Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1864-04-27
3 PAN &c.

with General Banks army, gives me 1oltoWing
graphic description Of the panic among 51e
troops and teagnsters during the hrst day Hgn5
ii ar Pleasant H;l|
e was one OF those u'1accoa2tahe g eftS
that nc genius nog courage car contFoi !; uzsu
Is iynDossibla to describe scane SO sud0en ana
bevillering, although ] was present: parity an
actor ,laItly spectator, and saw PLAINLY every
thing that took place: HE battle was pro-
PRESSING vigorously. The nuske52y firing. was
n,,} .ri continuous, and having recovered from
the danger experienced by Kansoa's division,
we felt secure Of the position. | was slowly
riding along tbs edge of wood, converslng
Will. . friend who had just ridden up about
the events and prospects OF the day. v saad
drawn into che side Of the wood 80 allow az
ammunition wagon. TO pass, ard although ina~
NJ were observed going to the rear, some CD
foot and some On horseback, We regarded &c as
an occurrence familiar TO every battle, and IL
occlsi0ned nothing but passing remark.
I noticed that most of those thus wildly
riding 20 the rear were negroes, hangers. en- ana
serving men, tor now that ne have gone SO
deeply into this slayeholding country every non"
commissioned officer has servant and every
servant mule. .Lhess people were the first
70 show any panic, but their scamper along
the road gave only amusement 20 the soldlers2
who peItod them with stones, ana whipped
,aeis living animals wish sticks 70 increase 5her
sneed Suddenly there was 3 rush, shout; the
crashing Of trees, the breaking down Or rails,
the rush and scatnper or men. lt was is SUD
Den as though a 6hunderbo!t had fallen among
as, and set the pines on lire. " hat caused l5,
or when it commenced, no one knew. l turned
TO my companion to inquire The reason OF tbls
extraordinary proceeding, but before he Ilao
the chance to reply, we found ourselves sWal~
lowed up, as it WERE IN q Kissing, seething,
tubbling whirlpool Of agitated men
We could nos avoid the current; ne could
not stem it, and il We hoped TO live IN that
mad oIapapy, we must ride with the rest Of
fhan1, Our line Of battle had given way
General Banks took off his hat and impIored
his men to remain; his staff officers did the
same but it was Of no avail. Then the (}ene-
raj drew his sabre and endeayored to rally his
men, but they would DOT listen. i}eIllnd him
the Rebels were shouting and advancing. -
Their musket balls filled the air with that
strange Gle Tasping sound, that war has MADE
familiar TO our fighting n1er. The teams were
abandoned by the drivers; the traces cat, ano
The an;na's ridden Of by She frightened men.
BareheaCIed riders rode with agony III their
faces, and for at least ten minutes It seemed as
i We were going to destruction together ;,
r was nv fortune to see !lae first battle Of
Bull Run, and 90 he among those who made
THAT celebrated midnight retreat towards
Washington. Thu retreat Of the 4th 3Ivjsion
was as much, rout as that Of the first Federal
army, with she exception that fewer men were
engaged, and men fought here with a vaior
that was noc shown on that serious, sad, mock~
heroic day in July. We rode nearly two miles
- this MAJ cap way. until on the edge Of
ravine, which might formerly have veen 3
BAYOU, We found EInory's division drawn up
in line, Emory prepared to meet the hebels. -
Ihev came with rush, and IS the shades OF
night crept over the tree tops, they encounter,