The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1861-09-03

-
caught up the cry. Turn blackburn. your
horses was the shout up the whole line, aud back
ing, plunging, rearing and kicking, the horses
which had been proceeding down the road re-
versed front and went off towards Centreville.
Those behind them went madly rushing on, the
drivers being quite Indifferent whether glory or
disgrace led the way, providing they could find it.
An officer on foot, with his sword under his arm,
ran up against me. What is all this about =
Why, we're pretty badly whipped We're all
in retreat" And on he ran. There came yet
another who said, "were beaten on all points.
The whole army is in retreat"
The ambulances were crowded with soldiers, but
1t did not look as if there were many wounded
Negro servants on lead horses dashed frantically
past men in uniform, whom it were disgrace to
the profession of arms to call soldiers, swarmed
by on mules, chargers, and even draught horses,
which had been cut out of carts or wagons, and
went on with harness clinging to their heels,
frightened as their riders. Men literally screamed
with rage and fright when their way was blocked
up. On | rode, asking all, " What is all this
about - and now and then, but rarely, receiving
an answer, "W ere whipped" or We're
pulsed Faces black and dusty, tongues out in
the heat, eyes staring-it was most wonderful
sight. AS | advanced, the number Of carts
diminis he'd, but the mounted men increased and
the column of fugitves became denser.
The road was strcwn with articles of clothing
frclocks, waist-bets, cartouch hboxes, caps, great
coats, mess tins musical instruments, cartridges,
bayonets and sheaths, swords and pistos-even
biscuits, wine bottles and pieces of meat.
The clouds of dust rising above the woods
marked the retreat of the whole army, and the
crowds Of fugitives continued to steal away along
the road. The sun was declining, and some thirty
miles yet remained to be accomplished ere | could
hope to gain the shelter of Washington. No one
" here an Or
but there rumors of all knds-"The Sixty
Ninth are cut to pieces" The Fire Zouaves are
destroyed" and so on.
Presently tremor ran through the men by
whom was riding, as the sharp reports of some
field pieces ratified through the woods close at
hand. A sort Of subdued roar, like the voice Of
distant breakers, rose in front of US, and the
soldiers, who were, | think, Germans, broke into
a double quick, looking now and then their
shoulders
And so the flight went on. AT one time
whole mass of infantry, with fixed bayonets, ran
down the bank Of the road, and some falling as
they ran must have killed and wounded those
among whom they fell. AS l knew the road
would soon become impossible or blocked up,
put my horse to gallop and passed towards
he front. But mounted men still rode faster,
shouting out, "Cavalry coming"
1t about this time / met a cart by the road
side surrounded by a group Of soldiers, some of
whom had 69' on their caps | asked the men
If the regiment how they happened to be there.
Shure, the Colonel himself told us to go off,
very man on his own hook, and to fly for our
ives, replied one Of them.
Another letter from Mr. Russell says, he having
acquired further information respecting the fight,
has come to the following conclusion:
There was not a bayonet charge mado by the
Federal infantry during the day. There not
charge of any kind made by the Confederate
,avalry upon any regiment Of the enemy until
hey broke; there was not hand-to-hand encounter
between any Of the regiments there was not a
,attery charged Or taken by the Fedcrasts there
we're no masked batteries in play by Confedcrstes;
Iouaves or others"