The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1861-08-02

SIDE Mr. Crlttenden5 8 feelings are
enlisted.
Splendid Description Of the Retreat.
The following magnificent discrip-
tion of the latter portion OF the bat
tie Of the 21st and the retreat, is by
Stedmau. OF the New York IHorid:
TIE HEAT OF THE CONTEST.
( Ii was noon and now the battle
commenced IN the tiorcenoss Of its
most extended fury. The batteries
on the distant hills began to play up
on onr own and upon our advancing
troops, with hot and thundcrous ei.
iect. Carlisle answered for US, and
Sherman for Hunters division, while
the great thirty two pounlcr address.
ed itself rcsistlessly to the alternate
detcnses OF the foe. The noise Of
the cannonading was dcslening and
continuous. Conversely to the cir
cnnstance of the former engage
ment, it completely drowned, at this
period, the volleys OF the musketry
aud rinemen. 1t blsnchcd the
checks Of the Villagers at Cenireville,
to the Main street Of which place,
some OF the enemy's rillcd shell were
thrown. 1t was heard at Fairfax,
at Alexandria, at Washington itself.
Five or six heavy batteries were in
operation at once, 10 their clamor
was added the lesser roll of twenty
thousand small arms. Wha, could
we civilians see OF the f !ht at this
tilnc2 Little: yet perhaps more than
any who were engaged in it. How
anXiOusly we strained our eyes to
catch the various movements -
thoughtess OF everything, but the
spectacle and the Successes and the
reverses of the federal army. Our
infantry were engaged in woods and
meadows beyond our view. We
knew not the nature or position OF
the forces they were fighting. But
row and then there wonld be a
fierce rush into tho open prospect,
! a gallant charge on one side, n re-
treat on the other, and we saw plain.
5 ly, that onr columns were gaining
u ground, and steadily pursuing their
advantage by their gradual move.
ment which continued toward the
distance and the cnemy's center.
We indeed heard continuous ii
), dings Of heroism and victory; and
, those in the trees above us told US o
"a more than We could discover will
e our field glasses from below. We
y heard that Hunter had fairly rout
j ed the enemy's flank, and then WI
listened for ourselves to the sounC
of his charge in the Northern woods
and saw for ourselves the air gath
l. cring up smoke from their branches
'r and tho wavering column OF tn
'r Mississippians as they fed from
J., their first battery and were forced in
% to the open field. Then VIC cav on
'd own sixty.ninth and sevonty-nint
III corps, animated by chivalrous na
tional rivalry. press on to the sup
50 port Of the more distant column
We could catch glimpscs of the con
tinual advances and retreats; coul
O hear occasionally the guns of ba,
. terry before undiscovered; could cues
~ how terribly all this accumulate
-, ~ OF death upon death must tell upo
hn those undaunted men, but could ola
% Of see-and our cheers continually fo'
ho lowed the knowledge - that ou
ho m forces were gradually driving :h
ho no right of. the enemy around the secon
w ~, quarter of a circle, until BY te
M 'sS o'clock the main battle was ragin
'w 'v at a point almost directly opposi
,sse ,s our standing place--the road at III
nj edge of the woods-where it ha
M commenced six hours before.
~ There WAS hill at the distance
on on a mile and q half, to which ha,
.oh % hitherto alluded. From its higl
~ overlooking the whole plain, ie
shell had reached us early in Il
day, and as it was nearer tho NJ
led nassas road than almost any 9th
lis portion Of the field, more of the 0
ow emy's re endorsements gather,
ut about its ridge than to the aid of h
me beaten rebels in the woods and vi
'fer leys. Here there was an open b,
to terry, and long lines OF infantry
ks; support, ready, for a wonder, to
vas our wesried fellows see tho fire.
tier forces they had to conquer.
mu As the sixty ninth and sevent