Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1861-08-21
TUE Fue.erwENT AT BULL RUN.
From Russells Letter to the London Tines dsted III
22d, the day following the Dalle'

colly WAS OF greater consequence tllah II was
in n military sense-but for the ulsstaceiul
conduct OF the troops. The retreat on tleil
lmes AT Centerville seems to have ended iii
cowar,lly rout-a miserable, causeless panic
Such scandaous behavior on the part OF SOL
diers I should have considered impossible, as
with some experience OF camps ana ARMIES
| never, even in alarms among camp lolioWels'
have seen the like OF it. How Tar the dlsor-
uanization of the troops extended LKnoW hol'
but it was complete in more than one regl
ment Washington this morning Is crow1eu
with soldiers without officers, who nave ueu
from Centcrville, and with three months
men " who are going home from the tace OF
the enemy on the expiration OF their term Oh
enlistment. The streets, in spite OF the ram,
are crowded by people with anxious faces, anu
groups of wayering politicians are assemoleu
at the corners, in the hotel passages, ana tue
bars. II, in the present state OF the troops
the coniederacs We're 10 make march across
the Potomac above Washington, turning inc
works at Arlington, the capitol might tall INTO
their hands. Delay may place that event out
OF the range OF probability
FLIGHT OF THE FOURTH PENNSYLVANIA REG
INTENT,
On turning into one of the roads whlch
leads to Fairfax Courthouse and TO Centre
willie beyond it the distant sound OF cannon
| reached u.s. That must have been about 5.oo
A. NJ. 1t never ceased all day at least, "heh,
ever the rattle of the gig ceased the booming
of guns rolled through the woods on our ears
One man said it began at O'Clock, Out tle
pckets told us it had really become cohtihu-
/ ous apout "a or O'clock. In II few minutes
afterwards body OF men appeared on liie
road. with their backs towards CehtreVllle,
and their faces towards Alexandria. Their
march was so disorderly that could not nave
believed they were soldiers in an enemy
country-tor Virginia hereahout Is certainty
so.-but for their arms and UNIFORM. II sooh
anneared that there was no less than an entire
regiment marching away, singly or IN small
knots of two or three, extending Tor some tnree
or four miles along the road. n baoet ol
tongues rose from them, and they were AL III
rood spirits, but with an air about them
could not understand. Dismounting at
stream. where group of thirsty men were
drinking and hating i'll the shade, asked
an officer, "Where are your men gong sll
.'Well. we're going home, sir, l reckon, 10
Pannsylyania." 1t was the fourth Pennsylva
MIA regiment winch was on its march, as
learnt from the men. 81 suppose there Is Sc
we're work going on behind you, Judging from
the firing ?" "Well, l reckon, sir, there is
"Were going home" he added, after pause,
dnrng which it occurred TO HIM, perhaps, that
/ the movement required explanation, be,
q cause the mems time is up. We have had
\ three months OF this work" proceeded on
p my way, Illuminating on the leehngs OF gen
eral who sees half brigade walk quietly away
on the very morning Of an action, aud on INC
n frame of mind of the men, who would nave
a shouted till they were hoarse about tilelf oe
/ loved Union-possibly have hunted down any
< moor creature who expressed belief that /
! was not the very quintesence OF everything
great and good in government and giorlou
y and omnipOtent in arms, -coolly turning thel
backs on it when in its utmost peril because
d the letter of their engagement bound thet
v no further
N Mr.. Russell, arriving at Centerville, occI
pied a position upon conspicuous elevation
u where, surrounded by congressman, ladlt
le with opera glasses, civilians on horseback
IL and a crowd of other spectators, he watchC
re the battle.
VIEW OF THE FIGHT.
OF The cannon spoke loudly from the gree
VI bushes, and the plains below were mottieu
IN. nutfs of smoke and white rings from burstlI
IN shells and howitzers Clouds OF dust can a.
ha wavering msts OF light blue smoke curled u
ii. and the splutter of musketry broke throua
!, the booming OF the guns. The view towa
an the lett was interrupted, but the firing W;
NO rather more heavy there than on the front
10 right flank, and glade was pointed out in ii
ID forest as tile beginning of Bull Run, on Il
q. other side Of which the eoniedeIates were hi
i in force, though they had not made any sp
Sa cifc reply to the shells thrown into their COW
NO early in the morning. There seemed to be
"a continuous line, which was held by the en-
N. my, from which came steady, solid fri
60 against what might be supposed to be heat
OF columns stationed at various points or a
c. vaucing against them. The soldiers, who tc
IN. lowed each Shot with remarks IN English
he German, were not as eager as men general
lie are in watching fight, Once, as cloud
~ thick smoke assembled from the trees ma
We shouted out, "ThatS good-we've taken al
he other battery; there goes the magazine
80 But it looked like, and l believe was, the e
III plOSion OF caissou. Having seen all til
IN could be discerned through our glasses, II
liz friend and myself had made feast on o.
sandwiches i'll the shade OF the buggy; II
in. horse was eating and resting, and was orct
m. to give him half an hour or more before
nd mounted, aud meantime tried to make ont Il
a;r plan of battle, but all was obscure and dar
ats Suddenly up rode an officer, with crowd
nd soldiers after him, from the village. 'We''
- whipped them on all points !" he shOute
los "We'Ye taken their batteries, and they're
al retreatngP Such an uproar as followe
,et The spectators and the men cheered aga
and again, amid cries of "Bravo" "Bul
n for us| didn't L tell you 500" al
Bullefdl nOCuS rom Inc DeutSCnlal
m folk, and loud "hurroos" from the Iris
on THE PANIC AND FLIGHT.
n On moving down the hill soon after and
w ward the front, to obtain closer view of Il
ly proceedings, perceived the drivers OF S
H. Ot wagons, with the horses turned towards II
ng who were endeayoring to force their wa
u against the stream Of vehicles settiug in II
ty other direction. By the side OF the new set
wagons there were number of commsSari
We men and soldiers, whom at first sight took
IS be the baggage guard. They looked excite
en- and alarmed, aud were running by the side
of the horses-in front the dust quite obscure
he the view. AT the bridge the currents met
mt wild disorder. Turn back Retreat p shou
It, ed the men from the front, 'tWe're whppe
as we're whipped !" They cursed and tugged
of the horses heads, and struggled with frenzy
get past. Running by me ON foot was mi
le- with the shoulder straps OF an officer. "Pra
he what is the matter, Sit 2" at means we
ar pretty badly whipped, and that's a iact,"
e's blurted out in puts, and continued his caree
nv | observed that he carried no sword. ~
he Transfers OF the advancing wagons now caug
for up the cry Turn blackburn your horses
bid was the shout up the whole line, and backin
~, plungiug, rearing and kicking, the hors
which bad been proceeding down the roi
reversed front and went oiltoward Centervi
OF, Those behind them went madly rushing 0
81. L.. Al.