Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1861-08-22

with men, or were followed by Others, who
clune behind them. The ambulances were
crowded with soldiers, but II did not look as
If there were many wounded. Negro ser
wants on led horses dashed irantioally past
men in uniform, whom It was disgrace to
the profeaaion 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, IS frightened as their
riders. Men literally screamed with rage
and fright when their way was blocked up.
On rode, asking all "Whati Is all this about"
and now and then, but rarely, receiving the
answer, VWere whipped?' or, aWe're re-
pulsed Faces black and dusty, tongues out
in the heat, eyes staring-it was most Won
derful sight. On they came like him
"--who having once turned round goes on,
And turns no more his head.
For he knoweth that fearful 6end
i Doth close behind him tread"
But where was the iend2 looked in
vain. There was, indeed, some cannonading
in front Of me and in their rear, but still the
firing was comparatively distant and the
ruRaways were far out of range. As l ad-
vanced tho number Of carts diminished, but
the mounted men increased, and the column
of fugitives became denser. A few buggies
and light wagons filled vita men, whose
faces would have made up "a great Leporel-
To- in the ghost scene, tried to pierce the
rear Of the mass Of carts, which we're now
solidihed and moving on like glacier. ]
crossed small ditch BY the roadside, got out
on the road 10 escape some snake fences, and
looking before, saw there was still crowd
of men in uniforms coming along. The road
was strUwn with;articles of clothing, hrelocks,
tins, musical instruments, cartridges, bayo-
nets, and sheaths, swords and pistols-even
biscuits, water bottles, and pieces of meat
Passing white house by the roadside, l
saw, for the first time, body of infantry
with sloped arms marching regularly and
rapidly toward me. Their faces were not
blackened by powder, and il was evident
they had not been engaged. In reply to a
question non-commissioned officer told me
in broken English, aWe fall back to our
lines. The attack did not quite succeed. -
This was assuring to one who had come
through such scene as had been Witness
ing. had ridden, l suppose, about three or
three and .a-haf miles from the hill, though
it is not possible TO be sure of the distance;
when, having passed the white house. /
came out on an open piece of ground, be-
yond and oircling which was forest. Two
field pieces were unIimbered and guarding
the road; the painting and jaded horses in
the rear looked as though they had been
hard worked, and the gunners and drivers
looked worn and detected. Dropping shots
sounded close in front through the woods;
but the guns on the left no longer maintain
ed their FIRE. was Just about to ask one of
the men for light, when a sputtering FIRE
on my right attracted my attention, and out
of the forest or along the road rushed num-
Der of men. The gunners seized the trail of
the nearest piece to wheel it round upon
them; others made for the tumbrills and
horses as If to ly, when a shout was raised,
HDon't fire; they're our own men," and in
few minutes on came pell-nell whole regi-
ment in disorder. | rode across one and
stopped him. "We're pursued by cavalry"
he gasped; "They've cut rs all to pieces p
/ As he spoke a shell burst over the column;
another dropped on the road, and utstream-
ed another column of men, keeping together
with their arms, and closing up the strag-
/ glers of the first regiment turned, and to
my surprise saw the artillerymen had gone
L 0lg lGANaAlL OIC kAAI Ul llS6lIs lDeY
had reirested with their horses.
i,. While we were on the nil had observed
and pointed out to my companions cloud
of dust which rose through the trees on our
right front. In my present position that place
must hsye been on the right rear, and it oe-
CURED to me that after all there really might
be body Of cavalry in that direction but
Murat himself would not have charged these
wagons in that deep, well-fenced lane. If
the dust came, as believe it did, from field
artillery, hat would be different matter
Any way it was now well established that
the retreat had really commenced, though
saw but few wou ed men, and the regiments
which were falling back had not suffered
much loss. No one seemed to know any
thing for certain. Even the caVaiy charge
was a rumor. Several officers said they had
carried guns and lines, but then they drifted
into the nonsense which one reads and hears
everywhere about " masked batteries" One
or two talked more sansibly about the strong
| positions of the enemy, the fatigze of their
men, the want of reserve, severe losses, and
the bad conduct Of certain regiments. Not
one spoke as if be thought of retiring beyond
Centrsvilie. The clouds Of dust rising above
4 MO0A1 4da AC4 AlU A1IcAA Vi WQQl0
army, and the crowds of fngitiyes continued
to steal away along the road. The sun was
declining, and some thirty miles yet remain
ed to be accomplished ereI could hope to gam
the shelter Of Washington. No one knew
whittier any corps or regiment was march,
ing, but there were rumors OF all kinds
"The 69th are cut to pieces" "The Fire
Zouaves are destroyed" and so on. Present.
ly. a tremor ran through he men by whom l
was riding, as the sharp reports of some
6eld-rieces ratified through the wood close
at hand. A sort Of subdued rear, like the
voice of distant breakers, rose in front of US,
/ and the soldiers, who were, Think, Germans,
broke into double, looking now and then
over their shoulders. There was no choice
for me but to resign any further researches.
The mail frem Washington for the Wednes
day steamer at Boston, leaves at % on Mon
day, and so put my horse into trot, keep
| ing in the fields alongside the roads as much
as could, to avoid the fugitives, till came
once more on the rear of the baggage
and stort-carts, and the pressure of the
crowd, who, conscious of the aid which
the vehicles would afford them against a
cavalry charge, and fearful, nevertheless of
/ their proximity, clamored and shouted like
msdmen as they ran. The road was now
literally covered with baggage. It seemed
to me as if the men inside were throwing
the things ont purpOsely. "Stop." cried /
to the driver Of one of the carts, tievreythiup
is falling out" "- you, I" shouted a
fellow inside, " if you stop him, I'll blow
your brains out" sly attempts to save I'm.
Gle Sans property were then and there dis.
continued. g..is f.-, .
On approaching Centreville body of Ger
man infantry Of the reserve came marching
down and stemmed the current in some de-
gree; they were followed by a brigade of
guns and another battalion of fresh troops.
turned up on the bill half mile beyond
The vehicles had all left but two; my buggy
was gone. A battery OF field pieces were in
position where we had been standing. The
men looked well. As yet there was nothing