Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1861-07-25
THE w A II.
I THE GREA TEST hattie EVER F0UGHT
ON TINS CONTINENT
DEFEAT AND RoUT OF THE FEDERAL
ARMY.

]
Bulls Run. Our troops advanced in tire,
columns. Col. Richardson commanded by thu
road to Bulls Run where the action of Thurs
day took place, and Col. Miles lay on the roat
10 support him. Gen. Tyler commanded The
center division which took the Warrenton road
Gen. Sehenck and Col. Sherman being in ad.
vance. He had the three Connecticut regi
ments, two from Michigan, two from Wisconsin
and the sixty-ninth and seventy-ninth, from
New York. Mcdowell, with Col. Hunter ant
very powerful division, went out on this road
which leads directly forward to Manassas, cross.
ing Bulls Run by a stone bridge, which had
been mined.
The attack by these two points was intended
mainly as a feint The real attack was by
Hunter, who took a narrow road two miles out
leading to the right, having Hunts and the
Rhode Island batteries, and leaving Col Reyes
on the center at the crossing of the roads as a
reserve. His orders were to proceed high up
the stream, cut himself a path through the
woods, cross over, and turn the position of the
rebels on the north.
The first gun was fred by the center column
at six O'Clock in the morning and from this time
throughout the day the fight was kept up with
great vigor on both sides and with the results
largely in favor of the federal troops. Up to
two o'clock our troops had driven the enemy
through a distance of nearly two miles, and
were in actual possession of that part of the
field As the enemy fell back from one position,
it was only upon another equally strong, and at
every point fresh achievements were poured in,
almost without limit, as to number. There can
be no doubt that their forces was at least double
ours. Three of the masked batteries of the Sc
cessionists had been taken and others were ST.
fenced. The New York Fire Zouaves and the
Goth behaved with great valor and both were
badly cut up. Thus far all went well and in
our favor.
The dispatches Monday night, in part con-
frmed by the papers Tuesday morning put a
different face upon the affair. After fighting
well all day our troops were opposed by over
odds, and being suddenly seized with
a panic they broke up and scattered in great
confusion They continued their retreat to
Alexandria and Arlington Heights and there
halted within the entertainments. The follow
ing are the particulars by Tuesdays papers:
FIRST REPORTS.
Our troops after taking the three batteries
at Bulls Rum and gaining great victory, were
eventually repulsed and commenced retreat on
in good order with the rear well
covered by good column. Our loss is 250O
to 5000. The Notifications around Washington
are strongly reinforced by fresh troops.
1t is reported that late on Sunday afternoon,
after the rebels had been driven from their
strongholds at the Run, they were reinforced
by Johnston, when the Union army were at
tackled and driven back in disorder from the
ground. The rebel army numbered 10000.
Alter the latest information was received
from Centerville, at l-2 O'Clock Sunday night,
a series Of events took place in the intensest
icgree disnetrous. Many eonfNsed statements
are prevalent, but enough is known to warrant
The statement that we have suffered in degree
which has cast a gloom over the remnant of
he army and excited the deepest melancholy
throughout Washington.
The carnage is tremendously heavy on both
sides, and on ours it is represented as fIightful.
We were advancing and taking their masked
batteries gradually but surely, and by driving
he enemy toward Manassas Junction, when the
,nemy seems to have been reinforced by Gen
Johnston, who 1t is understood took command,
md Immediately commenced driving us back,
when q, panic among our troops suddenly oc-
urred and a regular stampede took place.
1t is thought that Gen Mcdowell undertook
o make 4 stand at or about Centervillc. hut
he panic was so fearful that the whole army
,ccame demorali2ed, and it was impossible to
heck them either at Centervile or at Fairfax |
1ourt House. Gen Mcdowell intended to make
mother stand at Fairfax Court House, but our
orces being in full retreat, he could not ac-
ompish his object. Beyond Fairfax Court
louise the retreat was kept up until the men
cached their regular encampments A portion |
f the men returned to them, but a still larger
ortion is coming inside the entertainments.
! large number Of troops on the retreat fell by
he wayside from exhaustion, and are scattered
long the entire route. all the way from Fairfax
curt House. The road from Bulls run to
'enteryille was strewn with knapsacks, arms.
&C. Some of our troops deliberately threw
way their guns and appendages, the better to
lcilitate their travel.
Gen Mcdowell was in the rear at the retreat.
xerting himself TO rally his men, but with only
artial effect. The latter part of the army is said
} have made their retreat in order. Gen Me
lowell was completely exhausted, having silent
ut little for three nights. His orders on the
ED did not at all times reach those for whom
iey were intended, it is supposed. The force
mt against our troops consisted, according to
prisoners statement, of about 10000, iuclud-
e large number Of cavalry. He further
lys that owing to reinforcements from Rich
ond and Suasburg and other points, the en-
ny's effective force was 10000 men. Accor-
ing to the statement of two Fire Zouaves they
ally have about 200 men left from the slaugh-
r, while the New York 69tlQ nd other reg
nents frightfully suffered in Killed and woun
ed. The number cannot now be known.
herman's, Carlisle's, Griiln's and the West
oint batteries were taken by the enemy, and
lie eight seige 80 pound rifle cannon, the lat
r being too cumbersome to remove. They
ere two miles the other side of Centerville.
The panic was so great that attempts to rally
lr men at Centcryille were entirely in vain.
n firm stand had been made there our troops
,uld have been reinforced and much disaster
reverted. Gen Mcdowell was thus foied in
5 well arranged plans.
1t is presumed the provision trains belong
x to the United States were saved. Some
glmental wagons were overturned by accident
the wheels came off and had to be abandon
|. The large droves Of cattle were saved by
ling driven back in advance of the retreat
THE PANIC.
The following is an account of the Inaugural
IN of the panic which resulted SO disastrous
All our military operations went swimming
on, and Col Alexander was about erecting a
Ill Il, IL.