New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-07-26

swept along by that maniac hurricane of terror
But suddenly their spirits were revived by q
pleht witch 30 long as God let's them live
they win neVr ease to remember With pride
and 10Y. Str. far across the road, long
before the hoped-iof- r'fage of Centrovllle was
reached, was firm, niNserving line of men, 10
whom tie sight OF the tho>t'Shds who dashed by
them was only wonder or a sewn. ihis war the
German rifle regiment and to see ne manly bear
Ing Of their General and feel the Inspiration
which his presence gave at that momenSs> was
llke relief to those who perish in desert ~
least. then, all was not lost and we knew that,
let our destiny turn that night as ii should, there
was one man who would hold and keep the fame
Of tie nation unsuled to the end.
need not spolk much in praise of the action OF
BleDker and t1e officers who served bin 20 well.
The events speak for them. Steady aud watchiui.
be bed Die line throughout the evening, advancing
bis skrmishcrs Mt every token OF attack, and spread
ipg a sure protection over the multitudes who fled
disordered through his columns. With three
regiments he stood to fight against an Outnnm-
beriug enemy already flushed with victory, and
eager 10 complete IFS triumph. IA the darkness
Increased his post became mare perOus and moro
honorable. At II o'clock the attack came upon
the advance company Of Col. Stahers Rifles, not
in force, but from body of cavalry whose 'nc'
cossful passage would have been followed by
full force, and tho consequent destruction OF our
broken host. Tho rebel cavalry was driven back,
and never returned, and at in the morning,
toe great body Of our troOps having passed and
found their road TO safety, the command was
given 10 retreat in order, and tho brigade fell
slowly and regularly back with the same pre-
cision nc if on parade, and as thoroughly at the
will of their leader as If no danger had ever
come near tbem Over and over again BleDker
begged permission to maintain bis post, or even
10 advance. Retreat" said he n McDowelrs
messenger; " bring me the word to go on, Sir"
but the command was peremptOry, and he was
lett no alternative.
Notwithstanding an that had seen, u seemed
incredible that our whole army should melt away
in night and 40 | remained n. Cen;reviIt,
trutting that by the morning 'ort Of rcorgani-
zaton should have taken place, and tina, our
front should still oppose the enemy. At o'clock
I started toward the battle field, but, on reach
ing considerable ACTIVITY, was amazed to find
that 90 ye,tige OF our troops remained, excepting
score or two of struggling iugtiives who fol.
lowed the tracks OF those Who had gone before.
While returning to Centfeyille group Of Rebel
Cavalry passed, who looked inquiringly bat did
not question. Their cOnSersalion turned upon
The chances Of cutting of the retreat at pairinI
Court House. After seeking Mr.. Wand, On artist
of New-lork, who al,O fingered, ] went straight
10 Fairfax. "a We passed tho church used rs
hospital. tue doctors came ont, aud finding What
was the oondit on Of affairs, walked rapidly away.
do not wish 70 say that they deserted tue
wounded. They may have returned for aught
tbA. know. TIE road leading from Centreyiiie
10 Germantown Swas filed with marks OF the
ruiroui retreat, At the outskirts of the village
thoussnl, Of dollars worth Of property lay wrecked
and abandoned In one Geld quantity of powder
had been thrown. A woman OF apparently hum
bio condition stopped Us aud asked III We meant
90 leave il for the use Of tue enemy. We eI-
planned that We could not wei! take it with us,
upon which sho vehcmeltly insisted that It should
DO blown up before we len. Eat the experiment
of blowing up a thousand pounds OF powder was
not M agreeable task to Get ourselves, and We
! trusted rather to the rain which fell heavily, for
its destruction. Another woman stood By the
roadside with the tears running down her brown
cheeks, asking all who passed if they were hungry
and Offering them food. God help you hI,"
abe said, as some OF the wounded Jumped BY her.
! We passed now and then groups Of disabled men,
who had forgotten their Injuries in their fear, and
had striven ~ drag themselves along by their
companions Some OF them still streemed with
blood, and yet would wrench themselves forward
with all the power they could command. The
destruction OF property seemed TO have increased
at every mile. Baggage wagons were overturned,
ambulances broken IN pieces, weapons Of every
Kind cart of. Hor.es lay dead aud dying. Food
was heaped about tho wayside. Bags of corn
| and oats wero trodden into tho ground. Piles Of
clothing we're scattered at oil SIDES. In many
places the discarded goods and equipments were
ranged breast high, and stoOd like monuments
erected by our own hands to our own thame.
At Fairfax had hoped to 6ad a raly!ng-pace,
and could hardly believe that tue flight had gone
even beyond this. But tho village was deserted,
excepting by native proSlers, who were TaHsack-
ing the enPtied contents Of our baggage wagons,
and who scowled savagely enough at the fugiti7es
who sOught among them temporary sheiter
from the storm. Beyond Fairfax The marks OF
destruction were less frequent, though the stream
Of the retreat grew even stronger. Along the
main road the flying kept their way in something
| like n continuous line, dividing only ut the turn
pike which leads 10 Arlington, into which some