Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-07-22
PARTICULARS OF THE CLOSING con.
FLiCT AND DEFEAT, BY AN
EYE WITNESS.
THE STAMPEDE OF TRANSFERS, SPEC.
TATORS, AND DEMORALISED
SOLDIERS.
THEY'RE FORCED BACK TEMPORARILY
Especial correspondence of The Star !

dria and Orange road, now opened to 4 point
snort distance this side Of Fairfax station.
Our train took up the De Kalb Regiment, which
we left temporarily at the station, and proceeded
on foot via Fairfax Court House to the scene of
battle, the roar Of which could be heard with
terrible and Increased distinctiveness as we an
preached within the last dozen miles. Between
Fairfax Court House and CentreviIle we began
to meet carriage loads Of civilians newspaper
men, Congressman and Others Just from the scene
OF conflict, and who, in elated terms shouted to
US the news of glorious victory as they whirled
past on their way to Washington with the joyful
tdings. "Three batteries taken" "The enemy
driven back upon Manassas JUNCTION, ;" was heard
in continuous buzz for miles, and until we ar
rived at the singular spur or elevation which
shoots up so commandingly and known as Gen.
treville. Climbing to the earthwork erected here
we could see clouds of smoke and dust to the left
to the centre, and to the right, indicating active
Infantry and cavalry movements going on, hut
the artillery was quiet for the time. This was
about p m, or shortly before.
A singular lull as to information of what was
going on below and beyond was noticeable for
few minutes. Then the perturbed faces Of some
sweaty new corners from nearer the scene of con-
fict showed that something was going wrong
The army wagons that had advanced beyond
Centrev1lle began to make a retrog ade movement
towards Fairfax Court House ''to get them out OF
the way" 1t was said, but squads Of dust. be-
grlmed, exhausted, spiritless looking soldiers
began to arrive from the battlefield and hurry
forward in the same direction, an uneasy feeling
began to pervade the gathering Of spectators
Our reserve columns, however, commenced TO
form steadily on the right Of the Centreville
height indicated that stand would be made
there however, the odds might 20 In the valley
below.
battery Of our artillery now opened fre from
the crown Of the height to the left apparently TO
make a diversion in favor Of some Of our broken
columns. Pretty soon, however, this battery
crossed tbs road to the right, to where our re-
serves were forming for a stand The stream Of
demoralized soldiers who filed the road. and
overlooked into the fields on the way toward,
Fairfax Court House began to look like a SIAM
pede, especially as many civilians, from Wash.
ington and elsewhere, who had come out In pri-
vae carriages to see the fight began to turn their
horses heads homewards; putting whip to their
horses with such activity that not a few were
wrecked by the way, from coming in contact
with the heavy army wagons
Senators Chandler, Wilson, Wade and other
members OF Congress, somewhat later set their
faces Washingtonwards with gloomy faces.
Some desultory artillery firing was occasionally
heard, but 1t was evident that the DAYS work wa
over, and that the enemy, however successful In
his bushV coverts, was either not able or copr-
ageous enough to follow and engage our columns
In the open fields for that night at least Passing
along the road towards Fairfax Court House we
saw the carriage way completely strewn with diff
ferent articles thrown away by soldiers and team
sters. The panic among the teamsters was in
1SHd tai
ridges, aud they apparently thinking the enemv
was upon them fastened to throw awav bag. ~
grain, blankets. barrels Of provisions, knapsacks
spades, &c, which were broken by the heavy
wheels ard presented the most singular medlev
imaginable. Ii Is estimated that not less tina n
IS ,OdO worth OF grain was thus thrown awav
within a distance Of four or five miles In MANY
instances the drivers cut the horses loose from the
vehicles when there was a block, and hurried on
Some Of them actually pricked their horse. with
bowie knives to accelerate their speed
The squads Of demoralized soldiers were mean.
time adding their quota to the panic, by throw
Ing away guns, knapsacks, canteens, &c. and bv
trying to mount upon and into private carriages.
as means OF escape. Half way to Fairfax Court
House dragon met the line Of fugitives and or.
dered all to go back, that large reinforcement,
were hurrying up, and that all who ATTEMPTED
flight would be shot.
The First and Second New Jersey Regiment,
now approached from the direction Of the Cour,
House, turning the heads Of the teams setting
the stream OF fugitives back upon CentreviIle al
Tue point OF the oayonet Later In the evening
WIS cneck upon the fugitives seems to have been
reiahed' ior ABOUT ten O'Clock body, perhaps
| TWO OF tofee thousand strong Of them reached
| Fairfax Court House from Centreville wsv ana
Il proceeded n he
| This body, which stretched out its straeg,ino
| length for a long distance, making Il snDsa,
| much more numerous than II really WAS dorb,
less caused the report that our whole forces ve,s
In rapid retreat from Centreville, which wa, No,
al all the case This party Of stragglers was com.
posed OF broken-up, oficerless, or otherwise d,..
4 organized regiments, who had done ,onns NJ the
hardest fighting Of the day.
There were many Of the Sixty. ninth. wbo sp.
| tanned themselves bravely through the dsv. and
VINO mourned the loss Of their Lieut. CoIoneI
HaggertV; the Fire Zouaves. who, according 20
general testimony, performed prodipies Of vslo,
ana who made five distinct charges in the co,,.s
OF the actions a few Of the Second Maine % .o,
| ment, who distinguished themselves nv thei,
dash upon the rebel batteries, and who lo., tbs,,
brave Colonel, Kimball the Seventv-njntb nh
| also mourn the lamented Cameron: the E,o,h
New York, Connecticut and Ohio Regiments. s.
Iheir passing down towards Falls Church w. h.
much impeded by barrlcades of trees. soms ~
them newly felled, and from the freshness of the
leaves, late last evening. Much caution u,.
exercised by the troops in passing these points,
Tor fear OF an ambuscade, and Captain rhoma, p
Meagher, who accompanied the Sixty. ninth de-.
achment, caused scouts to be sent ont IN ,econ
hotter the neighborhoOd of these suspicious.look.
ing traps. The probability is, however. tina. the
newiy'feiled trees were designed only to impede
retreat OF the Federal forces, and were felled bv
'eeesslonists residing In those localities.
EaP'ain Meagher, by the way, had a horse shot
under him during the engagement.