Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1861-08-02

II was only to meet more batteries, earth
work succeeding earthwork, ambuscade after
ambuscade. Our fellows were hot and
weary; most had drank no water during
hours Of dust, and smoke and insufferable
heat. No one knows what choking the
battle atmosphere produces in a few mo-
ments, until he has personally experienced
it. Aud so the conflict lulled for a little
while. It was the middle Of blazing
afternoon. Our regiments held the posi-
ton they had won, but the enemy kept re
cciving additions, and continued flank
movement toward our left-a dangerous
movement for us, movement which those
in the rear perceived, and vainly endeavorod
to induce some general officer to guard
against.
Here wa8 the grand Jlander, or migor-
tame, of the battle. A misfortune, that We
had no troops in reserve after the Ohio
Regiments were again sent forward, this time
to assist in building bridge across the
run on the Wanenton road, by the side of
the stone bridge known to be mined. A
blunder, in that the last reserve was sent
forward at all. 1t should have been re-
tanned to guard the rear of the left, and
every other regiment on the field should
; have been promptly recalled over the route
by which it had advanced, ordered only to
maintain such positions as rested on a sup
ported, continuous line Gen. Scott says,
to-day that our troops had already accom-
plished three days work, and should have
rested long before. But Mcdowell tried to
} vanquish the South in single struggle,
and the sad result is before us.
AS il was, Capt Alexander, with his
} Sappers and Miners, was ordered to cut
} through the abattis by the side of the
mined bridge, in the valley directly before
5 us, aud lay pontoons across the stream
? Carlisle's artillery was detailed to protect
g the work, and the Ohio and Wisconsin re-
g serve to support the artillery. Meanwhile
9 in the lull which l have mentioned, the
@ thousand heroic details of Federal valol
S and the shamelessnes of rebel treachery, be
+ gan to reach our ears. We learned the loss
S of the brave Cameron, the wounding o.
n Heintzelman and Hunter, the fall of Hag
y gerty and Slocum and Wilcox We heard
: of the dash of the Irishmen and theil
(: defamation, and of the havoc made anC
J. sustained by the Rhode Islanders, the
Higblanders, the Zouaves and the Connect
}, icut Third then of the interpidity of Burn
@ side and Sprague--how the devoted and
! daring young Governor led the regiments
s he had so munifcienuy equipped again and
' again to victorious charges, and at last
: spiked with his own hands, the guns he
. could not carry away. The victory seemed
= ours. 1t was an hour sublime in unsolfish-
ness, and apparently glorious in its results
t At this time, near o'clock, l rode for.
I ward through the open plain to the creek
r where the abattis was being assailed by
1 our engineers. The Ohio, Connecticut and
Minnesota regiment were variously posted
# ,thereabout; others were in distant portions
IS of the field; all were completely exhausted
s. and partly discovered no General of Divi
= sion, except Tyler, could be found. Wher
d were our offcers9 Where was the foe p
,r Who knew whether we had won or lost9
e The question was quickly to be decided
e for us. At sudden swoop, and body o
S, cavalry rushed down upon our columns nea
J. the bridge. They came from the wood or
Y, the left, and infantry poured out behinc
n them. Tyler and his staff, with the reserve
2 were apparently cut of by the quick ma
J. nnuver. succeeded in gaining the posi-
G tion had just left, there witnessed the cap
ture of Carlisle's battery in the plain, ant
: saw another force of cavalry and infantry
If pouring into the road at the very spo
IS where the battle lecommenced, and near whicl
h the South Carolians, who manned the bat
d terry silenced in the morning, had doubles
s all day been lying concealed. The ambu
1T lances and wagons had gradually advanced
1t to this spot, and of course an instantaneou
IF confusion and dismay resulted. Our owl
t. infantry broke ranks in the field, plunge,
70 into the woods to avoid the road, and go
@ up the hill as best as they could, withou
d leaders, every man saving himself in hi
own way.
e By the time l had reached the top of tn,
/ hill, the retreat the panic, the hideous head
G long confusion, were now beyond hope
0 was near the rear of the movement, with
S the brave Capt. Alexander, who endeavor
Q ed by the most gallent but unavailable ex
I ertions to check the onward tumult l
= was difficult to believe in the reality of ou
e sudden reyrese. "What does it all mean T.
i 1 asked Alexander. at means defeat,
It was his reply. "We are beaten; it is
y shameful cowardly retreat! Hold up, men
he shouted, "dont be such internal COW
z ards p and he road backwards and forward:
'e placing his horse across the road and vair
70 ly trying to rally the running troops. TIL
j. teams and wagons confused and dismem
N bered every corps. We were now cut Of
~ from the advance body by the enemv's in
/ fantry, who had rushed on the slope JUS
= left by us, surrounded the guns and suffer-
u wagons, and were apparently pressing VI
Is against us. ats no use, Alexander"
$, said, ''you must leave with the rest" "Pl
r. be id il will" was his sullen reply, an,
d the splendid fellow rode back to make hi
n way as best he could. Meantime l sa,
70 officers with leaves and eagles on thei
l. shoulder straps, majors and colonies, VIII,
le had deserted their commands, pass me gal
n loping as if for dear life. No enemy pun
l. sued just then; but Isuppose all we're afraiC
le that his guns would be trained down th
le long, narrow avenue, and NOW the retreat
d. ing thousands, and batter to pieces arm
wagons and everything else which crowde
ot it. .af '.'.'I'.i
ii Only one field officer, so far asmy obse
g vation extended, seem to have remembers,
st his duty. Lieut.. Col. Speidel, foreignC