Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1861-08-02

showed considerable order, but their works
one by one, were taken from them, until they
held only two or three, one in the highest
ground of their position, and the Others to the
left of Gen. Tyler's 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, except the second
brigade of the first division, had crossed Bull
Run
The engineers were bout constructing a
bridge for. the artillery, the regular stone
bridge having been mined, and two columns
under General Tyler and Hunter, the latter OF
which was led by Gen. Mcdowell, had actual
ly completed their junction when the order to
retreat was given. Why it was given, no per.
sOn who witnessed the battle and saw the con
dition in which affairs stood, can attempt to
comprehend. The only point positively held
by the enemy was a hollow, to our left, and al
though an effort was undoubtedly made to over
reach us at the left, an ample fOrce-an en-
tire bTigade-was ready to receive them, and
did rereive and repulse them afterward, in
spite of the panic which reigned. But, at the
beginning of the retirement, few ambulan-
ces and baggage wagons were driven hurriedly
away, the noise of which seemed to spread ter
ror among the troops within hearing, who in
stantly broke ranks and ran, pell nell, toward
CentreviIle.
The contagion caught the rest, and in less
than ten minutes our army was flying in the
utmost disorder. Everything was abandoned
Guns were thrown aside, and blankets and
knapsacks were lost and trampled upon. The
artillery shared the panic; the guns were cut
loose, and the gunners used the horses TO es-
cape the more swiftly. Those on foot begged
piteously to be allowed to share the horses Oi
those who rode. Many strove to Chamber into
wagons, and were pushed back by the bayo-
nets of those who occupied them.
The whole force engaged on eur side is esti-
mated at $4,000 men.
Some of our troops were worn out by long
marching.
Col. Hunters division suffered most scrio US
ly. 1t carried several of the eneny's batter
les, attacking them in the rear, but was insult
fcient to hold them, and reinforcement did not
come up.
Col. Heintzleman received bullet in his
arm which was extracted while he was still OH
horse back.
The reports of losses are various. 1 can
not estimate our loss at less than 500 killed
and wounded, but believe it cannot much ex-
coed that number, .. ..a
The prisoners agree in saying that there
were $4,000 rebels within the fortifcations at
Manassas, who were reinforced in the course
of the action by 10000 fresh men, who came
with johnson from Winchester. They also
say that their loss was terrible.
Two Georgian prisoners say that the list
and Rhode Island Regiments attacked two reg
inents, one Georgian, supported by Alabama
regiments, and put them to rout, utterly whip
ping them. Fresh reinforeements came up
which would also have been put to flight had
not the Rhode Island Battery and other artil-
lery suffered from want of ammunition, in
which consisted one of the greatest mistakes
of the day.