New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-08-05
TIVE WAR FOR THE UNION.
TIE NIGHT AFTER THE BATTLE
hen. V. Tribune.

fributions TO the general stock OF intelligence "'0
deyoured with avidity. AS my experience on w
night which followed the engagement al pun ~
wos ike that of few Others am tempted 10 e'0
\ somewhat in detail in The hope, that as we iedin
lessons for the future by contemplating inc -
of The past it may tend to show 10" u'''i' -
xod Of all reason and sense was Tie Pani'' -
drove orr troops from the field and pursuea '"o,'
through the long night to the camps ana l''l,I. 80
,oe,ts nm fbe Potomac. whence they had ma my
with so much pride and Pomp only h'' O'' ~
FIRE. a. Cyst
Tbourb I had determined to witness 'no NJ
general engagement with the enemy, 1orrsa,v
believe, after the premonlt'on oi -, hot
that we should renew the attack uP'" 10
ferries near Manassas until we had tnOlousn3
teeted HE hiding places by seathing anu OOT"D
mo him with shell and shot from guns VI 'O"e
range. through cannonade OF several Jay
Tberefore l did not credit the report that we
were to give him general baItie On 0unu"!'
and so remained in Washington. But ABOUT
noon while reposing in the Stiffness OF a grove,
near the Potomac, heard the deep booming OF
heavy guns without intermssiOn for more thah
an hour and knew the strife was gong ao' anu
lonsed to be there. To get pass over the rNer
was difficult task. When obtained, stili greater
obstacles lay in the way OF hiring q horse anu
carriaOe-for all horse flesh had already sped To-
ward the fight well-accredited report tha'
Gen. Mcdowell had telegraphed to the war Oe-
partment that our troops had slenced ihreo VI
the epemy's batteries, and were forcing han bacA
upon Manassas, aroused enthusiasm to the high
est pitch in the city; and as last resort, taxing
n seat with friend bound to CentreVuie aller
n relative, wounded in the unfortunate ahaT
of the previous Thursday, hied over the Long
Bridge in the best spirits, reaching the Virginia
shore at 5 O'Clock. Pushing up the hill We
learned from the soldiers of the New-1ork 2otD'
then occupying the intrenchments when CON-
nand the bridge, that the firing near MahaS-
sas had been heard almost without inter-
mission from sunrise, till within an hour
mast. when it ceased. Not doubling that
victory WAS then ilumiDg our standards
we sped on till we met carriage OF reporters
for the press, who, as they flew by, gave assur-
ance that the day was ours, and they were
dashing for Washington to send the glorious
news on lightning wings to New-fork' AZ
Rail.v's Cross Roads, so long the most advanced
and most hazardous outpost OF our picSets' we
encountered bevy of the bold NeW-Jersey
troops, wild with delight whose hearty cheers
over our triumph rang in our ears as we dashed
our steed onward. At Arlington Mills, while
papsne TO show our passes to the last Federal
nickel of our lines, we heard, for the first time
s;pce leaving Washington, the faint booming OF
cannon from the distant field. Our eyes kindled
with excitement at this renewal OF the engage
ment, and wo exclaimed, "Our troops nave
driven the Rebels back upon Manassas, and must
now be laundering at the gates OF the Junction !"
Alas how little we dreamed that those were the
guns of one of our field batteries, forced back
upon CentreviIe, and now struggling to break
furious charge of the Rebel Black Horse upon
the flank and rear of our columns, which, 10
wild disorder and paid with an underlined and
causeless terror, were then flying in panic from
fhe field.
The shadows Of evening were beginning to
draw their dusky folds around us. The woods
that skrted the road on either side, were thick
and somber. The sky, till now clear, became
suddenly overcast. At the foot Of weary hill
we stopped some minutes to rest. Not sound
reached US from the battlefield. Again and
again we bent our ears, but all was still, save
the wall Of q whip-poOr-witl, down deep in the
woody glen. An indescribable presentiment crept
over me, and seemed to say, alt is not well
with u.s." To shake it Off and urge on our
refreshed horse was but the work of moment.
After solitary ride Of a mile or two, while
slowly climbing long activity, a hOrsemaD,
covered with dust, his bridle-bit dripping with
foam, passed us. "What is the news :" shouted
j. "The troops have fallen back" said he.
"What trOOpsi" "The Federal troops. They
may try TO make a stand of Centreville."
Having recovered from my preseDtiment,
and not doubling that the day was our own
/ was uncivl enough to scream to my recediDg
informant that he was q SecessiOnist and
deserved hanging on the next tree. A turn ia
the narrow road soon entanglcd US 10 train of
800 wagons, laden with provisions and ammu.
milton, bound from Alexandria TO Centreville. In
. deep gorge the train suddenly halted. 1 was
conyersing with the Colonel Of q New.Jersey
Regiment, who commanded the troops that |
s... @c,. .ae train eXuting with him over or:
victory and wondering why the train did not
push on. Just then the trsn.master rode down
from tie 'front.' whispered mysteriousy TO the
Colonel and galoped away. continued my
congratulations. The Colonel, gay and joy
Gus before, was now ominously silent. at
last he said, SIR, il is not well with U.S.
We have been beaten and are falling back upon
Centreylle in disorder" The tidings went