Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1862-09-12

iHSulVfd RiC AOICNcT IL HAS III peGu
often described since Manassas was
! yielded but looked on the scene for
the fist time and | knew that it was
sure be the last for many days-not
again till another army energies from
the capital and advances on the Rich
mondroad.
Wen the storm broke the troops were
fully, saosed to its fury--some of them
sireal on we rssseh. others still less
core tstablc, waitinal the rain and mud
and darkness for thozy elcome relief even
of atoilsome march,. Returning to head
quarters the spot where they had been
we waited till midnight, then mounted
and set out for Fairfax. The moment
we struck the road it was evident that
the whole movement was in confusion.
Regiments were separated from their
brigades, divisions lacking whole brig
AIDES, batteries straying from the com
mands to which they were attached, cav
airy cutting columns in two, and making
no end of mischief in all directions. -
From Centreville to Fairfax is seven
miles. We accomplished it with diff
Guilty in four hours. No circumstances
could have made such Marcia re-
treat from Rebel army upon the capi-
titl-anything but gloomy. No circum.
stances could have made it much more
So Sumner was in front, Sigd had the
centre of the column, Porter the rear.
The three masses crowded and mingled
together, the long line filling the road
from front to rear, the troops marching
heavily and YEARLY away from an enemy
whom they knew they ought to have
beaten Many of them were already
oyer-marched and worn out Arriving
at Fairfax, the men dropped painfully
out of ranks into wretched camps, weary
and tired. Only some of the German
regiments, which are wonderfully hardy
and never wholly broken down, went by
with elastic step to the music of the
same airs which on far other ground in
night marches over the mountains | had
heard again and again.
Fairfax next morning was a scene of
apparently hopeless confusion. Posi-
I tieas were held on every side IF i. and
brigades were marching to al points.
Germantown was held by Gen. Danas
brigade. HartsuA's was also in the
rear. Their troops were complaining
for want of food, the only hard usage
which no soldier bears without grumb-
ling. Hooker held his ground to the
right and in rear Of the town. Porter,
Sumner, and Sigel were sent out on the
Vienna road to Flint Hill, and lay I'M
der arms in the field till the middle Of
the afternoon Here, if anywhere to-
day, Yves to be the battle.
No gun was fred till three o'clock.
The Rebels then observing trains moving
out on the road from Fairfax, which
they knew must accompany columns in
that direction, opened rather suddenly
with two sections Of artillery Their
shots few wide, and got no reply Be-
fore the cannonade begun, Porter was
well on his way through Vienna, and
the columns Of Sigel were filing along
the edge of the woods by the road =
sumner marched last, and of his corps
Gen. sedgwick's Division brought up the
rear
Summers excellent Corps had already
marched seventy-two miles since Friday,
had been on the road four nights in sue
cession, and had earned the right to be
thoroughly tired They moved none the
less with promptncss and precision 49,
Gen. Sumner, a veteran soldier, whom
every one trusts, sat on horseback, with
his STAFF, on hill that commanded the
ground, watching the movement of his
troops, enjoying the spectacle Of their
regular and orderly march as only a true
soldier can. They moved in three col
umns, all the wagons and artillery in the
road, with intervening infantry brigades,
and infantry marching also by brigades
in columns Of fours on either flank ~
Away toward Fairlax a house was burn
ing brilliantly clouds Of black smoke
and fame together. The Rebels reopen
ed with cannon as the brigades Of Sedg.
wick's Division started, but still were
out Of range A road through the
woods to the left, which offered chance
to bring up guns to Flint Hill, where
the road and fields for some distance in
front are commanded, was blocked up
by telling trees across it, and the division
moved on. There was single regiment
of cavalry on the rear, which came, no
doubt, with the best intentions, but
wholly failed TO be Of service
The enemy seized on the hill as soon
as il was abandoned, and having put ten
guns in position, began Smelling the
triple column which had advanced per-
haps half mile on the road and through
the fields. The cavalry regiment-it
was the Sixth New York-had contriyed
to get itself on the right, where it could
be Of no possible use, instead Of on the
left, toward the enemy, or in the rear be-
tween them and the rear guard Of in
fantry Tho blunder was a fortunate
one. At the first shot which came
screaming overhead which must have
IL. Il Al A..