Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-08-23

teWarQS Inc 'front.' oOOn L ulel Solu'eio i"
were coming through the corn, mostly without
arms; and presently l sag tirelocks, cooking
tins, knapsac. S and greatcoats on the gronno,
and observed that the confusion and speed Of
the baggage carts became greater, and that
many OF them we're crowded with men, OF
were followed by others who clung 10 them.
The ambulances were crowded with soldiers,
but it did not look as if there were many
wounded. Negro servants on led horses
dashed frantically past; men in uniform, whom
it were o disgrace to the profession Of arm to
call Soldiers" swarned by mules, chargers,
and even draught horses. which had been cut
out of carts or wagons, and went on with har'
ness clinging to their heel, as frightened as
their riders. Men literally screamed with
rage and fright when their way was blocked
up. On | rode, asking all "What is all this
about?n and now and then, but rarely, recelv-
ing the answer, "We're whipped" or "Nc're
repulsed." Faces black and dusty, tongues
out in the heat, eyes staring-it was n most
wonderful sight. On they came like him
having turned round goes on.
And turns no more his head,
For be kneweth that a fearful fend
Doth close behind him tread.
But where was the fend? | looked in vain.
There was, indeed, some cannonading in front
of inc and in their rear, but still the firing was
comparatively distant, and the runaways were
far out of range
As | advanced the number OF carts dimln-
ished, but the mounted men increased, and the
column OF (ugitives became denSer. y few
buggics and light wagons filled with men,
whose faces would have made up "a great
T ono-o11oI -, tha upnSt cppnn tried IN piarpp
the rear of the mass Of carts, which were
now solicited and moving on like 4
glacier. crossed small ditch by the road.
side, got out on the road to escape some
snake fences, and looking before me-, saw there
was still & crowd Of men in uniforms coming
along.
LITTER or ARMS, ACCoUTREMESTs ASD MUSICAL
INSTRUMENTS D ~ TIE ROAD.
The road vas strewn with articles of cloth
ing-irc.locks, waist belts, cartouch'boXcs,
caps, great coats, mesS.tins, musical lnstTu-
ments, cartridges, bayonets and sheaths, swords
and p;stols-cvcn biscuits, wine bottles and
pieces OF meat.
ISSUE OF REGIMENTS FROM TIE w0oDs-PURSEIT
OF THE REBEL AvALRY
Passing a white house by the road side,
saw, for the first time, q body of infantry with
slopcd arms marching regularly and rapidly To-.
wards ME. Their faces were not blackened by
powder, and it was evident that they had not
been engaged. In reply to a question, a non
commissioned officer told me in broken Eng
lish, I'VE fall back to our lines. The attack
did not quite succeed" This was assuring to
one who had come through such a scene as !
had been witnessing. ! had ridden, Isuppose,
about three and u half miles from the hill,
though it is not possible to be sure Of the dis
lance, when, having passed the white house, |
came out on an open piece Of ground, beyond
and circling which was forest. Two field pieces
were unlimbercd and guarding the road, the
painting and jadcd horses in the rear looked as
though they had been hard worked, and the
gunners and drivers looked worn and detected.
Dropping shots sounded close in front through
the woods, but the guns on the left no longer
maintained their fire. | was just about TO ask
one of the men for 4 light, when a spluttering
fire on my right attracted my attention, and
out Of the forest or along the road rushed a
number Of men.
The gunners seized The trail Of the nearest
piece to wheel it round upon them; others
made for the tumbrils and horses as if to ily,
when Il shout was raised, "Don't fire; they're
our own men" and in q few minutes on came
pei mel a whole regiment in disorder. | rode
across one and stopped him. "We'r6 pursued
by carairy," lie gsspeJ; They've cut US all to
pieces"
As he spoke a shell burst over The column;
another dropped on the road, and out.streamcd
another column Of men, keeping together with
their arms, and closing up the ~stragglers Of
the first regiment. | turned, and to my sur.
prise, SAW the artillcryncn had gone off, leav.
ing one gun standing by itself. They had re-
treated with their horses.
While we were on the hill had observed
and pointed out to my companions 4 cloud OF
dust which arose through the trees on our
right front. lnmy present position that place
must have been on the right rear, and 1t &C.
Cured to me that after all there really might
be q body Of cavalry in that direction, but
Murat himself would not have charged these
in that deep, we'll fenced lane. IF the
dust came, as ] believe it did, from the field
artillery, that would be different natter
Any ray it was now well established that the
retreat bad really commenced, though saw
which we're falling back had not suffered much
Oss.
EXAGGERATED STATEMENTS ADD 10 TuE TERROR OF
THE MEN.
No one seemed TO know anything for certain.
Even the cavalry charge was a rumor. Several
officers said they had carried guns and lines,
but then they drifted into the nonsense which
one reads and hears everywhere about masked
batteries" One or tGo talked more scnsihly
about the strong positions Of the enemy, the
fatigue Of their men, the want OF q reserve,
losses, and the bad conduct Of certain
regiments. Not one spoke as il he thought
Of retiring beyond Centreyille.
The clouds Of dust rising above the woods
marked the retreat Of the whole army, and
the crowds Of Glgitives continued to steal away
along the road. The sun was declining, and
thirty miles yet remained TO be accom-
plislied ere ! could hope 10 gain the shelter OF
Washington. No one knew whether any
corps or regiment vas marching, but there
were rumors ofall kinds-"The Sixty-ninth are
cut to pieces, 1.-The Fire Z9uayes are destroy
cd" and so on.
Presently 4 tremor ran through the men by
| was riding, as the sharp reports Of
some field pieces ratified through the woods
close at hand. a sort Of subdued roar, like
the voice Of distant breakers, rose in ron of
and the soldiers, who were, | think, Ger.
mans, broke into a double quick, looking now
and then over their shoulders.
RETURNING TO TIE ROAD roE.S WASHINGTON.
There was no choice for me- but to resign
any further researches. The mail from Wash
inston for the Wednesday steamer at Boston
leaves at $50 on Monday, and so put my
horsc into a lrot, keeping in the fields along.
side the roads as much as could, to avoid the
'ugitives, till / came once more on the rear of
he baggage and store carts, and the pressure
If the crowd, who, conscious Of the aid which
he vehicles would afford them against q cav
alry charge, and fearful, nevertheless, Of their
proximity, clamored ard shouted like madnen
IS they ran. The road was now literally COW
.red with baggage. 1t seemed to me as if the
men inside were throwing the things out pur-
9osely. stop" cried ! 10 the driver Of one
If the carts, Everything is falling OUT
{ yn, ~ cbo,,.I a I.lIo,r ;,.;6n t.;f ,o,