The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1861-07-31

now became ineessant. Hunter bad come upon
them suddenly and formed his line Of battle in
an open field, at the right Of the road. The
enemy drew up to oppose him but he speedily
drove them to retreat and followed them up
with the greatest yigor and rapidity. Mean
time, for some three hours previous, we had
seen long lines OF dense dust rising from the
roads leading 10 Manassas, and with the glass,
we could very clearly perceive that they we're
raised by constant and steady stream OF rein
ioTcemeuts which continued to pour nearly the
whole day. The Sixty Ninth, Seventy Ninth,
Second and Eighth, New York-the First, Sec
ond and Third Connecticut, and the Second
Wisconson, were brought forward in advance OF
the wood and marched across the field to Col.
Hunters support. They crossed the interyen-
ing stream and drew up in a small open field.
separated fiom Col Hunters column by dense
wood, which was filed with batteries and in-
iantry. Our guns continued to play upon the
woods which thus concealed The enemy, and
aided materially in clearing them for the ad-
vance. Going down the extreme front of the
column, could watch the progress of Col
Hunter, marked by the constant roar OF artil-
lery and tie roll Of musketry as he pushed
the rebels back from point TO point. At O'Clock
he had driven them out Of the wood and across
lDe TOau WHICH was " iuat
on which we stood. Here, by the side OF their
batteries the rebels made stard. They plan
ted their flag directly in the road, and twice
charged across it upon our men, but without
moveing them an inch. They were met by a
destructive fire, and were compelled to fall still
further back. Gradually the point of fire pas
sed further away, until the dense cloud Of smoke
which marked the progress Of the combat were
at least half mile to the left of what had been
the central position, of the rebels.
1t was now 212 o'clock. was at the ad
vanCed point of the front Of our column, some
hundred rods beyond the woods, in which the
few troops then there drawn up when deci,
ded to drive back TO town 10 send you my dis
patch. As passed up the road the balls and
shell from the enemy began to fall with more
than usual rapidly. II did the point from which
they came, but meeting Capt. Ayers, be said he
was about to bring up his battery, supported by
the Ohio Brigade, under Brigadier General
Schenck to repel rumored attempt OF cavalry
! to outfank this column. As went fUrW ard
he passed down. Gen. Schencks Brigade was
at once drawn up across the road and Capt.
| Ayres' guns were planted on knoll at the lett,
when powerful body OF rebels, with heavy
battery, came down from the direction Of Bulbs
| Run, and engaged this force with tremendous
! effect. / went to CentTeVi!le, sent off my des
patch, and started with all speed to return,-n
/ tending to go with ont troops upon what had
been the hotlys contested fold never doubling
moment that it would remain in their hands,
! | had gone but quarter Of a mile VIXEN We
met a great number OF ugitives, and our car
| riage soon became entangled in mass OF bag.
gage wagons, the officer IN charge of which
told me it was useless to go in that direction,
as our troops were retreating Not crediting
! the story, which was utterly inconsistent with
what had seen but little while be lore, | con-
tnned to push on. soon met QuartermaSter
Ste SON. oI the Fire ZouaveS, who tod me,
bursting into tears, that his Regiment had been
utterly cut to pieces, that the Colonel and L eu-
! tenant Colorel were both killed, and that our
troops had actually been repuised. l still tried
! to proceed, but the advancing columns render
ed it impossible, and | TUNED about. Leaving
my carriage ! went 10 high point Of ground
| and saw, by the dense cloud of dust which rose
over each Of the three roads by which the three
columns of the army had advanced, that they
were all on the retreat. Sharp discharges OF
cannon in their rear indicated that they were
pursued. ! waited half an hour or so, 10 OBJ
serve the troops and batteries as they arrived,
and then | started for Washington, to send my
dispatch and write this letter. AS | came past
the tll on which the Secessionsts had their
entertainments less than week ago, SAW our
forces taking up positions for defence if they
should be assa'led.
Such is very rapid and general history OF
Yesterdays engagement. | am unable to be
precise or profuse in matters of detail, and must
leave these for future letter
hear nothing, on every side, but the hearth
est commendation OF our troops. They fought
| like veterans. The rebels did not in single
instance, stand before Them IN a charge, and
were shaken by every volley of their musketry
! do not prise any one at the expense Of anoth-
er. The Sixty Ninth fought with splendid and
tenacious courage They charged batteries
three or four times, and would have taken and
held them but for he reinorcements which
were constantly AMI steadily poured in. In
deed it is to this fact alone that the comparative
success OF the rebels is due. We had not ovel
$4,000 men in action, the rest heing held be-
hind as reserves at Centrevile, while the enemy
must have numbered at least 60OO ..