The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1861-09-06

awning of green branches, heard the con-
fessions Of the poor fellows, and bid them
to be at ease and fearless. Long as live,
I shall never forget that scene. 1t was
lot less impressive than that of Father
O'Reilly's passing along our line, as we
knelt within range of the enemy's batteries
on one knee, with bayonets fixed, expect,
ing every instant to be swept upon, and
the final Benediction was impaired. Father
O'Rei!ly has told me since, that the earn
estness and devotion with which poor Hag-
gerty received that benediction, singu-
larly struck him, and that the attitude and
expression of this truly honest and heroic
soldier, at that solemn moment, could
never leave his memory.
Of subsequent incidents and events, the
world, by this time, has beard enough.
Concerning the advance from Centreville,
the battle, the retreat, the alarm and cen-
fnsion of the Federal troops. columns and
volumes have been filled. can add moths
ing to the history of the day but my tes>
timony that, whenever the Federal troops
had fair whenever, indeed, they
had the slightest opening even--there and
then they whipped the Confederate forces,
utterly overwhelmed and confounded them.
In every instance, where the Federal in,
fantry came in contact with that of the
Seeding States, did this occur. In no
one instance, not for second, did it hap>
pen that the Federal forces were driven
back by, or received the slightest check
from the Southern infantry. We yielded
to their batteries, and, despite of every
effort and determination, were compelled
to do so. 1t was impossible for men to
override that tempest Three times did
the 69;h launch itself against it. Three
times, having plunged head foremost into
its deadliest showers, was it hurled back.
We beat their men-their batteries beat
us. That is the story of the day.
Repulsed the last time from the eremy's
works, following the Regiment as it was
fercely driven out, was knocked head
over heels, and fell senseless on the field
A private of the United States Cavalry,
galloping by, grasped me by the back of
the neck, jerked me across his saddle, and
carried me few hundred yards beyond
the range of the batteries. When | got
upon my feet, | found myself in a group
of Fire Zouaves and number Of the Sth
and list, New York, who, very quietly,
without the least furry or trepidation,
were retracing their steps to the camping
ground at Centreville. | walked with
them until an artillery wagon came up,
when, from tha. out, until we came to the
stream which crosses the road between
Centreville and the field Of battle-naf
way between these two points, had as
hard jolting as any one could we'll en-
dure.
Here I was pitched into the water, one
of the horses of the wagon being shot by
the Black Horse which dashed from the
woods upon us on our left, and the wagon
tumbling over. Here, too, it was that the
panic took place. Up to this point, there
was no fright, no alarm, no confusion, no,
the least apparent uneasiness. These frag,
ments of Regiments were coolly and stead
ily returning to the fields from which they
had set out-as coolly and unconcernedly
as though they were strolling along Bloom
ingdale road On Sunday evening in tn,
Fall-when, all of a sudden, down came
Commissariat wagons, ambulances, hosp
tai carts, artillery forges, and every de
scrip;io vehicle, dashing and smashin!
against each other, and with one fearfu
wreck blocking up the river. A few yard
off, there were two or three hundred Q
the Black Horse sweeping into us will
their carbines. Bat for couple of gum
of Ayers battery, which, dashing up from
the crowd, were thrown with the quick
ness of lightning into position, and whicl
flung on the enemy a torrent of canister
there would, I believe, have been terri
bic havoc wrought at that bridge and fore
AS it was, the only dark episode Of the ba;
tie was written there.
Struggling through the river, however
| fell in again with the throng of retreat
ing soldiers, and soon after reached tn
field where we had encamped the tire
previous nights. Here | found DR.. Smit
and about fifty Of the Goth. Learnin
that three or four hundred Of the Reg
ment were on the road to Fairfax, | hui
ried after them to ascertain their inter
tions, DR.. Smith having insisted on N
taking his horse for the purpose. The
, were bound for Fort Corcoran-the ColC
t mel, wounded and exhausted, had passe
ahead in an mbulance-Colonel Sherma
had told them so-and wherever the Co
> oneI Of the 69th was. there the Goth shou