
the most gallant but unavailable cxertions to
check the Onward tumult. 1t was difficult to
believe in the reality of our sudden rcv,rse.-
"What does it all meanr | asked AIoxan
der "It means defeat" woo hio reply.
1--WE are beaten; it is a shameful cowardly re-
treat Hold up, men, he shouted, "don't
be such Internal cowards!' and he rode back
wards and forwards, placing his horse across
the road and vainly trying u rally the run
ming troops. The teams and wagons confuS
cd and dismembered every corps. We were
now cut IF from the advance body by the en-
emy's infantry, who had ushed on the slope
just left by us, surrounded the guns and sut
ler's wagons, and were apparently pressing up
against US. "It's no usc Alexander" said,
"you must leave with the rest" "Pll be
id if will, was his sulIen reply, and the
splendid fellow rode back to make bis way rs
best he could. Meantime saw officers with
leaves and eagles on their shoulder straps,
majors and colonels, who had deserted their
commands pass mo galoping as if for dear
life. No enemy pursued just then; but
suppose all were afraid that his guns would
be trained down the long narrow avenue, and
now the retreating thousands, and batter to
pieces army wagons and everything else which
crowded it.
Only one field officer, so far as my observa.
tion extended, seemed to have remembered
his duty. Lieut.. Col. SpcideI, a foreigner
attached to n Connecticut regiment, strove
against the current for league. positively
declare that with the two exceptions mention.
ed, all efforts made to check the panic before
Centrcylle was reached was confined to cipH-
ians. ! saw man in citizens dress who
lad thrown Oft his coat, seized mlskct, aud
was trying TO rally the soldiers who came by
at the point Of tho bayonct In reply to n
reques, for his name, he said it was Wash
bnrne, aud learned he was the mombcr by
that name from Illinois. The Hon. M kc!-
locc, made a similar effort. Both these Con.
gre5smen Lrayoly stool their ground till the
last moment, and were sarycoable at Ccaro
Vile in assisting the hal. there ultimately
made. And other civilians did what they
could.
But what scene! and how terrific the
ousct Of that tumnltucus retreat. For three
miles, hosts of Federal troops--all detached
from their regiments, all mingled in ogc
dis1rder,y roui--were fleeing along the roaj
but mostly through the lots on either side
Amy wagons, suffers teams and private car
rages, choked the passage, tumbling against
each other, amid clouds of dust, and sickcn-
ING sight and sounds. Hacks, containing un-
luckv.spoctators of the late atiary, were smash
ed like glass, and the occupants were l,st
sight of in the debris. Horses, flying wildly
from the battle field, many Of them in death
agony, gallopcl at random forward, joining
in the stampede. Those on foot who could
catch them rode them horseback, ofmuch to
save themselves from being run over, rs to
make quicker time Wounded men, lying
along the banks-the few either left on the
field nor taken to the captured hospitals, ap