Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1861-07-26
a GREAT

Sunday there was a ba tile at Bull s
Run, the creek 81 miles from Manassas.
where the skirmish took place on Thursday
"a battle which is likely to prove one Of the
bloodiest ever fought IN this country.
1t is reported that Gen. Johnston hal
joined Beaure,ard the day before, and that
the whole rebel force was engaged in the
battle. Their number is varIously estimated
from 60, 000 to 5000 men, Will Mellow
ellis army numbered IS goo.
Col. Heintzleman's division, ia which is
the % Vermont, was sent OF to the left, as
a feint to draw the enemy in that direction.
After fighting all day ana taking three Of
their batteries, a panic broke ont among the
troops in the rear, and the whole army was
compelled to retreat. Many soldiers did not
stop till they reached Washington.
Most f%rightful reports of the entire rout
OF the army were spread At once. The
main features of the battle are given below
We must wait for fuller accounts before
the whole can he fully understood. But
that the action was terribly severe, and the
result a disheartenipg one for the present,
cannot be denied. II viii cost greater
effort and perhaps still greater bloodshed 10
do away with It's evil consequences.
Col. Richardson was sent to the left wiki
1 regiments OF the 4th Brigade, To hold the
battery on the bill on the WaTrcutOn read,
"a the vicinity OF the place where .e lao,
battle was fought. Scherck's and Sherman's
nrigades Of Gen. Tyler's division advanced
'v the Warrenton road to between Balls
tun and Manassas Junction
Col. Keyes' brigade remained at Centr-
vle. Col. Miles division followed in the
rear.
COl. Hunter move to gain the rear Oi the
e. envy was almost a success. The enemy's
position was opened on by several Of Carlisle
howitzers, followed by slight skirmishIng.
Tie rebels rapidly received reiniorcements
from Manassas J~unytIon after the attack was
opened.
TIE battle consisted Of succession OF fires
from masked batteries which opened in
.v,T1 direction. when one was silenced its
ilfc. was supplied by two,-and in the
dtriu, charges Of our Infantry in u~nmasking
them The % y. Y. and 2i Ohio req.
m,nt- were marched by flank to the woods
is Sc u " made road, within a mile of The
MN road, when they came on Il battery !
'i - [ gus with four Regiments hInked
.' 'i.. rear. Oar men were immediately !
.f.i. ~ to lie down on either side Of the |
T .i ia ordered To allow two pieces Of art;l.
i'ry 'n pass through aud attack the work. |
Up to 5 O'Clock p. NJ. 1t was generally I'M
d r-'o 81 that we had hemmed in the enemy
ehtircly and that they were gradually retir-
In-, tina Col. Hunter had driven them back
u, Jar T Ut, that Col. IIeI1tzelman in com
IN "nd Vas meeting with every success, and
tht It requires but the reserve OF Gen. Tyl-
CT = divisIon to push on to Manassas junction.
ibe most gallint charge Of the day was
made by the n. Y. 69tr and 18th regiments
vino rushed upon one OF the batteries firing
as they proceeded with pert ct eclat and Also
1T with their bayonet points.
Thar yell OF triumph seemed to carry all
before 1t. They found that the rebels had
a'a"dOned the battery and only takeu one
gun, but this success was acquired only
II trr a severe loss of life, in which the 69th
u, ut severely suff FIRED.
The ZDuaves also distinguished themselves
hy their spirited assault on the batteries at
'"e point of the bayonet but it is feared that
their loss Is immense.
Inc battle lasted nine hours, aud three
n~4;teries were taken. The enemy was posted
IA three lines in the form Of a triangle, the
. Tx fronting the centre uf aBr column.
1hs area seems u have been filed with
masked batteries. The cauGonading could
De- heard at Washington, and the smoke Of
tie battle could be seen from em:nences. \
number of members of Congress and even
lAdles went to the neighborhooi Of Bulls
Ron, TO witness the battle.
Dur Losses are far less severe than was at
reported by scared civilians and run
ning soldiers. There are probably not SEQ
lied and perhaps not two hundred. For
the Pad Connecticut regiment which
Is reported in the morning as badly cut
a., returned, having lost but a dozen men.
a New Haven Grays have all re-
turned unframed, yet this regiment was
xio>ed to frequent yolleys of canncn and
mus letry.
Again, go Of Ellsworth Fire Zouaves were
10 have been surrounded on the road
and snnihilated by the Black Horse cavalry; 1
pa the contrary they cut down and des-
troved the cavalry and suffered little loss
themselves. TIE New York list, also d
reported rs used up, suffered but little and
10 of others. Few of the vast number # I
fred by the rebels took effect, on the !
contrary all the instances detailed by our :
ncn show that the enemy suffered severely.
rlIee New York FIRE Zouaves who We're !
.hting in the advance hunted the rebels on
he sly like squirrels among the bushes and
down &c as positively killed by
TIE New York list came upon a
liod gun. II lost eight men, but in return
he whole of the Is rebels secreted, were
titled {
1t is probable that the number OF killed {
md wounded is magnifed by large numbers 1
Who are missing, probably wandering /
though the woods. 1t is estimated l
hat only 20 900 in all of our troops ]