Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1861-08-23
NUMBER II

current in some degree, they were follow
ed bv q brigade of guns and another bait
tallion of fresh troops. turned up ON
the hill half mile beyond. The vehicles
had all left but two-my buggy was gone
y battery of field guns wns in position
where we had been standing. The men
looked well. As yet there was nothing to
indicate more than a retreat and some ILL
behavior among the wugouers and the
rif-raf of different regiments. Centre
willie was not IL bad position, properly Oc
cupied, and saw no reason why it should
not be held, it it was meant to renew the
attack, nor any reason why the attack
should not be renewed, if there had been
any why it should have been made.
swept the field ouce more. The clouds
of dust were denser and nearer. That
was all. There was no 6riug-no musket-
ry. l turned my horses head, and rode
away through the village, and after got
out upon the road the same confusion SEEM
ed to prevail. Suddenly the guns on the
hill opened. and at the same time came the
thuds OF artillery from the wood on the
right rear. The stampede then became
general. What occurred Mt the hill cam
not say, but all the road from Ccntreville
for miles presented snch Il sight rs eau on
ly be witnessed in the track of the runn-
vcrS fogged, lnshed, spurred, and beat their
horses, or leaped down and abandoned
their teams, and ran by the side of the road;
mounted men, servants, and men in uni
form, vehicles of all sorts, cUmmissariat
wagons thronged tlenarrow ways. At cv-
cry shot ConvUlSiOn rs it were seized up
on the morbid mass of doncs, Sinew, wood
and iron, and thrilled through it, giving
new energy and action to its desperate cf-
for's to get free from itself. Again the cry
of "CNvalry" arose. 'Whut are you afraid
OFF," SAID to a man who was running be-
side me. "lm not afraid of you," replied
the ruflinn, leveling his piece ut me, and
pulling the trigger. 1t was not loaded, or
the cap was not on, f the gun did not go
off. | was unarmed, and | did go off as
fAst us l could, resolved to keep my own
counsel for the second time that day. And
so the fight went on. At one time, IL whole
mass Of infuntry, with fixed bayoncts, ran
down the bank of the road, and some fall
! ing as they ran, must have killed and
| wounded those among whom they fell. As
| knew the road would soon become i'm
passable, put my horse to a gnllop and
! passed on towards the front. But mounted
men still rode faster, shouting, "Cavalry are
coming" Again | ventured to speak to
some officers whom | overlook. aud said,
"lf these runaways are not stopped. the
whole of the posts and picketS into Wash
ington will fly also" One of them, with
out saying word, spurred his horse aud
dashed in front. l do not know whether
he ordered the movement or not but the
van of tue fugitives was now suddenly
| checked, and, pressing on through the
wood at the roadside, [ saw II regiment of
infantry blocking up the way, with their
| front towards Centrevllo. A muskct was
lcvecd ut my head rs / pushed to the
/ front-"Stop, or Ill fire" At the same
| time the officers were shouting out, "Don't
| let soul pass" l addressed one of them
and said, "Sir! l am IL British subject.
am not, assure you, running away.
have done my best to stop this disgrnceful
rout (as had) and have been telling them
there are cavalry within miles of
/ them" 81 can't let you pass, STRIP be-
thought me of Gen. Scott's pass. The
! Adjutant read it, aud the word was given
along the line, ''Let that man pass !" and
so | rode through uncertain if | could
now gain the Long Bridge in time to pass
over without the cOuutersign 1t was
about this time met n cart by the roHd-.
side, surrounded by group of soldiers,
some of whom had "69" on their caps
| The owner, as l, took him to be, was in
great distress, and cried out rs | passed,
"Can you tell me, sir, where the Sixty
ninth areP These men say they are cut to
pieces" ~ can't tell you 'I'm in
charge of the mails, sir, and will deliver
them if l die for it. You are gentleman,
and can depend on your word! Is it safe
for me to go on?" Not knowing the extent
of the debacle, | assured him it was, aud
asked tie men of the regiment hcw they
| happened to be there. "Shure, the Colo
mel himself told us to 60 Oft every man on
his own hook, and to fly for our lives
replied Que OF them. The mail-agent,
who told me he was an Englishman, start
ed the cart again. l sincerely hope no bad
result to himself o. his Charge followed
my advice. reached Fairfax Court House:
the people, black aud white, with anxious
faces, were at the doors, and the infantry
were under arms. l was bcsieged with
questions, though hundreds of fugitives
had passed through before me. AT one
house stopped to ask for water for my
horse; the owner sent his servant for it
cheertulIy, the very house where we had
in vain asked for something to eat in the
| forenoon. There's Il fight among them,
observed, in reply to his question res
pecting the commissariat drivers. "They're
afraid of the enemy's cavalry" care you
| an Americana" said the man. "NO, l am
not" "well, them" he said, "thcre will
be cavalry on them soon enough. There's
| 90, 900 of the best horsemcn in the world
in Virginny !" Washington was still
eighteen miles away. The road was
rough and uncertain. and again my poor
steed was under way; but it was no
use trying to outstrip the runaways.
Once or twice imagined heard guns in
the rear, but I could not be sure of it in
consequence of the roar Of the flight be-
hind me. 1t was most surprising to see
how far the foot soldiers had coutrived to
get on in advance. After sunset the moon
rose, and amid other acquaintance l jog
gcd alongstdean officer, who was in charge
of Col. Hunter, the commander OF brig
ade, believe, who was shot through the