Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1861-07-31

| miles south of the Run. In the meantime
| General Tyler had moved forward on the War
renton Road until he got to the bridge over
| the Run, where he was Informed of the exis
| tence OF the concealed batteries. He threw
some shells to uncover them, without getting
| a response, but he prudently held back for a
more favorable moment. Not so, however
/ with General Schenck, who was in command
of brigade of this division. He was order
ed forward, but little to the left of the w ar
renton road, and arriving at Bulls Run, he al
! so threw few shells to discover any conceal
ed batteries, and getting no response, conclu-
ded.none were there, when he rushed forward,
but only to fall into an ambuscade as he did
at Vienna.
We have now arrived at the point where
| Colonel Hunters division, having successful
| ly turned the left of the enemy's position, was
| driving him before him towards Manassas, and
when Ty Ter, under cover of this maneuver,
was to cross to the south of Bulls Run by the
arrenton road to join Hunter. To do this
he was obliged to storm the batteries guarding
the pass at this point. Here it was that the
gallant charges were made by the New York
Sixty ninth. Seventy -nineth, Seventy-first and
Thirteenth. The batteries were taken. Hun
ter was sweeping on, and every part of the or
der of battle appeared to be in successful pro-
gresS, and triumph certain. This was about
two or three O'Clock on Sunday afternoon, and
1t was at this time that the courierS of the
press correspondents were sent to Washing
ton, announcing the victory at Bulls Run.
Now, however, the tide of battle turned.
Gen. Johnston-though this is not absolutely
clear-seems to have come out from his posi-
tion on the railroad, still further west than
Hunter had gone, and attacked that officers
victorious column in the rear. This of course
changed the whole face of the conflict, and
made it necessary for Hunter to extricate
himself, instead of allowing him to open the
way for Tyler and Heintzleman's Divisions.
Then reinforcements from the Junction
forced Tyier's troops from the captured bate
ries, and drove them back-then, also, or a.
bout the same time, General Schenck fell into
the ambuscade before mentioned, and his
brigade being very roughly handled, turned
and fled. Here and little way to the right
the scene of the bloodiest work of this
fearful day-here were made those desperate
charges which Russell, the correspondent Of
the London Times: says surpassed anything
he saw at Soterino or in the Crimea-and
here, (the pen almost refuses to do its office
as wo write it, victory was turned with disas-
ter and defeat.
ANOTHER ACCOUNT OF THE BATTLE.
BY daybreak Bulls Run was reached. The
batteries were placed in position, and our guns
opened on the enemy's works. The firing was
responded to by three batteries, and was kept
up on both sides till IL A. NJ. The enemy's
fire then slackened, and afterwards entirely
guns had been sienced, and charge was or
dered to carry the batteries. The charge was
made at run. There was little, though not
much, resistance made by the musketry of the
foe, and, in few minutes the batteries were
ours, the few gunners were bayoneted at their
guns, the Confederate rag torn down, and the
Stars and Stripes raised. 1t was then that NJ
Dowel sent the despatch to Gen. Scott an
nouncing glorious victory and the batteries
in our possession. But our triumph was of
short duration. The enemy had abandoned
these batteries in order to lead us into snare. |
In half an hour after we had taken the bate
ries, and while the men were resting from their
fatigue, terrific fire was opened upon them
with musketry and cannon. The latter were
in other masked batteries, the very existence
of which was unknown. The rifiemen who
were firing at us were also unseen.
The fire SO hot that our men found it |
Impossible to stand il, and were compelled re- |
luctantly to abandon the batteries. They re- |
tired in good order, however, under cover of |
our artillery, which now again began to open |
upon the enemy, throwing shells towards their |
masked batteries, but without effect. Colonel
Cameron and Col. Slocum had been killed, |
General Schenck and Col. Hunter wounded |
Many other of our officers had been killed and I
regiments decimated. The enemy had not |
once showed himself up to this time. At
three, however, having silenced many of our |
force. The troops stood gallantly, |
but the charge was irresistible, and we were |
to retire. The artilcrists spiked |
their guns. Our troops retreated to Centre
vile, pursued by the enemy. At Centreville |
the army made stand, the pursuit ceased,
and the enemy retired out of range. The reb-
els had most decidedly the advantage in po- /
sition and guns, and they used it with fearful |
effect. The bravery of our troops was super
human, but what bravery could meet the un-
erring and unceasing cannon which came
sweeping from almost every tree or heap of |
brush Our men unmasked them, battery
upon battery, only to find their lessened ranks
were unequal to the task. A retreat was COM
menced by New York regiment, and very
soon became general. In vain Gen. Mellow
ell endeavored to rally his forces. They re-
treated up the Centreville road in good order
until charged upon by the Secession cavalry
and artillery, when they broke their lines and
pushed towards Fairfax Court House In a dis
orderly column.
The disaster was not near so great as report
ported at first. Our loss is estimated at from
| 900 to 1000 killed and wounded in fact,
some say it will not reach 1000. The num-
ber of Union troops, actually in the battle, was
only about 10000, whilst the rebels had at
east 10000 in the engagement. With such
odds, it is surprising that the result was not
still more disastrous to the Union forces.
Four months since the sloop of war Wyo-
ming left the Pacific station for the east.
Since her departure nothing has been heard
If her.