Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1861-08-07
!. Frantic ACCOUNT OF TIE FLIGHT.

The y. Y. Worlds correspondent says:
Al this time, near / o'clock. rode forward
through lie open sIain to the creek, where
the abatlis was being assailed by our ell
.inccrs. The Ohio, Connecticut anu Mime
scls regiments were yaliously posted thersa-
bouts: others in distant portions Of the tcld
III wcr. completely exhausted and partly dis
scvcrc,.: no General Of division, except Ty-
her, could be found Where were onr officers 2
Where was tic fa? Who knew whether VIC
had won or lust
The question was quickly to be decided for
us. \ >aiicn swoop, and Il body Of cavalry
rushed down upon our columns, near the
bridge. Tllcy came from woods on the left,
and infantry poured out behind them. Tyler
and his staff, with the reserve, were apparent
y cut of ); the quick manmnvcr.
Succeeded in gaining the position | had
Just left, and there witnessed the capture Of
Carlis!c'a battery i'll the plain, and saw another
force Of cavalry and infantry pouring into the
road ct tlc very spot where the battle COM
,lemccd, and ncar which the South Carolini-
ans wllo manned the battery sicnccd i'll the
morning, lad duabtless all day been conceal
ed. The ambuances and wagons had grad
ually advanced to this spot and OF course All
instantaneous confusion and lismay resulted.
Our own infantry broke ranks in the field.
plunged into the woods 10 avoid the road, and
got upon tkc hill as best they could, without
leaders, every man saving himself in his own
way.
By the time reached the top OF the hill,
the retreat, The panic, the bideous headlone
confusion. were now beyond hope. was
near the rear OF tie movement, with the
brave Capt. Alexander, who endeavo1ed by
the mos; salian; but unavailable cxcltiCns 70
check the onward tunu!t. ltwas difficult to
hclicye in the reality Of our sudden reverse.
What does it all mean?f aske'l AleXan.
,l,r. alt means defeat was his reply. Z" We
are beaten; tits shameful, acowardlY retreni
Hold IN. mem" h. shouted, "aon't he such
internal cowarls!" and he rnA" backwards
and forwards, placing his horse across the
road and rainly trying to rally tho running
troops. The teams and wagons confused and
disme.abcretl every corps. We were now
cut of from the advance body By the cnemJ's
Infantry, who had rushed on the slope Just
left by us, surrounded the guns and suffers
Wagons, aud were apparently pressing up
against lis. "Ii's no use, Alexander" 7 said,
"you must leave Will! the rest; "Tll he
id if ] will, was his sulcn reply, and the
splendid fellow rode back to make his way as
Lcs. he could. Meantime l saw officers with
leaves and eagles on their shou'ler-straps,
majors and colonies, who had deserted their
! commands, pass me salopins as if for dear
life.
No enc,ny pursued Just then; bnt sup
pose all were afraid Ihat lis guns would be
trained down the long, narrow avenue, and
uiow the rcircatine thousands, and batter TO
pieces army wagons and every thing else
which crowded it. Only one field officer, So
far as my observation extended, seemed to
have remcmhcrcdh hislnty. Lieut.. Col. Spcidel
. foreigner, attached 10 "a Connecticut Regl-
lncnl, struvc against tue current OF league
! ] positively declare that, with the two cxcep,
tions mentioned, all efforts 70 check the panic
before Ccntrcyillc was reached, were con
/ fined to ciriiianS | Saw man in citizens
dress who hal thrown of his coat, seized 6
muskct, and vas trying 10 rally the soldier;
who came By at the point Of The bayonct. Ir
reply TO request for his name, ho said it wa:
Washburne, and learned that he was The
member by that name from Illinois. Tho
! lion. Mr.. Kellogg made a similar effort. Boil
these Congressman braycly stood their grount
till The last moment and were serviceablc q
Ccntrcyille III assisting the halt there ulti
mately made. Aud other civilians did wha
they could.