The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-08-02
THE GREAT BATTLE.
DESCRIPTION BY II. j. RAYMOND, EDITOR
OF THE NEW YORK TIMES.
FULL DETAILS OF THE ENGAGEMENT.

FULL DETAILS OF THE ENGAGEMENT.
WASHINGTON, July %.
The battle yesterday was one of the most
severe and sanguinary ever fought on this
continent, and it ended in the failure of the
Union troops to hold all the positions which
they sought to carry, and which they ac-
tually did carry, and in their retreat.
On Saturday the troops were all brought
closely up to Centreville, and all needful
preparations were made for the attack
which was intended for the next day. Yes.
terday morning, therefore, the army march
ed, by two roads-Colonel Richardson, with
his command, taking the Southern, which
leads to Bulls Run, and General Tyler the
nOrthern-runniDg parallel to it at about
mile and half The movement commenced
at about three o'clock. l got up a little
before four, AID found the long line of
troops extended far out on either road. [
took the road by which Colonel Hunter
with his command, and General Mcdowell
and staff had gone, and pushed on directly
for the front.
After going out about two miles, Colonel
Hunter turned to the right marching OBJ
liquely towards the Run, which he was to
cross some four miles higher up and then
come down upon the intrenched positions Of
the enemy on the other side. Col. Miles
was left at Centreville and on the road,
with reserves which he was to bring up
whenever they might be needed. General
Yyler went directly forward, to engage the
enemy in front, and send reinforcements to
Col. Hunter whenever it should be seen
that he was engaged. the road is billy,
like all the surface of this section. After
going out about three miles, you come to a
point down which the road, leading through
forest descends; then it proceeds by a
succession of rising and falling knobs for a
quarter of mile, when it crossed a stone
bridge and then ascends by a steady slope
to the heights beyond. At the top of the
slope, the rebels had planted heavy bate.
ries, and the woods below were filled with
their troops and with concealed cannon.
We proceeded down the road to the first of
the small knobs mentioned, when the whole
column halted. The 80 FOUNDER Parrot gun,
which has longer range than any other in
the army, was planted directly in the road
Capt. Ayres's battery was stationed in the
woods a little to the right. The First Ohio
and Second New York Regiments were
thrown into the woods in advance on the
left. The sixty-ninth New York, the
First, Second and Third Connecticut Regi-
ments we're ranged behind them, and the
Second Wisconsin was thrown into the
woods on the right AT about half past
six o'clock the 80 FOUNDER threw two shells
directly into the battery at the summit OF
the slope, on the opposite height, one Of
which, as learned afterwards, struck and
exploded directly in the midst of the bate
ry, and occasiOned the utmost havoc and
confusion. After about half an hour Capt.
Ayres threw ten or fifteen shot and shell
from his battery into the same place. But
both failed to elicit any reply. Men could
be seen moving about the opposite slope,
but the batteries were silent. An hour or
so afterwards we heard three or four heavy
guns from COL Richardson's column at
Bulls Run, and these were continued at in
tervals for two or three hours, but they
were not answered even by single gun. 1t
was very clear that the enemy intended to
fight US, and he meant, moreover, to do it
in his own way. Meantime we could hear
10 the distance the sound of COL Hunters
axemeD, clearing his way, and awaited with
some impatience the sound of his cannon on
the opposite heights. Time wore along
with occasional shots from our guns, as well
as those of Col. Richardson's column, but
without, in single instance, receiving any
reply.
At little before eleven o'clock, the First
Ohio and Second New York, which were
lying in the wood on the left, were ordered
to advance. They did so,-passiDg ont OF
the road aud climbing fence into a wood
opposite, which they had barely approached
however, when they were met by tremen-
dous discharge OF a four gun battery, plant-
ed at the lett in the woods, mainly for the
purpose Of sweeping the road perpendicu-
larry and the open field on its right by
which alone they could pass forward to the
opposite bank. They were staggered for a
moment, and received orders to retire.
Capt. Ayres' Battery formerly Sherman's)
was advanced little, 30 as to command
this Battery, and by twenty minutes of Wig.
Qrous play upon it, silenced it completely.
At half past IL we heard Hunters guns
on the opposite height, over mile to the
right. He was answered by batteries there,
and. then followed the sharp, rattling volleys
otsmusketry, as their infantry became en-
gagged The firing was now incessant. Hun
ter had come upon them suddenly, and
formed his line of battle in an open field, at
the right of the road. The enemy drew up
to oppose him, but he speedily drove them
to retreat and followed them up with the
greatest vigor and rapidity. Meantime, for
some three hours previous, we had seen long
lines of dense dust rising from the roads
leading from Manassas, and with the glass
we could very clearly perceive that they
were raised by the constant and steady
stream of reintorcements which continued
to pour in nearly the whole day. The Goth,
10Th, I'd and 9Th New York; the let, I'd
and Sd Connecticut, aBd the Cd Wisconsin,
were brought forward in advance of the
wood and marched across the field to the
right to go to Col. Hunters support.
They crossed the intervening stream and
drew up in small open field, separated