Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1861-07-31
WHOLE NO. I,l.5l

few troops then there were drawn up, when de-
cied to drive back to the town for the purpose of
sending you my dispatch. As passed up the
road the balls and shells from the enemy began
TO fall with more than usual rapidity. did not
see the point from which they came, but meeting
Capt Ayres, he said he was about TO bring up
his battery, supported by the Ohio brigade, under
Gen. Schenek, to repel a rumored attempt of
cavalry to outfank this column As | went for
ward he passed down. Gen. Schenck's brigade
was at once drawn up across the road, and Capt.
Ayres guns were planted in knoll at the left,
when a powerful body of rebels, with heavy
battery, came down from the direction of Bulls
Run, and engaged this force with tremendous eff
feet. ! went to Centervlle, sent off my dispatch,
and started with all speed to Mountaineering to
go with our troops upon what had been the hotly
contested field, not doubling for moment that
it would remain in their hands. had gone but
quarter OF a mile, when we met great mum
ber Of fugitves, and our carriage soon became
entangled in mass of baggage wagons, the otii
Ger in charge of which told me il was Useless %
go in that direction, our troops we're retreatng
y NOt creditng tine story, which was utterly in
consistent with what / had seen but little
while before. l continued to push on. / soon
met Quartermrster Stetson, of the Fire Zou-
ayeS. who told me, bursting into teus, that his
regiment had been utterly cut To pieces, that the
Colonel and Lieutenant Colonel were both killed
and that our troops had actually been repulsed
still tried TO proceed, but the advancing columns
rendered it impossible, and | turned about. Leav-
ing my carriage, went to high pOin; OF ground
and saw, by the dense cloud Of dust which rose
over each of the three roads by which the three
columns of the army had advanced, that they
were all on the retreat. Sharp discharge; OF can
non in the rear indicated that they were being
pursued. ] waited half an hour or So to observe
tho al
started for Washington, to send by dispatch and
write this letter. As | came past the hill on
which the secesSiOnistS had their intrenchments
less than week ago, our forces taking mp
positions for defense If they should be asSailed
hear nothing, on every SIDE, but the warmest
cOmmendations Of our troops They fought like
veterans The rebels did not in a single inst .nce
stand before them in charge, and we're shaken
10y every rOley of their musketry. ] 10 not
mean to praise any one at the expense of another
The 69th fought with splendid and tenacious
courage. They charged batteries two or three
times, and would have held them but for the
Inducements which were constantly and steadily
poured in. Indeed IL icas 10 this fact alone that
the comparative success of the rebels is due. We
had not over 26, 600 men in action the rest being
held back as reserves at Centerville; while the
enemy must have numbered at least G0,000.
The Fire Zouavcs before they had fairly got
INTO action we're terribly cut up by battery ana
by musketry, which opened on their flank They
lost great many officers and men.
Col. Hunter. who led the msin column Of st
tack received a severe wound in his throat He
was brought TO this city, but understand that he
can not recover, if indeed he is not already
dead
About a mile this side of Ceuterville stanl-
pede took place among the teamsters and others,
which threw everything into the utmost cOnfu
sion and inflicted some very serious injuries Mr..
Eaton, of Michigan, in irving to arrest the flight
of these men. shot 10y one OF them, the ball
taking elfect in his hand
| Quite number of Senator'S and members OF
the House were present at the battle.