Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-05-21
Kxciting and KriraordIuary Scene,


A correspondent Of the PhiladelphiA
Press with General Banks army gives the
following graphic description Of the panic
among our troops and tesmsters during
the first days fight, nssr Pleasant Hill:
Ii was one Of those unscoountabie events
that no genius nor courage can contrsl. /
find il impossible to describe q scene 30
sudden and beWildering, although l was
present, partly sn actor, partly spectator,
and saw plainly everything that took
place. The battle was progressing vieor
ously. The musketTy firing was loud and
continuous, and having recovered from the
danger experienced from Rsnsom's divi-
sion, we felt secure Of The position. 1 was
slowly riding along the edge Of 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 wood
to allow an ammunition wagon to psss,
and although many were observed going
to the rear, some on foot and some on horse
back, We regarded IT ss an occurrence
familiar to every battle, and it occssioned
nothing but 3 passing remark. l noticed
that most Of those thus wildly IidiEg to
the rear were negroes, hangers-on and
serving men, for nov that we have gone
so deeply into this slaveholding country,
every non commissioned officer has . SER
vsnI, and every servant mule. These
people we're the first to show any panic,
but their sosmper along the rosd gave only
amusement to the soldiers, who pelted
them vito stones, and whipped their flying
animals with sticks to increase their
speed. Suddenly there was 6 rush, .
shout, the crashing Of trees, the breaking
jwn Of rails, the rush and scsmper Of
men. 1t was as sudden as though thun-
derbolt had fallen among us and set the
pines on FIRE. What caused il, or when it
commenced, no one knew. Iturned to my
companion to inquire the reason Of This
extraordinary proceeding, but before he
hsd the ohsnce to reply, We found our-
selves swallowed up, IS it were, in q his
sing, seething, bubbling whirlpool Of sgi.
tsted men. We could not avoid the cur
rent; We could not stem it, and II we
hoped TO live in t5st mad oompsny, We
must ride with the rest Of tte en-. Our line
Of battle had given way.
General Banks took Of his hat snd i'm
plored his men to remain; his staff officers
did the same, but it was Of no avail. Then
the General drew his sabre and endeavor-
ed to rally his men, but they Wculd not
listen. Behind him the rebels we're shout
ing and advancing. Their muskets filed
tho air with that strange fle.rssping
sound that war has made familiar to our
fighting men. The teams were abandoned
/ by the drivers, the traces cut, and the ami
mails ridden of by the frightened men,
Ii l.. -ssE-
their faces, and for at least ten minutes it
seemed as if we were going to destruction
together. 1t Wss, however, my fortune to
see the first battle Of Bull Run, and TO be
among thoss who made that celebrated
midnight retreat toward Washington.
The retreat Of the 4th division WAS as much
rout IS that Of the fret Federal army,
With the exception that fewer men were,
engaged, end our men fought here with .
Valor that was not shown on that serious,
sad, mock heroic day in July. We rode
nearly two miles in this madcap way, un-
til on the edge Of 8 raVine, which might
formerly have been bayou, we found
EmOry's division drawn up in line. Our
retresting men fell beyond this line, and
Emory prepared to meet the rebels. They
came with a rush, and as the shades Of
night orept over the tree-tops, they en-
countered our men. Emory fred three
rounds, and the rebels rstrested. This
ended the fight, leaving the Federsls mss-
ters. Night and the psrsly zing effects Of
the stampede upon cur army, made pursuit
impossibls. The enemy fell back, taking
with them some Of the wagons that were
left, and number Of the guns that we're
abandoned.