The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1861-08-03

q ~ II. il Ii q ~ 10. ~
GEORGE P. PUTNAM the well known publisher
Of New York. VITO was on the ground two hours
after the retreat began, makes the following
statement: ot ~ s,tr -, ~ ss.,se 5.s
The reports of a dsorderly retreat of our main
army, are grossly untrue A brief statement of
a small part Of what witnessed will show this.
Mr. Tillev OF Rhode Island and myself accom-
panied the De Kalh regiment from Alexanaria
in the cars TO the Fairf,x station on thr Manas,
sas Gap railroad; we reached there at 10 A. NJ.
He,vy cannouading was steadily going on.
While the regiment waited tor orders, we walk
ed forward on the track till within five miles of
Manassas Junction. "A scout was there sending
hourly reports to Gen Scott of the firing Re
turning as the regiment still halted, pirts OF
four of US, with soldier, walked on to Fairfax
Court House three miles, and thence on the road
to Centreville. ffe.
About O'Clock we began to meet huggies
and wagons with visitors returning to Washing.
ton. All reported that the day was ours, and
rode on jubant, until, at half past 4, an Office
on horseback, riding 6ercely said with emphasis
"No, no; it's going sgunst u.s. The firing had
ceased
Near Centreville, between two long bills. We
suddenly saw army wagons and private vehcles
coming down before us in hot haste, a few sold
Iers on horseback mixed in the crowd Looking
back we found regiment coming fresh from
Fairfax in 'double quick u ass FiE
Mr. Russell. of the London Times, was on
horseback, among the first from the battle.
| The New Jersey Colonel Instantly formed his
| men across the road, and resolutelv turned back
every soldier in the road, and in twenty minutes
! perfect order was restored and the whole flight
Of the vehicles was shown to be absurd so ,Euch
4 so that we waited two hours at that spot, draw
| ing water for the poor wounded men, who began
1 r. sLo G.ll ttcaxa
| ambulances to be seen. s-4-g
AT hall past six, two hours after the battle
was over, we started and walked back to Fairta <
4 Court House, helping three or four wounded
soldiers into the wagons.
Those VINO were unhurt and who had got by
the Jersey boys, were stopped by q company OF
Michigan Fourth, from Fairfax and compelled tc
i turn back ta'
At Fairfax Court House we quietly took sup
per at the tavern, and never dreaming of any
di-ordrrly retreat, we were supplied with go"e
beds: we sndressed and went to bed and asleeI
IL p M. Atth,ee o'clock Monday morning
finding the wagons were moving on, to Aiexan
dria, we started again aud walked quietly alon:
with them TO Alexandra doing what little W
could to aid the men more or less slightly wound
ed, or worn ont--inciuding some from the hos
pital--for still there was scarcely an ambuanct
to be seen.
But on the whole road from Centresille to Alex
and ia am confident that there were not av
hundred soldiers Il, all, between six r N. sn
wight; so that il is grossly nntr e that tn
whole army made hasty retreat On the cor
trary, MI seennd to be certain that sisn va
made at Centreville, Of the whole. Of our mai
body. excepting only the strasglers from hi
first panic This panic was expiain,d by sevel
al, who agreed III I il was purely accidental.