Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1862-07-24
The Rcut IF the Yankee Army.

lie scampering of the - Grand Union Army to get
cut OF The way OF the rebe.s almost hasy and
disgractiu N TIE recent battle it the Plains
OF Manassas A correspondent Of New YoIk paper
WHO probably tells not than bali the truth thus
graphically describes tie retreat of the Young Napo
leon " and his army:
The panic extended. Scores OF gallant officers en-
deavored to rally and reform the sragglrs but in vain
while many officers forot the pride OF their shoulder
straps and tre honor Of their manhood and herdei with
sneaks and towards. 0, that had known the names
OF those ocers saw the brave and the c0wardy that
here, now, might reward and punish upon each ndi-
vidua the respect or contempt of whole nation
That scene was not to be forgotten. Scores of rider
less terrific horses dashng By in every direction thick
lying bullets singing by admonshng of danger; every
minute man struck down wagons and ambuances
and cannon bockading the way; wounded men hicup-
ping and groaning and bleeding amid the throng Of
cers aud civilians denounciDg, and reasoning and en-
treating and being insensibly borne along with the
mass the sublime caDnonading, the clouds Of battle
Smoke, and the just disappearing, large and blood
red cannot picture it, bat | see it, and always
shall
Hu1dled among the wagons were Ten thousand strag-
giersfor the credit OF the nation be it said that four
httbs OF them wOl1ded SICK utterly exhausted
and could not have stirred but for the dread OF the
bacc0 warehouses Of the South. The confusion of this
herd OF men and mules, wagons ard wounded men on
horses on foot, by the roadside, men perched
on wagons, searching for water, famisbing for
'oou' AASH iaiDe UteulLS uel with SUuSly eyes,
looking out between bloody bandages that hid the face
turn to some vivid account Of the most ptu part of
Napoleons retreat frol4 Russia, and fiji the picture
the grim, gaunt, bloody picture of war in its most
terrible features.
1t was determined to move on during the night. The
distance to Turkey Island bridge, the point on the
James river which 20 be reached by the direct road
was six miles. Commencing at dusk the march con-
tnued until daylight The night dark and fearful
Heavy thunder rolled in turn along each point CT the
horizon and dark clouds spread the entire canopy We
were forbidden to speak aloud lest TIE light of
segar should present target for ambushed rife we
were cautioned not to smoke. Ten miles OF weary
marching with frequent halls as some one Of the hun
cred vehicles of the artillery train in canre, by
slight deviation, crashed against tree, away the
hours to dawn, when we debouchel into magnificent
wheat field and the smokestack of the Gaena was in
sight. NenophOn'5 remnant of ten thousand, shout
ing. " The sea the sea - were not more glad than
Ga reaching the river General Mcclellan Immediate
y proceeded board of the vesssk. He appeared
greatly perturbed. General Mcclellan met Gene al
Patterson as he stepped board laid his hand on bis
shoulder ard took him in hurried into the aft
cabin, ladies' saloon AS he went in be beat the air
with his right hand cenched from which all present
ferred there was bad 1o the astonishment of all
it explained that the whole army of the Po-
tomac lay stretched along the bank of the river"