Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1861-07-31
ANOTHER ACCOUNT OF THE STAN
pEDE-GREAT SUFFERING.

The correspondent. of the Philadelphia
Inquirer writes rs follows in relation to
the panic and retreat;
Lieut.. Col, Elliot, of tho Soyonty ninth
rode towards his regiment, having been
after leinf0rcements, when ball cat hi,
horses head off, and threw him down,
bruising him so that he could hardly cs,
cape. All the strapg!orS now commenced
to run towards Ccntreyille, and the cais-
sons, ambulances, and suffers Wagons,
were ordered 10 be taken back at once
towards Centreville. The batteries were
ordered around to cover our retreat and
keep the Confederates from cutting us oil
from Centreville, which was about three
miles in our rear, and where we had
about four or five thousand Of reserve
force the batteries wheeled otf and took
up the road, and were retreating in good
order when, about half mile out, one Of
the gun carriages was upset, y portion
of Sherllan's and CarlisLe's were left in
the roadside, the gunhers cutting the ira
ccs and running their horses. This put
the infantry in a perfec: panic; they
broke ranks indiscrimina,ely a2d COM
menced to run, knapsaclis. hayersacks,
guns, cartridge boxes, hats, coats and ey-
eryth:ng being thrown in all directions
The men were parched for water and
were falling in every direction. Officers
were equally panacsstrlcken with the pri>
V ties, and in vain we endCavOred to stop
/ the retreat.
Charles Ogden George r. Smith, Sber-
| if Harper, Russell Eirelt, of PittsbuIg,
and others begged our men not To- retreat
and pleaded with tears for them to 90
back and get Col Camtron's body. We
took muskets and threatened to shoot
them down if they did not but we might
as well have plead with the WINDS to cea C
blowing. The clouds Of dust were now
perfectly sufiocatng The road was
slrewn with wrecks OF wagons, provisions,
muskets, blankets, ammunition, and ev>
erything the men could diYcst themselves
Of. The gre und WAS full, The fields in
all directions were full The fire Of the
enemy was kept up in the rear. Part OF
Sherman's battery breaking down, the
men cut the traces and fled, The ammu-
milton wagon was lef. on the field. We
should Judge that ten Ho~ani guns and ri
ties were lost on the way, while the cat
ridge boxes, bayonets, sabre Gayonets and
swords were nnumcrablc. About mile
from Centlcville, an attempt was made to
rally the men, but with little success. A
few thousand were stopped, but many
without weapons. On the high hill top
az Centreyile column of inflntry was
seen, with their cleaning bayonets. On
the top the artillery were also drawn up,
prepared to fire.
The Glribaldans, Einstein's and Blen>
ker's regiments, were drawn ur at the
foot Of hill and escaping men ordered to
fall in. Loud cheering was done, and
the rallying cry given, but it was little or
no use-me had no officers when they
did halt, and so they kept on retreltlng f;
"water, wate: ~ was the cry-"give me
water or I'll sink" was heard from all
sides not drop was 10 be had fit to
drink the wells were all drained, and
the clouds OF dust filled the air at every
point. We got in the rear ofa negro hut,
and there secured water thick with filth,
but it was the best to be had. A number
of buildings were used for hospitals, and
on every side cries we're made for sur
geons.
/ All the inhabitants nearly had fled from
|Centreyille expecting il TO be stormed by
the rebels. Guards were stationed at the
lew wells not dry TO allow no water oX-