The Nevada Democrat., 1861-08-06
THE BArTLE AT RULL,s RUN.

The details of news brought by the late
Pony, furnish mass Of reports relative to
the Battle at Bulls Run. and the defeat Of
the Federal troops, but we have no connect
ed account of the fight. The battle COM
menced at four o'clock on the morning OF
July 2lst, and the Federal troops had ad-
vance6 two miles by two o'clock, taking
many of the enemy'S batteries, and driving
them back with great slaughter. At this
time a panic broke out in the rear of the
Federal army, among the teamsters and
civilians, which was communicated TO the
troops, and the flight commenced. The
cause of the panic is thus stated
Our army was capturing battery after battery.
| The ammunition of our artillery had been ex-
pended in the contest, and as the cannons were
rushing at full speed to the rear for new supplies
of ammunition, the movement was construed
by civilians and teamsters there into a retreat,
and panic occurred among them. They ran
| for their horses without waiting to ascertain
| the facts, cut the traces, and with the horses
commenced precipitate retreat. The conster-
nation thus created was communicated to the
troops in the rear Of the column at the very
moment a charge Of cavalry corps from Manas-
sas was made upon them. 1t was nothing less
I than n stampede. The enemy themselves were
unaware of it.
Another account says:
The following is an account Of the beginning
of the panic which resulted so disastrously to
our troops Ali our military operations went
on swimmngly, and Col. Alexander was about
running pOntoon across Bulls Run, when
terrific CONSERVATION broke out among the
teamsters, who incautiOusly advanced imme-
diately after the body OF the army, and lined
the Warrenton road. Their CONSERVATION was
shared in by numerous civilians who we're on
the ground. Soon our whole army was in re-
treat. For time perfect panic prevailed
which communicated itself to the vicinity of
Centreville, and every available conveyance
was seized upon. Several similar alarms had
occurred on previous occasions, caused by
change of position in our batteries, and it was
most probable that was the cause of the alarm
The Federal forces south Of the Potomac
amounted to $4,000 meD, but only about
10000 were actually engaged in the fight.
or these, the New York Fire Zoaves, aud
the New York 69tb, are represented to have
fought like devils, and Col. Farnham of the
former, and Col. COrcoran of the latter, are
reported to have been killed, but this
may prove untrue. The men of The Goth
stripped to the skin, except their pants, and
pitched into the fight regardless of life and
personal safety. The ZOaves were terribly
cut up, and it was at first reported that all
but 200 were killed or wounded, but later
accounts state that 600 had returned.
The other regiments actually engaged in
the battle were as follows:
! 1st, I'd and Sd Connecticut regiments regi-
ment of Regulars, including 25O Marines, the
9Th and l4th New York Militia, the lst and I'd
Rhode Island, 7lst New York, I'd New Hamp-
shire, 9TH Massachusetts, lst Michigan, llth
and 38th New York, lst I'd, 4th and 9th Maine,
and the I'd Virginia, besides the several batteries
The panic, it appears, was principally
amoug the camp followers aud the troops
who occupied the rear during the fight, aud
were in front on the retreat. The forces
actually in the fight conducted the rear of
the retreat in good order but according to
the accounts, the panic-stricken men in
front run all the way to Alexandria and
Arlington Heights, distance of twenty.
five or thirty miles. They certainly proved
themselves equal to the rebels on the leg.
Among the dispatches relating to the re-
treat, we select the following:
Gen. Mcdowell was in the rear of the retreat
exerting himself to rally his men, but only with
partial effect. The latter part of the army, it is
said, made their retreat in order His orders
on the field did not at all times reach those for
whom they were intended.
Gen. Schenck, as well as the older field Off
GERS, acted admirably. He collected his forces
and covered the retreat, and up to the last mo-
ment was personally engaged in the endeavor
to rally his men and make a stand at Centre.
vile. 1t was the arrival of fresh reinforce
ments with the enemy, in superior numbers
which turned the scale of battle. The enemy.
before now, might, perhaps, have had more to
boast If they had followed up their advantage
last night.
Gov. Sprague's bravery, during the whole day
challenged universal admiration. Aided by
Major Castor, Paymaster of the New York l4th |
he succeeded in bringing out some degree of
order. In this chaos the brave Rhode island |
ers we're formed in the rear to oppose the adj !
vance of the pursuers. Mcdowell behaved with
the greatest bravery, but is was unavailng to
avert the panic in the rear.
The retreat of our troops to Centreville was
successfully accomplished by s O'Clock last
night, the regiments regainin0 the position va /