The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1861-09-05
DoWAGIAC THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 1861 z


off every man on his own hook. and to f,v 5ri our
lives" replied one of them. The mail a9ert t vs,
told me be was an Englshman, started the cart
again. i sincerely hope no bad result to himself
or his charge followed my advice
We rode into Fairfax together.>
1 reached Fairfax Court Honse; the people.
black and white, with anxious faces were at the
doors, and the infantry under arms. was be-
sieged with questions, though hundreds Of fugi-
tives had passed through before me.
Itisasmall matter, this, bat it marks
the accuracy of the man, Not ques-
ton was asked of Mr.. Russell nor of
us; not a."fugitive," we dare affirm,
had passed that way the infantry
another New Jersey Regiment, if we
are not mistaken-were at their usual
evening parade, supposing, no doubt,
that their companions in arms lad won
a great yictorysa i.p Nl-c ii et, syes
At one house stopped to ask for water for INV
horse the owner sent his servant for it tcheerfuly,
the very house where we had in vain asked for
something to eat in the forenoon. 9. There's a
fright among them," l observed, in reply to his
question concerning the commissariat drivers.
They're afraid of the enemy's cavalry" =" Are
you an American ?' said the man. No / am
not" "Well, then," he said, " there will be cav
airy on them soon enough. There's twenty thous-
and of the best hersemen in the world in yir-
ginny p' ia 20 III VI
: AT the little one-horse tavern in Fair.
fax, the horses-Mr.9 RS and our own
were watered by servant; but the re-
ported conversation did not take place.
A short distance from the inn, Mr.. Rus.
sell put spurs TO his animal, and, riding
furiously, left us behind he picked up
ample material for Misrepresentation
however, as he went. We point out
the greatest falsehood, if one falsehood
can be greater than another, in the col
umns that he has devoted to the villif
cation of our troops 1ctsat'Wjok {
Washington was still eighteen miles away. The
road was rough and uncertain and again nv poor
steed was under way but it was no use of irving
to outstrip the runaways. Once or twice imagined
heard guns in the rear, but could not be sure,
IN consequence Of the roar of the FIJI hit behind me
1t was most surprising to see how far the foot sol
diers had contrived to go on in advance. s'-+'
LIT fasst have been surprising indeed
Frem the moment of meeting the first
New Jersey regiment Of which we have
spoken, not soldier, unless, one Of q
baggage or picket guard, did we sec
on the road-not one. The wagons
going ne were few and their progress.
was not such as to indicate that they
were making retreat. We faced trair
after train going out with supplies, with
out guard and without suspicion thai
the army was beaten and in flight The
defeat was not known to any on the
road, not even to Mr.. Russell, who in
formed us that our army would fal
back and encamp for the night, only te
renew the battle the next day. The
'roar of the flight behind me'' is {
sketch of the imagination. We wer'
behind me-" and heard the guns anC
marked the time as us; but save ou
poor old thick -winded steed, there wa
not another horse on the road within
our sight. A few carriages Will
wounded, a few retiring civilions--non,
making haste, none suspecting th'
finale that was reached-soon passed
us but not an armed man, trooper no
footman, was anywhere near. Mr.
Russell in another paragraph confesse
as much:
1T was strange ride, through a country MOI
still as death, the white road shining like rive
in the moonlight, the trees black as ebony in th
shade; now and then figure fitting by into th
forest or across the road-frightened friend o
lurking foe, who could say? Then the anxiou
pickets and sentries all asking, whats tn
news ?" and evidently prepared for any amount Q
ioss.' SO ~ -t. n t-I4-i aidlrttl' 3
+ The truth is probably this: TIL
imaginative, correspondent left the bat
tle-ground before any confusion occur
red, and when the retrogade movemen
was ordered. Hearing the exaggel
ated stories of what came to be a fligh,
| after he got into Washington, on Mon
day, while the excitement was at it
height, he wove. them into bis letter a
facts of bis own observation. Th
rout was disgraceful enough to max
any mans blood cold in his veins bu
it was not what Mr.. Russell describes
As we have asserted, he did not see i
Chicago Tribune.