The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1861-08-02
FINDLAY, OHIO, FRIDAY, AUGST 2, 1861.

The question was quickly to be
decided for us. A sudden swoop,
and body of cavalry rushed down
upon our columns near the bridge.
They came from the woods on the
left, and infantry pouri out behind
them. Tyler and his staff, with the
reserve, were apparently cut off by
tho qnick vancouver. | succeeded
in gaming the position | had just
left. there witnessed the capture ol
Carlisle's battery 10 the plain, and
saw another force OF cavalry and
infantry pouring into the road at The
very spot where the battle com
menced, and near which the South
Carolinians, who manned the battery
silenced in the morning, had doubt
less all day been lying concealed -
Tie ambulances aud wagons had
gradually advanced to this spot, and
OF course an instantaneous confusion
and dismay resulted. Our own in
Iantry broke ranks in the field,
plunged into the woods to avoid the
road, and got up the hill 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
hideous hcadlong confusion, were
now beyond hope. ] was near the
rear OF tlfe movements, with the
brave Captain Alexander, who en-.
deavored by the most gallant bu'
unavailable exertions to check the
onward tumult. 1t was difficult tC
believe in tho reality OF our sudden
reverse. "What does it all mean?'
| asked Alexander. ut means de-
feat" was his reply. I'VE are
beaten; it ia a shameful a cowardly
retreat! Hold up, men." he shont
cd; don't be such intern Il towards!
AMI he ro 10 backwards and for
wirls, placing his horse across the
road, and vainly trying to rally the
the running troops. The teams AMI
wagons confused and dismembered
every corps. We were now cut oil
from the advance boiy by the enc
mv's infantry. who had rushed on
the slope just left by US, surrounded
the guns and suffers wagons, and
were apparently pressing up agains'
ua. ITS no use, Alcxaulrr,"
| sail, "you must leave with tn,
rest" "l'll be Id il | will" wa
his sullen reply, AMI the splondi,
fellow rode back to make his way
ma best he could. Meantime | SAN
officers with leaves anl eagles ot
their shonller straps, Majors an
Co'ones. who had deserte ihei
commands, pass me galloping rs i
for dear lie. No enemy pursued
just then; but | suppose all were
AFRAID that his guns would be train
cd down the long, narrow avenue
AMI nov the retrcating tnousan Is
and batter 10 pieceS army wagon,
and everything else which crowded
it. Only one field officer, so far a
my observation extended, seemed t,
have remembered his duty. L'ent
Col, Spcidel, q foreigner attaches
to a Connecticut regiment, strov
against .hc current for a league.
| positively declare that, with the tw
exceptions mentioned, all effort
made to check the panic before Cen
treville was reached, were coniinc
10 civilians. saw man in cit
zen's dress who had thrown of hi
coat. seized y musket, and WAS Try
ing to rally the Soldiers who can
by at the point Of the bayonct. |
reply to request for his name, h
said il was Washburne, and learne
that he was the member by thu
name from Illinois. The Hon. NJ
Kellogg made a similar effort =
Both these Congressmen bravel
stood their gl0und till the last M
ment, and were service cable at Cer
trevillc in assisting the halt the
ultimately made. And other civi
ians did what they could.
Eut what n scenel and how to
rifle the onset of that tumultnol
: retreat. For three miles hosts
, 'cleral troops--ail detached fro
their regiments, all mingled in o,
! disorlerIy rout-were fleeing alor
the road, bnt mostly through Il
|, lots on either side. Army wagon
Y teams and private carriagcs, chok
: the passage, tumbIng against cn'
. other, amid clouds OF dust, ~
sickening sights and sounds,
g Hacks containingunlucky spectato
: of the late atIray, were smashed ii
. glass, and ths occupants were lo
; sight of in the Debris. IIorsC
= flying " Idly from the bnt'lefioI
h many of them in death agony, e
II loped at random forward, j>ining
. the stampede. Those on foot W
Il could catch them rode them ba
J. back, as much to save themselS
e from being run over, as to ma
d quicker time. Wounded men lyi
y along the banks--tho few eitN
|. left on the field nor taken to
captured hospitals-appcalci "
1f raised hands to those who ro
e horses, begging to be lifted bohir
" but few regarded such petitions,
i The regular cavalry. | record it
10 their shame, joined in the mel
4, adding to it's terrors, for they re