New-York daily tribune., 1861-08-12

favorable TO him, and the regiment continued nd.
saIheing as the enemy gave way MI the head of the
vou'u reached point near which R~ketts battery
wa 20 severels cut up. The other regiments d.
seendei tue hill in lire of battle, under severe can.
uso1'adlng, and the ground aifording comparative
%! %enei against the enemys artillery, they changed
SStecion' by the right flank and followed the road
pelore mentioned. At the point where this rad
,Ussed tne bridge to left point the ground WA
sIsu nm uy most severe fire by artillery, rife, and
d. and we saw In succession several regiments
of msrnoa among them the Zouaves and battalions
VI uanes Before reaching the crest of the hiII ths
roadway was worn deep enough 10 afford sbs,,sr %
anu kept the several regiments In il as LONG as nos,
0ie; ont when the Wisconsin Second was ebreas, -
Me- eoemg oy order Of Major wadswoh Of Gen.
mcDowen stan, ordered It to leave the roadway
by the left flank and TO attack the enemy rSs ,s2
ment ascended TO the brow of the hi steadily. r..
ceived the severe fire Of the enemy returned ii with
spirit and advanced deliveringits fire. This regiment
is uniformed in gray cloh almost identical with thas
of tbe great bulk Of the Secession army, and when
the regiment fed in confusion and retreated toward
the road there was universal cry that they wers
being fired upon by our own men. The regiment raj
lied again, passed the brow OF the bill second time
and was again pulsed in disorder. By this TINA
the New-York 79ih had closed up, and in like manner
II was ordered to the brow Of the bill and drive
the enemy from cover. " was impossible to get q
good view Of the ground. In t there was one battery
OF artillery, which poured an incessant fire upon
advancing column and the grouud was irregular, with
small clusters of pines, atording shelter of which
the enemy took good advantage. The fire Of rifles aud
musketry was very severe. The 18th, headed by its
Colonel (Cameron) charged across the hill, and for
short tine the contest was severe. They rallied sew
eral times under fire. but finally broke and gained the
OF the bil. This left the field open to the New.
York b9th, Col. Corcoran who, In bis turn led bis
regiment over the crest and had in full open view the
ground 30 severely contested The firing was very
severe, and the roar OF cannon musketry, and rifles
inces-ant. 1t was manifest the enemy was here in
great fOrce far superior 90 MS az that point The 69th
held the ground for some time, but finally fell back in
disorder
At this timeQuimbys regiment occupied another
ridge to left overlooking the field Of action,
aud -imil rly engaged. Here (about hal past three
P. m began the OF disorder and confusion that
ar4cteized the remainder Of the day. Up to that
time all had kept their places and seemed perfectly
cool and used to the shell and shOt that fell cOmpara
lively harmless. Crossing Bull Run, sought 1t at
last position before the Brgidier crossed but 10 was
not tere then passing through the wood where In the
mOrOg We had fret formed line, we approached the
blacksmith shop, but there found detachment Of
Rebel cavalry; then made circuit, ayoidog Bull Run
bridge, into Centreyille, where | found General
Mcdowell. From bin | uBderst Cd that it was his
Purpore 10 rally the forces and make stand at Cen
treyile.
But about niue o'clock at night Ireceved from Gen.
Tyler in pesOn, the order TO continue the retreat 10
tue Potomac This retreat was by night, and dlsor-
derly in he extreme. The men Of different regiments
mingled together aud reached the river at Arng-
ed their former camps at or near Fort Corcoran.
reached this point at next day, and found mis-.
celaneous crowd crossing the aqueduct and fer
lies. Conceiving this to be denoralzing, at once
command' tue guard to be increased and AL persons
attempting to pass over to be stopped This pro-
iced its effect. Men sought their proper companies
and regiments, comparative order was restored and
al now posted TO the best advantage.
herewith inclose the official report OF Capt Kelly,
the con msnding off or of the New-York 69th also
h. laa nd nf.d nd nuv
lose was heavy, AID all around u.s. but the short ex.
posure intense fire OF SMALL arms, at close range,
had killed many, wounded more, and had produced
disorder In all the battIlons that had attempted 70
destroy it. Men fell away talking and 10 great
fusion. Col. Gamerson bad been mortally wounded,
carried to an ambulance, and reported dying. Many
other officers reported dead missing, and many
of the wounded were making their way, with more
less assistance, to the buildings hospitals. On
the ridge to the west succeeded in partially reorm-
ug the regiments but manifest they would not
stand, and directed COL Corcoran to move along the
ridge TO the r. the position where had frat
formed the brigade. Gen. Mcdowell was there in
person and used all possible efforts TO the
men. By the active eXertions of Col. Corcoran we
foI ned irregular square against the cavalry, which
was then 10 issue from the position from which
we had been driven, and we began our retreat toward
that ford of Bull Run, by which We bad approached
the field of battle There possible order TO re-
treat al,hough for an hour it had been going ON by
the operations of The themselves Tie ranks were
thin and irregular, and we found stream OF people
stirring from the hospital across Bull Run, and far to-
ward Centreyille.
Alter putting in motion the irregular square,
pushed forward 10 lind Capt Ayress Battery occupied
'hiefly at The point where Ricketts, Battery de-
stroyed. Lieut-Col Haggerty was killed abont noon,
before effected junction with Col Huners Di-
vision. Colonel Cameron was mortally wounded lead
ng the iment in the charge, aud Colonel Coreoran
tas been missing since the cavalry charge near the
building used rs a hospital.