Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1861-08-01
THE BATTLE OF MANASSAS.
A Stirring Account by an Eyewitness

we gave IN our last week $ Issue some highly
Interesting accounts of the battle near Manassas
Junction on the 2lst ult.. aud we now add some
interesting extracts from the letter of an eye
witness, which we find in the New York Tri-
oa''e. Oi course it has strong Federal lean
ing, but still it makes some important aImis-
slons IN favor Of the other side. The writer,
alter describing at length the engagement dur
ing the morning, proceeds as follows:
AT ialf-yast II O'Clock the battle appea, ed to
have reached its climax. Hunters and Hcintzel-
mans divisions were deep in the encmy's position.
at work. The discharges of artlct and musket
ry caused continuous and unbroken roar which
sometimes swelled tumultuously to terrific crashes
bat never lulied. On the heights before US, bodies
OF infantry were plainly driving with fur one
against the other, and slowly pressing toward the
!eft-another proof that our advance was resisted
in vain At one moment the rebels seemed deter
mined to risk all rather than retreat. Many
regiment was brought to meet our onset, and all
were swept back with the same mpetuous charg es.
Prisoners who We're subsequently, brought in ad-
mltcd that some of troops, especially the list
New York Regiment, literally moved down and
annihllated double their number. Two Alabama
regiments, in succession, were cut right and left
by the list.
and the junction of our forces evidently not far
distant. The gradual abandonment of their posi-
lions by the rebels could not be doubted. At some
points they fled precipitatcly, but in most cases
moved regularly to the rear 1t is probable that
they only deserted strong post for another even
stronger, and that however far we might have
crushed them back, should still have found them
intrenchcd and fortified to the last-even to Man
assas itself. But they had positively relinquished
the entire line in which they had first arrayed
tn mselves against TyIer's DIVISION except one
fortified elevation at the left which could and
should have been carried by the second brigade an
hour before. How far the enemy had retrcated be-
| fore Hunter and Heintzeltnan, cannot saw but I
am given to understand that they had forsaken all
excepting one powerful earhwork with lofty en-
bankments, upon the highest ground of their field
1t was this work which, later in the day. was storm
ed by the Zouaves, and other regiments and which,
in spite of daring and intrepidity which our rebel
prisoners speak of with amazenent, resisted their
charge. But other important wor ks had been car.
ried by the third and fourth brigades on our side
so that little appeared tc remain for our victory
but to perfect the union of the two columns and to
| hold the ground we had won.
The fire now slackened on both sides for several
minutes. Although the movements of our own
troops were mainly hidden, we could see a peculiar
activity among the enemy at the spot where they
had been most vehemently repulsed by Heintze1
man. A long line of apparently fresh regiments
was brought forward, and formed at the edge of a
grove through which our men had penetrated
Four times this line broken, and reformed
by its officers, who rode behind, and drove back
| those who fled with their swords. A fifth time it
was shattered, and reformed, but could not be
made to stand fast, and was led back to the fortified
ground. This afforded US who looked on from the
lower battle field, ground for the conviction
that the triumph would be with us.
For nearly half an hour after this were left in
great uncertainty. The enemy languished, and
our own movements seemed clogged BY some mys
terious obstacle. All that was done within our
view the leading forward of Schenok's brigade
a few hundred rods on the open road. But as
many of us, lookers-on, had long before passed
ahead to Bull Run, and assured ourselves that the
field was open for nearly mile in advance, this
was not regarded as of much Importance.
From Bull Run, the aspect of the field was truly
appalling. The enemy's dead lay strewn so thick
ly that they rested upon one an other, The ground
refusing space to many that had fallen Few of
our men had suffered here, although it seemed that
further on they lay in greater numbers. But the
attention of those who gazed was quickly turned
from these awful results of the battle to the immi
nent hazard Of its renewal. Down toward our left,
which had SO long been exposed, new line of
freshness As they swept around to the very woods
upon which the Second BRIGADE rested the aFti!ls
field-that which should have been overrun be-
times by our idle troops-opened with new vigor.
Grape and round shot, most accurately aimed,
str uek the ground before, behind and each side Of
len len. Schenck and the group of officers under him.
Inc ONO regiments were somewhat sheltered by
cleft IN the road, but the New York Second was
more exposed. Gen Schenck was in great danger,
to which, l amglad to say, he seemed perfectly
lnsenslble, riding always through the hottest of
the fire as if nothing more serious than shower of
paper pellets threatened him. But more than this
Gen SchenCk cannot claim.
Nevertheless, work progressed. Capt. Alex
ander, with the engineers, had completed a bridge
across the Run, over which ,afnbulances were
to pass for the wounded, and by which artille-
~ could be planted in new positions. Even then,
although that stealthy column was winding awk-
wardly for us, about our left, no person dreamed
that the day was lost. The men of the brigade, at
least, were firm, although they began to suffer
or twice in the ranks Of the New York Second.
Four men were torn in pieces by single round Of
grape shot, and their blood was flung in great
splashes over all who stood near The carnage
around seemed more terrific than it really was, SO
hideous was the nature of the wounds.
A few minutes later, and the great peril of our
divisions that which should have been foreseen and
provided against, was upon The enemy APP
peared upon the left flank, between and our way
of retreat. Why they failed, having once secured
it. to pursue this enormous advantage, it is impos
sible to conjecture. am inclined to believe that
the GOODNESS and precision of Col. McCook, of the
LIST Ohio regiment saved us from this disaster. 1t
is certain Col. McCook displayed firm resistance
enemy wavered, and then withdrew But at this
time, the first proofs of the panic which had strick
Fen the army were disclosed. From the distant
hills, our troops, dsorganized, scattered, palia
with terror which had no just cause, came pour
ing in among us, tramping down some, and spread
ing the contagion of their fear among all. It was
even then whirlwind which nothing could resist.
The most reluctant of the officers were forced from
the valley up the hill, in spite of themselves Who
ever stood would have been trodden under foot by
his own men.
Near the top of the hill like commotion
visible, but from different The rebel cav
airy, having completely circumyented our left,
had charged in among a crowd of wounded and
stragglers, who surrounded small building which
had been used for our hospital. Nothing but the
unexpected courage Of a considerable number Of
unorganized men, many of them civilians, who
seized the readiest weapons and repealed the enc
my, saved that point from being occupied.
Whether Gen. Mcdowell did or did not give an
order to retreat cannot say of my own knowledge
am assured by who was with him that he did;
and by otheIs that he also failed to preserve his
self control. If this be SO, shall know of it in
time but all can be of is the affecting
fact of our utter and absolute rout How nearly
one greet object of the day had been accomplished
may be understood when it is known that General
Tyler and Gen. Mcdowell had actually met
Many who came into battle with Col. Heintzei-
man and Col. Hunter fled by the road over which
Gen. Tyler had advanced. In the race from a
fanced danger, all divisions and all regiments are
mingled. There was not even an attempt to cover
the retreat of Tyler's division. With Heintzel-
mans it was better, Lieut.. Drummond's cavalry
| The