The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1861-08-01

many grumbled at their officers, but all
seemed plucky, and said that our
troops could beat the rebels easily in
an open fight, and would do it yet-but
the masked batteries on one side and
the blunder on ours, had "done for us
this time.n l reached Alexandria at
seven-having walked forty miles.
"G. p. PUTNAM"
From the World.
CHARGE OF THE SIXTY-NINTH.
The famous Irish regiment, 1000
strong, who have had so much of the
hard digging to perform, claimed the
honor in the share Of hard fighting,
and left the van of Tyler's attack, fol-
lowed by the Seventy-ninth (Highland-
ers) and Thirteenth New York, and
Second Wisconsin.
1t was brave sight-that rush of
the Sixty-ninth into the death struggle !!
With such cheers as those which won
the battles in the Peninsula, with a
quick step at first, and then a double
quick, and at last run, they dashed
along the edge of the extended forest.
Coats and knapsacks were thrown to
either side, that nothing mi light impede
their work, but we knew that no guns
would slip from the hands of those de-
termined fellows, even if dying agonies
were need to close them with a frmer
grasp. AS the line swept along, Meag-
her galloped toward the head, crying (:
"Come on boys! you've got your
chance at last |" / have not since seen
him, but hear that he fought magnii.
Gently and is wounded.
From the N. Y. Times.
THE RETREAT.
It was asserted that the entire bag
gage train of the forces,- with all their
horses, wagons and equipage of every
kind, collected at such an enormous
cost, had fallen into the hands of the
enemy, and that the rear of the army
was left without protection of any kind.
1t now appears that our army retreated
in very good order as far as Centre.
vine; where it was protected from pur-
suit by the reserves, aGdcr Col. Miles
that no attempt was made to captu.S
the baggage wagons, which had near
| ly all been left between CenterviIle and
Fairfax, and went back with the army
to the latter place, and that the only
material which fell in the hands of the
rebels was such as had been, hastily,
ant very creditably, abandoned on the
road between Bulls Run and Centre
vile.
1t is pretty evident that the enemy
was in no condition for pursuit. A
powerful force of cavalry mi ght have
done great execution upon the rear ol
our retreating columns; and they did
make an attempt of this sort upon the
Warrenton Road, but volley from
Col. Blenker's regiment, which wa.
sent out from Centreville to cover the
retreat, soon put them to flight. The
pursuit extended but short distance
and was attended by no important re
suits.
1t will delight the heart of my excel
lent old friend of the Herald, to learr
that 1 became involved in anothel
stampede, not quite so extensive or dis
astrous as that of Solferino, but ont
sufficiently disgraceful to answer hi
purpose. AS soon as it was understood
in the crowd of teamsters, fugitive sol
diers and miscellaneous hangers on th'
army at Centreville, that our columns
were retreating, they became very
considerable, excited-and this feelins
rose to panic when they heard tn,
sound of cannon in the rear, as the,
supposed it to indicate that the enem!
was pursuing in force. After hat
driven something over mile from tn
village on my way to Washington, th'
crowd in the rear became absolutel
frenzied with fear, and an immens
mass of wagons, horses, men on foot
and dying soldiers, came dashing dow
| the hill at a rate which threatened dis
t truction, instant and complete, t
everything in their way. The pani
J spread as they proceeded, and gather
r ing strength by its progress, the move
: ment became absolutely terrific. Th
horses caught the frenzy of the momen
and became as wild as their master.
r My driver attempting to check th
speed of our carriage, found it sudder
, ly crushed under the weight of an enol
5 nous Pennsylvania Army wagon whic
crushed it like an egg-shell. The OF
D perfume arrival of another carriage col
: tanning couple of Congressman, n
/, lieved me from my dilemma, and too
!. me to Washington. Previous to m
Y mishap l was overtaken and passed b
r solitary horseman, who proved to b
e Mr.. Russell, of the London Times, VIII
: was profoundly disgusted with th
D movement, and was making all possib
y haste to get out of it.
G The most discreditable feature
4 this stampede was the very large nun
h ber of soldiers who had struggled ava
e from their regiments during the battl
s and now threw away their musket
! blankets and knapsacks, and ran as
Il their lives depended on their spec
o For long time no attempt was mao
to stop them. But near Fairfax Ne
! Jersey regiment had drawn up aero
t the road, and compelled every scldi'
n upon whom they could lay hands
o go back to his regiment. They WEI
e dragged out of carriages and from Il
e backs of horses, and turned backwal