The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1861-08-02

rocks.
Another story has it that the panic was
caused by charge of cavalry. This was
repulsed by the regiment upon which it
was made, but overthrow another regiment
which, in its turn, fell into confusion. In
the midst of this excitement, two new
masked batteries were opened by the reb>
els on the left flank, and that portion Of
the division had its lines broken, and the
alarm among the teamsters having COM
municated itself TO the volunteers, and
even, in some instances, to the regulars, a
retirement of our forces across Bulls Run
was rendered necessary.
Gen. Mcdowell undertook to make a
stand at or about Centreville, but the
panic was so fearful that the whole army
became demoraized, and i! was impossible
to check them either at Centreyille or
Fairfax Court house.
Beyond Fairfax Courthouse the retreat
was kept up until the men reached their
regular encampments, portion of them
returning to them, but still larger por
ton coming inside the entertainments
A large number OF troops fell on the way
side from exhaustion, and scattered along
the route all the way from Fairfax Court
House.
The road from Bulls Run was strewed
with knapsacks, arms, DC. Some of
our troops deliberatel y threw away their
guns and appurtenances, the better to
facilitate their travel.
Sherman's, Carlisle's, G Grif1in,s, and the
West Point Batteries, were taken by the
enemy, and the eight siege and 81 rifed
cannon, the later being too cumbrous to
remove.
The Rhode Island battery was taken by
te rebels at the bridge across BULBS Run,
where their retreat was cut off. Their
horses were all killed.
1t is reported that the Virginia " Black
Horse" Cavalry made an attack on the
remnant Of the Fire Zouaves in the rear of
retreating army,wlen the Zouaves turLed
and fred, killing all but six Of the assault,
ing party.
1t is supposed that the force sent out
against our troops consisted, according to
prisoners account, of about 10000
men, including a large number of cavalry.
lie further says, that owing to reinforce~
ments from Richmond, Straus5urgh, and
other points, the enemy's effective force
was 10000 men. Only $4,000 of the
Union troops were engaged.
According to the statement Of two Fire
Zouaves, they have only 200 left from the
slaughter, while the Sixty ninth, Seventy
first and Seventhy ninth regiments fright
fully suffered in killed and wounded
Mr. Raymond, of the Times, who was on
the field Of battle, says Of the splended
conduct of our troops, especially the Goth
Regiment.
u hear nothing, on every side, but the
warmes. and heartiest commentator of
our troops. They fought like veterans
The rebels did not, N a single instance,
stand before them in charge, and were
shaking by every yolley of their musketry.
| do not mean to praise any one at the
expense of another The Sixty~ninth
fought with splendid and tenacious cour>
age. They charged batteries two or three
times, and would have taken and held
them but for the re Inducements which
were steadily and constantly poured in
Indeed, at acds this fact alone that the com
parative success of the rebels is due. We
bad not over 10000 men in action, the
rest being held behind as reserves at Gem
tervile; while the enemy must have mum,
bered at least 60. Qc0.
6 | shall be able 10 ascertain to morrow
the cause of che retreat of Col. Hunters
column, after the splendid success it ach-
ieved. | am quite inclined, though in the
face of evidence undeniable, to believe
what is rumored here, that this column
did indeed hold its ground, and that the
retreat was confined to the other col>
umns.'
The later part of the Army, it is said,
made their retreat in good order.
Our loss in this disastrous battle-which
is justly held to have been one of the
heaviest ever fought on this Continent
is variously estimated at from $500 to
5000 but these figures will be greatly
reduced as the stragglers come in.
The above is the clearest report of the
action we have seen. The estimate of the
killed, wounded and missing, however,
seems to be too higA-later accounts ma
king the number about 1000. The grand
army is now where it started from-in
the vicinity of Washington.