The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1861-07-30
w AR NEWS.
GREAT BATTLE AT MANASSAS
FEDERAL TROOPS DEFEATED.

| BALTIMORE, July Zl.-Ueneral Dlx ar
rived here to-day. and will tomorrow
supercede Gen. Banks, who will super
cede Gen. Patterson.
WASHINGTON, July 21.-Official dis
patches say we have taken three batteries
in the form Of crescent, numbering 10
guns.
Fighting commenced a. o'clock this
morning, and continued most desperately
ill after this P. NJ The rebels were
driven back inch by inch, leaving their
dead on the field. The loss on both sides
is frightful. Our troops behaved most
gallsntly, and our guns were very effect
i've. Gen. Johnson joined the rebels,
making Gen. Beauregard's force about
10000.
Worlds special.-The enemy attempt
ed. with an immense force, to turn our
regiment flank, which came near being
successful, when our large seige gun, a
80 FOUNDER, opened fire, causing a ire
mendous havoc Of the enemy, and rout
ed them.
The number killed is variously est
mated at from 800 TO 5000. The facts
cannot yet be ascertained.
The Herald's spondence says :
When | left the field of battle, | saw the
rebels flying in vast numbers.
The greatest enthusiasm prevailed
throughout our ranks.
Times special.-The battle has been
one of the seyerest ever fought on this
continent. Up to 9 o'clock our troops
had driven the enemy distance Of near
" two miles. As the enemy fell back
from one position, it was only to another
equally strong, and at every point fresh
reiniorcements were poured in almost
without limit, as to number. There can
be no doubt that their force was at least
double ours.
WASHINGTON, July 22.--After the lat
est information was received from Cen
terville last night. at 1920, series Of
events took place in the intensest degree
disastrous.
Many confused statements are preva-
lent, but enough is known tkat we have
suffered in degree which has cast a
gloom over the remnants of the army,
and excited the deepest gloom through
Washington. The carnage was tremen
dously heavy on both sides, and on ours
is represented as frightful. We were
advancing and taking their masked bat
tcries, gradually but surely driving tie
enemy towards Manassas Junction, when
they seemed to have been reinforced BY
Gen. Johnson, who, il is understood, took
command, and Immediately commenced
driving us back, when panic among
our troops suddenly occurred. and reg
ular stampede took place.
1t is thought that Gen. Mcdowell un-
dertook to make stand at or about Cen.
treville, but the panic was SO great thai
the whole army became demoralized. Il
was impossible to check them. either a
Centrevlile or Fairfax Court House.
Gen Mcdowell intended to make an
other stand a, Fairfax Court House, bu
our forces being in full retreat, could no
accomplish the object The retreat was
kept up until the men reached their reg
ular encampments, portion Of whom
returned to them, but still greater por
ton coming inside the entertainments. A
large number of the troops 10 their re-
treat fell on the wayside from exhaustion
and scattered along the route, all the way
from Fairfax Court House to Bulls Run
the road was strewn with knapsacks
arms, DC, some of our troops deliberate
ly throwing away their guns and appur
tenances. the better 10 facilitate their
travel.
Gen. Mcdowell was in the rear Of the
retreat, exerting himself to rally his men
but only with partial effect The latter
part of the army. it is said. made their
retreat in order. His orders on the field
did not at all times reach those for whom
they were Intended.
1t is supposed the force sent out against
our troops consisted. according TO pris-
oner's statement Of about $4,000 men
including large number Of cavalry. He
further says that owing to reinforcements
from Richmond, Slrasburg. and other
points, the enemy's effective force was
10000.
Sherman's. Carlisle's, Griffin and the
West Point batteries. were taken by the
enemy. and the eight seige 80 pound ri.