New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-07-23
Not OTer 500 Killed and Wounded.
REORGANIZATION OF THE ARMY.
Gen. Mcclellan Called to Its Command.
Special Dispatch to The N. Y. Tribune
WASHINGTON, Monday, July 22, 1861.

TIE RETREAT-THE EVENTS OF TIE DAY.
The retreat Of tho Federal troops yesterday
was one Of those extraordinary events which
can no more be explained than it can be just-
fed or pallated. The day was ours. The enemy
had been driven step by step from every position,
and the field was occupied by our troops. Our
columns had united in the very heart Of the
rebels stronghold, when the order TO retire was
issued. From victory to defeat was o. y the
work Of an instant. At the moment of our great
est hope all changed, and the spirit and the yalor
Of the army were gone.
willy briefly review the events Of the day.
Our forces started upon their march OF half psst
two in the morning, taking road toward
Bulls Run, about half a mile to the right of
that upon which the First Division advanced on
rhur,dny. When near the enemy, column
shot of by the tide road TO the right, with the
purpose of thanking the position and attacking in
the rear. This column comprised the divisions
of Gen. Hunter and Col. Heintzel nan. The
division undcr Gen. Tyler advanced direct, and
by Elk o'clock reached tho neighbOrhood Of Bulls
Run, beyond which the enemy was seen drawn
up ia line, and apparently awaiting the battle.
The first demonstration from our side was
made by Capt. Carlle's battery of artillery, with
thrty.twO pound Parrot ri1ed cannon, two
shells from which were fired without any re-
Spouse. At about the same time the Second
Brigade, under Gen. Schenck, was formed at the
lett, and the Third under Col Sherman, at the
right Of the road.
Light diminishing soon after began, in which
our men were wounded by discharges from a
masked battery which they encountered, and be
fore which they slowly retreated. Between and
3 O'Clock caunonadng was heard from Col. Rich
ardsons position, he having been directed to open
diversion to conceal our real purpose. For an
hour after, the howtzers of Capt. Garlic kept
the enemy active, and it was not until near noon
that other batteries were drawn in, aud the in
fantry engagement was prepared for.
The Sd Brigade, including the Goth, 18th, and
18th New.York, and I'd Wisconsin Regiments
moved forward to the right, and ad5aOced regu.
larly up the bill SLOPE beyond Bulls Run, upon
which the enemy were stationed in force. The
thick woods on either side obstructed the view,
but presently volleys of musketry wero heard
both to the right and left, and in the distance,
as if Hunters Division were approaching aud
getting at work.
Immediately after, this belief was confirmed by
the thick cloud of smoke which rose from afar,
and presently the troops themselves were seen
moving rapidly forward, and driving the
enemy before them at distonce Of about two
miles.
The I'd Brigade was by this time menscing one
Of the enemy's earihworks, and appeared TO be
hoty engaged. Col. Keyess division, the 4th,
WIS accordingly ordered down to reinforce, and
at once pushed forward in support. The I'd
brigade remained firm at the right, bU. not yet
actively engaged. From Col. Richardson's post,
n mile or two TO the left around 10 Col. Hun
ters, two miles TO the right and front, the battle
thus spread over sOme five miles of space.
Their artillery was finely worked, and was
quick to discover the places whenever our men
gathered; but, up TO this time, the injury done
by them was slight. In infantry contests they
were perpetually beaten, but when they re-
treated, it was to take q new and more strongly
fortified position. At times they ranged them
selves upon the open field, or road but were In
yarisbly driven back by Hunters or shermant
men.
Their force was very large, and l should
Judge from the bodies which kept pouring down
from Manassas, greatly superior to ours. They
fought well, and even in their retreats showed
considerable order, but their works were one by
one taken from them, until they held only two
or three, one in the highest ground of their po'
sition, and the others TO the left Of Gen. Tylers
division. The first of these was stOrmed by the
Zouave Regiment, but was either not taken, or
was not held. The others were well employed
by the rebels, who threw incessant shot and
shell among our most exposed men. We still
pushed forward until the whole of our men, ex-
ceptng tho second brigade Of the first division
had crossed Bulls Run.
The engineers were about constructing bridge
Tor the artillery the regular stone bridge having
been mined, and the two columns under Gems.
Tyler and Hunter, tho latter of which was led
by Gen. Mcdowell, had actually completed their
junction, when the order 10 retreat was eiseri.
Why it was given, no person who witnessed Ihe
battle and raw the condition in which aXairs
stood can attempt to comprehend. Tie only
point positively held by the enemy was in ho.-
low, to our loft, and although an effort waE un'