The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1861-08-07

on Broadway in full dress uniform These
men, although their term of service was
about to expire, did not finch hair from
the duty they owed to their country, and
sprang forward to the charge, although
their ranks were thinned.
The Rhode Island battery did good
service; the enemy at one time took the
guns, but the gallant boys recaptured them
with considerable slaughter Thus the
fight ragged for nine consecutive hours
without Interruption. When our troops
in the first place came upon the battle
field, on double quick time, they were ex-
hausted to such an extent on reaching
the ground that their tongues actually
hung out of their mouths. The poor
soldiers suffered terribly for the want of
drinking water, and whenever rill or
moist place was discovered, the half fam
ished men threw themselves upon the
ground, licking the moisture. According
to instructions, General Patterson was to
have come to the reinforcement of our di-
vision, and was expected at Centerville at
twelve o'clock noon. Had he arrived
our weary troops would have been re.
lieved, and given time to rest, while the
attack would have been followed up. Ev-
erything went on gloriously until about
three O'Clock in the afternoon. and, al.
though many Of our men were killed, still
the spirit of those remaining was unbro-
ken, but physically they were unable to
maintain their position much longer
Captain Ayres' battery and portion
of Ricketts, battery fell in the hands of
the enemy, but were retaken after an i'm
mense sacrifice of life. A regiment of
black cavalry made circuitous dash at
our right and left fanks, which was OBJ
served by the Zouaves. They immedi-
ately fell to the ground, and each marked
his man. Some picked off two or three
and in less than half an hour from their
first appearance the black cavalry horses
were seen dashing back riderless. Only a
few of this troop returned, out of about
eight hundred men.
THE SCENES ON THE BATTLE FIELD.
The scenes on the battle field beggar
description. The ground was strewn with
the dead, the dying and the wounded
Here lay one man with his leg shot of,
there another with wound in the head,
a third with an arm shot of, and hundreds
wounded in nearly all the various portions
of the body. The shrieks of agony of
the suffering soldiers were sufficient to
goad our gallant troops to desperation,
and with maddening impetuosity they ad-
vaneed upon the enemy. The barbarity
practieed by the rebels toward wounded
men IL this encounter throws to the winds
the boasted chivalry of the South, and
their assumption of Samaritan tender
ness. They trampled the wounded and
dying victims of their powder and lead
to the ground-f fred upon nurses engaged
in carrying away the mortally wounded
threw hot shot into buildings used as hos.
pitfalls, setting fire to them. The rebels
engaged with our forces at Bulls Run
committed all those diabolical deeds, which
have. as yet, only been equaled by the
East India Sepeys and Tartars of old
They commenced these acts on Thursday
this side of BULBS Run, on the wounded
of the First Massachusetts, and Twelfth
New York Volunteer Regiments, and con.
tinued it on Sunday. sls e
CIVILIANS ON THE FIELD.
The advance of the Union forces into
Virginia having been telegraphed tc
Washington, streams of carriages came
pouring into Centerville filled with curl
osity seekers. Some of the visitors had
relatives in the army. others went to see
battle fought for the first time in theil
lives. Many Senators and Congressmer
were present. There were also numerous
New York gentlemen of the legal pro
fession and mercantile community pres
ent. Some of these civilians ventured al
far as the battle field, and their presence
contributed considerable to the panic
which af:erward took possession of ou
soldiers.
CHARGE cF REBEL CAVALRY.
AOouI ueti 'oot iOur " ClOCk III Iuo hl
ternoon terrible dash of cavalry and
fierce charge of artillery was made at Gu
exhausted troops. The charge done th
most devastating damage, moving dow
everything in its furious career. Th
agonized shrieks of the wounded, the ter
rible roar of artillery, snorting Of frigh,en
ed animals, tended to strike terror into th
hearts of the soldiers. In this charg
Grifin's, Ricketts, and the Rhode Islap,
batteries were taken. Those in citizen
dress became alarmed and took to thei
heels, taking whatever conveyance the
could lay their hands upon. From then
the teamsters, some five hundred, who ha
driven their wagons further in advanc
than was any necessity for, took fright
The road being very narrow. in fact,
gorge. the ponderous vehicle could not b