Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1861-08-02

and Minnesota regiments wers variously
posted thsrsabouts; others were In distant
portions OF the 6cld; oil werc completely
exhausted and partly discovered no general
Of division. except Tyler, could bc found.
Where were our officers, Where was the
foo! Who knew whether We had won or
Iostf
Tho question ua quickly TO DO decided
for Us. A sudden swoop, and . body Of
cavalry rushed down upon our columns near
the bridge. They came from tho woods on
the left, and infantry poured ou, behind
them. Tyler and his stat, with the reserve,
were apparently cut Of by the quick maneu.
YER succeeded In gaining the position l
had just loft, thero witnessed the capture OF
Carlyle's battery in the plain, and saw an
other forco Of cavalry and infantry pouring
into the road 1t the very spot whore the bat.
tlo commenced. and near which tho South
Carolinians, who manned the battery silen.
ced in the morning, had doubtless all day
been lying concealed. The ambulances aud
wagons had gradually advanced to this'po
and o. course ins,aneous confusion and dis.
may resulted. Our own infantry broke
ranks in the field, plunged into the wood'to
avoid the road. an! got up the bill rs best
they could. without leaders. o,sry man cav.
ing himself in hi, own way.
by the time reached tho top Of the bill
the retreat, the panic. the hideous headlons
confusion were now beyond hope. was
near the rear OF tho movement, with the
brave Capt. Alexander. who endea'ored by
the most gallant but unavailable eIertions
to check the onward tumult. i. was difh.
cult to believe in the reality Of our sudden
rcvsrs. What does it oil mein7" ! ask
ed Alexander. "lt means defeat, was his
reply. We are beaten IL is u shameful,
q cowardly retreat Hold W, men 80 he
shouted. " don't be such Internal towards -
aud he rode backward and forward. placing
hi, horse across the road, and vinly trying
to rally the running troops. The teams and
wagons confused and dismembered eServ
corps We were now cut OF IRON tho nd.
vance body by the ensmy's infantry. who
had rushed on the slope just LETT by u'. sur
rounded the gun, and suffers wagons, and
were apparently pressing up against US.
" IL Is no use, Alexander" said. "i'll b.
d-d II WILL" was bis sullen reply, and
the splendid fellow rode back to make h.
way as best he could. Meantime | aw Of.
fccrs with leaves and eagles on their shoul.
der.trap.. Majors and Colonies who had de-
serted their commands, passed mo gslloping
as II for dear life. No enemy pursued just
then but | suppose oil were afraid tha. his
guns would DO trained down tho long mar
row avenue. and NOW the re,reating thous.
aud, and batter 10 piece, army wagon, and
everything else which crowded it. Only
one field officer, 80 FAR As my observation eS'
tended. seemed 10 have remembered hi. du-
ty. Lieut.. Col. Spicdel, foreigner, at.
tschcd 20 q Connecticut regiment, s,ro'e
agains, the curren, ior alcague. Ipo.itive-
ly declare. that. with tho two exceptions
mentioned. all efforts made 10 check the
panic before Centre,Ills was reached. were
confined % nrihqns. saw a man in citi.
,cn's dress who had thrown OF his coat,
seired a muske,, and was trying to rally the
soldiers who came by at the point Of the
bayonet. In reply TO 4 r,que', for hi' name.
he said |, was washburnc. and | learned
,ha, be was the member by tina, name from
Illinois. The Hon. Mr.. Kellogg made q
similar effort. Both these Congressman
bra,ely stood their ground ill the las, mo-
lnent, and were servicsble at Centrevllle in
assisting the hal, there ultimately made.
And other civilian. did what they could.
But what scene and how terrific the
onset Of that tumul.uous retreat For three
miles. hosts OF federal troops-all detached
from their regiments, all mingled IN ono
disoricrly rou.-werc fleeing along the road
bot mostly through the lots on either side.
Army wagons, sutler's teams and private
carriages choksd the passage. tumbling
against each other. amid clouds OF dust,
and sickenins sights and sounds. Hacks,
containing unlucky spectators OF tho lats
aaray. were smashed like glass. and the oc-
cupauts were lost sight OF in the debris.
Ilorses, flying wildly from tho battle field.
many OF them in death agony. gallopcd at
random forward, jo'nins in the stampede.
Those on foot who could catch them roda
them bare back, as much TO save themselves
from being run over, as to make quicker
time. Wounded men, lying along the
bank---ths few either left On tho Geld or
taken to the captured hospitals, appealed
with raised hands to those who rode horsrs,
begging to be lifted behind. but few regard.
sd such petitions. Then the artillery. such
as Was saved. came .hunjsrins along. smash
Ing and o'erpowerins everything. Theres'
ular cavalry. I record |. to their shame. join.
Cd In the melee adding to its terrors, Tor
they rCde down iootmen without mercy.
One Of the grea, guns Was overturned. and
lay AMID the ruins Of caissou, As / passed
il. I saw an artillery man running between
the pouderous fore and sfser.whecls Of his
gun-carriagc, holding on with both hands
and vainly striving to jump upon the ord.
nance. The driver, we're spurring the hor.
'es; he could not cling much longer. and
more nsoniaed expression never fixed the fea.
lures Of q drowning man. The carriage
bou unded from tho roushness Of stsep hill
4. 10 ~..-l 4 l. Ill ..l