Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1862-09-18

treVllle, passing through the shattered columns
of Popes army, it became evident that the
victory was not great one. There was no
Jublatlon in the appearance of these men and
IN after conversation with them, men and off.
GERS all expressed the opinion that no victories
could be won under Mcdowell and Pope AS
for our hacks, out of about two hundred which
started from Washington only sixteen were
present. Rumors were afoat that Il number
had been engaged by the clerks of the depart
ments and volunteer assistants to carry them
back TO the city The horses had given out
in some places, and the hacks in Others The
battle field was in possession of the enemy;
and in fact there was nothing fox the voIun.
teers to do but walk back-a pleasant pros
pect, which number of them at once proceed.
ed to realize A few went forward at all
risks toward the field, to carry out the pur-
pose which led them there These got cap
tured by the Rebels. Meanwhile, the sixteen
| hacks, as mary ambnlances, and two or three
wagons, proceeded to the hospital established
in and about the same house which served
| Beauregard for headquarters at the battle of
! Biackburn'S Ford
| Here it was discovered that no one was in
| charge of the hacks, but, after some delay, it
was decided not to attempt to 90 upon the
| battle-ground, but to load up with wounded
| at this place, which was considered at the time
| to be in danger This occasoned much DELAY,
and Was well nigh prevented by panic, con,
Sequent on the appearance of few mounted
men at distance No sooner were these seen
| than oHc of the doctors iniudiciousIy com-
mencrd shouting to the drivers to fall back
which they did peli NELL This passed, how
| ever, and the civilians, OF whom few still re-
mained, doing what was in their power, assist,
ed the wounded into the vehicles
Distant firing was heard at this time, which
hurried off the remaining vehicles, as it was
supposed that fighting might commeuce at any
| moment. Banks was reported engaged with
the enemy at Brstow Station, and few per
sons pushed over the Bull Run Bridge at
Black buru $ Ford, with stores determined 10
| assist the wounded Of Banks army Strag-
gIerS hurrying toward Centreville, spread the
news of the destruction Of that Generals trains
by his own forces, aud OF his retreat toward
Centreville This soon became evident TraGs
| OF ambuances conveying the wounded made
their appearance and were followed by the
brigades OF BAnksS army corps, moving rap
IDLY to Bell Rnr, which they crossed on the
bridge at Backbnrn'S Ford, and marching TO
the top OF the bill hated on the same ground
upon which Richardson's Brigade and Sher.
mans Battery form d for the battle of Black.
burns Ford last year.
Gen. Banks, worn but indomtable, rode
along his lines, and proceeded to headquarters
at Centreville whittier it was necessary for all
concerned to 90 in search of shelter DR.. Orig
by'S house-already sacred to newspaper cor
eSpondentS-offered its accustomed shelter, |
entirely without furniture, smelling badly, and
very dirty. Here some of Us slept on the
boards, lying down with the prospect Of the
army'S falling back before morning. Most of
the citizens that had arrived were sent back |
by order of Pope, so that very few remained |
with the army These had stayed till the mud /,
should dry up, before under rtaking the jour
ney. Meanwhile long train vending
It's way to Fairfax, consisting of wagons am
bniancrS carriages Of all kinds, infantry, cay
airy, and artillery, some of the guns of the lat
ter being carried sung under the limbers, |
owing TO their carriages having been destroy
ed i'll the tight
Before retiring, and while looking cut from
the octagou fort, the center Of the enemy old
works at Centreville-at this time occupied by
the new brass NapOleons Of the lst MasSachu !
setts Battery-another line of the Unou army
could be traced winding down the Warrenton
! Turnpike. This was Summers corps. At
Cub Run, Walton's battery was shclling the
Rebel outposts, and away from out on the hills |
and plains of Manassas rose the smoke of Reb- |
ell bvouac fires, traceable as far as Thorough
fare Gap in the Bull Run Mountains whence |
Mcdowell precipitatey retreated last Thurs
day week ago before Two or three squadrons
of the euemy's cavalry deserting az almost i'm
pregnable position and leaving the passage
free for the Rehel hosts. The incompetency
of Gen Mcdowell (the soldiers are very bit
ter, and call it treason) has certainly made it.
self evident, and when Hooker succeeded him
in command the joy of the soldiers was great.
Early next morning an orderly awoke US.
The flag o. truce which Pope had asked OF
Gen Lee by letter the dey before was grant
ed, and doctors, soldiers, citizens, volunteers,
etc, departed with the train of ambuances to
the field of Saturdays fight, very insutliciently
supplied with stores, and with transportation
for about one quarter of the sufferers who were
now passing their third day on the ground
where they bad fallen The road taken was
the Warrenton pike, over the ford at Cub
Ran, the same road which, on July 81, 1861, /
vas the scene of the terrible panic which sue
ceeded the battle of that day, fought on the
same ground as the battle of last Saturday.
| NO signs OF that old panic remain, but occa- |
sional cast away muskets, bayonets, equip !
ments burned wagons aud portions of gun |
carriages, and the scattered wounded limping
on sticks and roughly constructed cruches, es,
tabished the line of the present retreat.
After reaching the well remembered White |
House, Gen. Tyler's hospital at the former ,
battle, and passing the woods where Schenck S
aud Sherman's brigades were posted on that
day, the train left the road and, diverging to
the left, crossed Bull Run at ford some dis |
tance below the Stone Bridge Very pictur-
e>que was the appearance of this spot. The
/ Il, l.ll l,., H., a 1