The weekly pioneer and Democrat., 1864-05-06
pOnenlent: ::
Exciting and Extraordinary Sccue.

correspondent of the Philadelphia Press
with Gen. Banks "rIay gives the following
graphic description Ct the panic among our
troops and tcamstcrs during the first days fight,
near Pleasant Hill-a brief statement of which
we have heretofore published:
1t was one of those uuaccountabe events that
no geniOus nor courage can control. find it
impossible to describe 4 scene so sudden and
bewildering although was present, partly an
actor, partly spectator and saw plainly every
thing that took place. The battle was pro-
crossing vigorously The musketry firing was
loud and continuous, and having recovered
from the danger experienced from Ransom's
division, we felt secure of the position. was
SLOWLY riding along the edge of the wood, con-
versing with friend who had just ridden up,
about the events and prospects of the day.
We had drawn into the side of the wood to al
low an ammunition wagon to pass, and al
though many were observed going to the rear,
some on foot and some on horseback, we re-
garded it as an occurrence familiar to every
battle, and it Occasioned nothing but passing
remark. / noticed that most of those thus
wildly riding to the rear were negroes, hang
ers on and serving-men, for now that we have
gone SD deeply into this slavehOldng country
every nOn-cOmmssOned officer has a servant,
and every servant a mule.
These people were the first to show anv
panic, but their scamper along the road gave
only amusement to the soldiers, who pelted
them with stones, and whipped their flying
animals with sticks to increase their speed.
Suddenly there was a rush. a shout, the crash
ing of trees, the breaking down of rails, the
rush and scampcr of men. 1t was as sudden
as though thunderbolt had fallen among US,
and set the pines on fire. What caused it, or
when it commenced, no one knew l turned
to my companion to inquire the reason Of this
Inr htlfh hnfn In bad tI, nl,o
reply, we found ourselves swallowed up. as it
were, in Il Kissing, seething, bubbling whirl-
pool OF agitated men. We could not avoid the
current; we could not stem it. and if we hoped
to live in that mad company, we must ride with
the rest Of them. Our line of battle had given
way. General Banks took off his hat and i'm
plOred the men to remain his staff officers did
the same, but it was of no avail. Then the
General drew his sabre and endeavored to rally
his men, but they would not listen. Behind
him the rebels were shouting and advancing
Their muskots filled the air with that strange
fle-rasping sound that war has made so famil-
lar to our fighting men. The teams were
abandoned by the drivers, the traces cut, and
the animals ridden Off by the frightened men,
Bareheaded riders rode with agony in their
faces, and for at least ten minutes it seemed as
if we were going TO destruction together 1t
was, however, my fortune to see the first battle
of Bull Run, and to be among those who made
that celebrated midnight retreat toward Wash
ington. The retreat of The 1st division was as
much Il rOut as that OF the first Federal army,
with the exception that fewer men were en-
gagged, and our men fought here with q yalOr
that was not shown on that serious, and mock
heroic day in July. We rode nearly two miles
in this mad-cap way, until on the edge of ra-
vine, which might formerly have been bayou,
we found Emory division drawn up in line
Our retreating men fell beyond this line. and
Emory prepared to meet the rebels. They
came with rush, and as the shades of night
crept over the tree-tOps, they encountered our
men. Emory fired three rounds and the re-
bels retreated. This ended the fight leaving
the Federals masters. Night and the paralyz-
ing effects of the stampede upon our army,
made pursuit impossible. The enemy fell
back, taking with them some of the wagons
that were left, and number of the gums that
were abandoned.
Capture of the Female hysIcian.
{ (hattanooea Cores Cincinnati Commercial.
mentioned in late letter, that Miss Mary
E. Walker, NJ. D., had been ordered out here
from Washington, and had been assigned to
duty in Colonel Dan. McCOoks brigade. The
Doctor has been in the brigade a number of
weeks, and frequently went outside the lines
to visit the sick and desolate families. ON
which occasion she invariably rode the Colo.
nel's much valud horse, Chickamauga. A few
days ago she accidentally rode into the enemys
pickets in one of her excursions to visit the
sick, and was taken prisoner. She was yester.