Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1861-07-24
Total Rout of our Army.
Our Heavy Guns Lost.
Whole RegimetsC Cut q p.
IMMENSE LOSS OF LIFE.

Close upon the heels of the gratifying news
Run, comes the mortifying intelligence OF an
almost total rout Of Gen. McDowell's large
Union Army in its advance upon Manassas
Junction on the 2lst. Many confused state
ments are prevalent, but enough is known TO
render it certain that our army has been re-
pulsed with loss yariously estimated from
1000 to $4,000 men, including many officers.
The carnage is tremendously heavy on both
sides, and ours is represented as frightful.
The Union forces were advancing gradually
and surely, driving the enemy before them
and taking their masked batteries, when Gen.
Johnston's whole force came to the aid of the
Rebels and drove our troops back, creating
CONSERVATION and dealing out death in every
direction.
The battle commenced about O'Clock A.
M., and up to three O'Clock in the afternoon,
the tide seemed to be in our favor, although
our troops had dread of the masked batter
les which opened upon them at every point
with frightful fatality. At this hour it was
understood that the enemy was perceptibly
giving way that Hunter had driven them
back in the rear that HeintzeIman's command
was meeting with every success and that it
only required the reserve of Tyler's division
to push on to Manassas Junction. Just then
the enemy opened their batteries on Schenck
and I Tyler's rear and moved them down like
scythe would cut down grass. About o.
clock Col. Cameron of the New York 10th,
a brother of the Sec'y fwar,) was struck by
cannon ball in the breast and instantly Kill
led. Other officers were also killed and
wounded, and soon our troops gave way.
T. The batteries were ordered around to cover
the retreat, and keep the Rebels from cutting
of our men from Centreville, which was or
4,miles in the rear, and where a reserve force
Of 1000 or 5000 was posted. A wheel COM
ing off one of the gun carriages created confu-
sion amongst the artillery the gunners of
Sherman's and Carlisle's batteries cut the
traces Of their horses, and their running in
turn put the infantry in perfect panic, and
caused an ipdiscriminate retreat on their part,
the men. throwing guns, cartridge boxes,
knapsacks, coats, &C., in every direction,
many of the poor fellows, overpowered with
heat and thirst, sinking to the ground never
perhaps to rise again. The road was strewed
with wrecks of wagons, provisions, muskets,
blankets, coats, ammunition and everything
the men could divess themselves of, the ene-
my Keeping up constant fire in the rear, and
their cavalry riding through and cutting and
slashing our men with perfect fendishness.
Gun heavy siege guns were left on the field.
Yen, Mnnn all a
rally the troops at various places, but to little
purpose. The start of the panic is attributed
to the CONSERVATION of teamsters, who had
advanced Immediately after the
body OF the army had lined the " arrenton road.
twill be several days before our exact loss,
and the exact cause of this terrible disaster,
are known. Gen. Patterson just now comes
in for large share of blame. He was expec-
ted to engage Johnston and prevent bis joining
Manassas forces. 1t is charged against him,
that instead of doing this, he retreated to
Charleston. Whether this is correct or not,
will soon be shown.
1t is vaguely reported that General Patter-
sons division arrived in the vicinity of Manas-
sas this morning, and commenced an attack on
the rebel forces. He was within twenty five
miles of the battle ground on the day of the
battle, and the exhausted condition of his men
General Mcdowell.
The following regiments were engaged in the
fight 1st, I'd and Sd Connecticut; I'd Maine; a
regiment of Regulars, composed of companies of
the I'd, Sd and Sth regiments; two hundred and
fifty Marines; Sth and 14th New York militia
1st and I'd Rhode Island list NewYork; I'd New
Ham pshire; Sd Massachusetts, Ist Minnesota
1st Michigan; 1lth and 18th New York I'd, 4th,
5th and Goth Maine, and the I'd Vermont, besides
the several batteries.
WAsHINGToSM, July %, 2i p. m.-Pursuant to or
ders, forces have retreated to their entrench-
ments opposite Washington city Gen. M'Dowell
occupie: the old headquarters of the army which
he had before the advance. The city is perfectly
safe from attack. There at least thirty thou
sand Federal troops now occupying the entreneh-
ments opposite the city. Some of the remnants
OF the regiments who retreated from the fight
have come into Washington
The enemy, probably exhausted by the effort of
yesterday, is not making any pursuit
Tho Rhode Island battery taken by the |
rebels at the bridge across Bulls Run where their
retreat was cut off, all the horses being killed. 1t
IS reported that the rebel Black Horse Cavalry |
n ade attack the of the retreating army.
It was the remnant of the Fire Zouaves that |
we're attacked by the Black Horse Cavalry and |
'epulsed them, leaving but six of the rebels to
'eturn. This gallant regiment now numbers but |
| couple of hundred men.
1t ID probable that the number of killed and |
r0un nj ed 10 cd hv fho Iay rhor~ boi
ire missing-lrobably wandering through the