The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1861-08-02
THE PILOT.
BATTLE OF BULLS RUN !!
Total Rout and Complete Defeat OF
. the United States Army!


Of the .elegraphic reports which they have
heretofore seen. The Bulls Run affair
occurred on Thursday, the Ash lust, aud
the decisive Battle near Manassas Junction,
which seems 10 be continuance Of the
skirmish at the former locality, commen-
ced on Sunday the 21st. Willie at Bulls
Run our troops behaved nobly, and appa-
rently obtained victory over the enemy,
we regret TO say that near Manassas juno
ton they met with disastrous defeat-a
defeat, taking all things into consideration,
the Ike Of which history has never re-
corded. A large nunber Of the L. S.
forces acted CALAMITY, but the large ma
jority were seized with some unaccounta-
bic panic which caused them to make an
inglorious retreat, leaving everything be-
hind to the secvssionists, aud casting dis
grace upon the American arms. We
cannot get at the truth now, but the fol-
lowing statements are doubtless leaning
more TO our side than to the South:
The battle Of Bulls Run, so-calcd, ap-
pears to have been a series Of minor en-
gagements, eliminating in a general ac-
ton, in which the Federal troops, al first
successful, and carrying all before them,
were, by a sudden reinforcement Of the
enemy, and the contagious effects of one
Of those mysterious panics from which
even the best disciplined troops are not
exempt, defeated and driven back with
the loss Of all their advantages, their adj
vanced position and most Of the artillery
being engaged. The accounts, as yet re
ceiyed, are Of the most confused charac-
ter, and it is difficult to separate what is
reliable from the general mass of exagger
alton and false report.
The grand advance movement of the
Union army into Virginia commenced on
Tuesday, July l6, when General McDow
ELL and his staff left Arlington, and with
nearly his whole force Of some 10000
men, advanced towards Fairfax Court
House. Fairfax was held by division
Of the Confederate troops under General
BoNHAM, Of South Carolina, and orders
were issued to attack their position on the
morning of the 18th. On the advance Of
the different columns, however, the enemy
retreated, leaving all their camp furniture,
provisions, and quantity of arms and
equipments behind. The village was at
once occupied by the Federal troops. All
the casualties reported on our side were
one officer and three men slightly wound
ed The column which occupied Fairfax
was composed of two brigades under
Colonels Porter and Burnside, and con
talned two batteries Of flying artillery, the
two Rhode Island regiments, the New
Hampshire Second, the New York Eighth
and Seventy first, eight companies O. reg
ular soldiers, five companies of cavalry,
and perhaps one or two other regiments.
In this movement the extreme right of
the line was commanded by Col. Hunter
the right centre by Gen. Tyler, who took
possession of Vienna on the previous
night; the left centre by Col, Miles, U S.
A., who took the direction Of the Little
River turnpike, and the extreme left by
Col. Heintzelmann, who went by way Of
the Orange and Alexandria Railroad.
The roads at different points were found
to be obstructed by felled trees, and abat-
lis of more complicated structure, but
these Obstacles were soon removed By the
pioneers. The rebels appeared to retreat
as the army advanced, as at no point were
they found in any considerable number,
nor were the Union troops harrassed,
save by the skirmishors at Fairfax ex-
changing few shots with them.
The advance was continued mex. morn
ing. and abou, ten O'Clock the Union for
ces appeared before Centreyille, which
was found deserted By the enemy, and was
Immediately orcnriad craat daaI nf
work had been done by the rebels, land the
number and size of their camps showed
that they had been there in great force
They left in such haste that they did not
draw in their pickets, who came into one
of our camps, thinking, as it occupied the
same place, that it was their own.
The frs. action in which the ADVANCING
army was engaged took plaee on Thurs
day, the 18th, at Bulls Run. about midway
between Centreyille and Manassas June.
tion, and three miles from each point
Gen. Tyler, who commanded the right
wing of the Union army, having quarter
cd the main body of his force at Centre-
treville. sent on an advance body towards
Bull's Run-a valley trayersed by creek
and eurironed with woods-to reconnoitre,
information having been received that