The Nevada Democrat., 1861-08-13
Another Account Of the battle.


furnished by correspondent of the Pbila-
delphia Press, VIC extract The following:
The road 10 Manassas was partly visible,
and although it was difficult to distinguish
the forces, the occasional appearance Of a
secession flag indicated that Beauregard
had reinforced General Johnston, who was
commanding, and that, instead of awaiting
the arrival Of Mcdowell at Manassas, he
bad determined to throw forward bis forces
aud fight the battle for empire in Eastern
Virginia, in the hills Of Prince William
county.
As the day advanced, the firing became
louder and more incessanL For miles
around there seemed to be constant roar
of artillery, aud clouds of ascending dust
and smoke, The scene from Centreville
was extremely picturesque To the casual
observer, il looked more like company Of
citizens at u military review, rather than
the deadly contest OF two great armies. AS
We proceeded along the road, there we're
more sigLs of hustle and military activity.
The heavy baggage wagons, laden with
food and ammunition, covered the road for
a mile or two. Around them sullen senti-
nels slowly marched, swearing at the desti.
ny which kept their bayoneis a mere guard
over flour, biscuits. powder and percussion
caps. Occasionally, an anxious soldier might
be seen stopping every traveller, begging to
know the slightest intelligence Of the battle.
and asking fondly whether he knew how
the Maine, the Vermont, or the New York
boys, as the case may be, were making ont;
whether Death had been dealing largely in
their ranks, or whether in this great hour
OF Death their comrades we're passing un.
scaihed amiO lis unimaginable terrors and
unutterable woe.
As noon approached, II was evident the
battle would be general. Regiment after
regiment wheeled from the column, and on
the right, aud left. and front, the sound of
firing became more and more incessant.
The anxiety among those in the vicinity
was intense. 1t was evident that the bat
tie would be holly contested that the Sc
cessionsls were far more numerous than
we had expected, and that, with the advan-
tage of a stongly defended natural position,
artillery of wonderful range, and well prac-
TIC d gunners, they would not give the
United States forces victory except Of the
most fearful cost. Our men had driven
them from field into the woods, and from
the woods into field beyond, and a road
which crossed between the woods which
skirted the extreme line of the battlefield.
As the hours passed on, the fight became
more and more terrific. The fortunes Of
the day began 10 waver, especially as the
Federal troops did not seem TO gain any
material advantage, and only made their
advances slowly. laboriously, and at great
loss Of life The rebels were strongly en-
trenched behind masked batteries of riaed
cannon. They seemed TO be innumerable.
Again aud again our men charged upon
them, only to ind when they bad dislodged
them in one place they had reappeared in
another, until at last The Federal soldiers
were compelled TO fall on their faces 10
avoid The swift messengers OF death. II
was found too, that the rebel forces largely
Outnumbered those Of the Republic. ]
have no means of knowing the exact
strength Of either Of the armies. but the
best authorities state that the Secefsionisis
numbered 10000, while at no time had
General Mcdowell in action as many a.
10000. Our troops were mainly infantry
our batteries. as q general thing, were
small and although we'll managed. they
were no match for the cannon of larger
calbre manned by the rebels.
The fight continued until five o'clock,
without exhibiting any material result.
The rebels had most decidedly the advan-
tage IN position and guns, and they used
it with fearful effect. The bravery of our
troops was superbuman. but what bravery
conId meet the unerring and unceasiDg
cannon which came sweeping from almost
every tree or heap of brush Our men un.
masked them. battery after battery, only to
6nd their lessened ranks we're unequal 10
the task. A retreat was made by O New
York regiment, and very soon became gen.
eral. In vain General Mcdowell endeavor-
ed to rally bis forces. They relreated np
the Centreville road in good order until
charged upon by the Secession cavalry and
artillery, when they broke their lines and
pushed toward Fairfax Court House ia
disorderly column.