The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1864-05-04
An Exciting and Extraordinary
Scene

A correspondent of the Philadelphia Press,
with Gen. Banks Army gives the following
graphic description of the panic among our
troops and teamsters during the first days
fight, near Pleasant Hill;
at was one of those unaccorntabla events
that no genius nor courage San control. find
it impossible to describe a scene so sudden and
bewllderlng, although 1 was present, partly an
ACTOR Par'tyy a spectator, and saw plainly every
th!noo that took place. The battle was pro-
crossing vigorously. The musketry firing
was loud and continuous, and having recover
ed from the danger experienced by Ransom S
division, we felt secure of TIE position. l
was slowly riding along the edge of a wood,
conversing with q 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 q passing
remark. l noticed that most of these thus
wildly riding to the rear were negroes, hang
evs-on and se-ving-men, for now that we have
gone so deeply into this 81 ve-holding country,
every non-commissioned officer has a servant
and every ~servanta mule. These people were
the first to show any panic, but their seamper
along the road gave only amusement to the
soldiers, who pelted them with stones and
whipped their flying animals with sticks to in
crease their speed. Suddenly there was a
rush, a aroat, the crashing of trees, the break
ing Town of rails, the rush and scampcr of
men. 1t was as sudden as though a thunder
bolt had fallen amongst US, and set the pines
on fire. What caused it, or where It COM
msnccd, no one knew.
I turned to my companion to inquire the
reason of this extraordinary proceeding, but
before he lad the chance to reply, We found
ourselves swallowed up, as it were, in q hiss
ing, seething, bubbling whirlpool of agitated
men. We could not avoid the current !; we
could n6s stem it, and if we hoped to live in
that bad company, we must ride with the rest
of them Our line of battle had given way.
Gen. Banks took eff his hat and implored his
men TO remain ; his staff officers did the same,
but it was of no avail. Then the Gen. drew
his sword and endeavored to rally his men,
but they would not listen. Behind him the
rebels were shouting and advancing. Their
musket balls filed the air with that strange
6 le rasping sound that war has made familiar
our fighting men. The teams were aban-
doned by the drivers, the traces cut, and the
amin, ais ridden off by the frightened men
Barel,caded riders rode with agony in their
aces, and for at least ten minutes it seemed
Is IL we htsC SOiHS ~ ~ StAO tOSCillSi.-
It was ny fortune to see the first battle of Bull
Run, and to be among those who made that
niGnTght retreat towards Washing
The retreat of the 4th Division was as
much of a route as that of the first Federal
.rmy, with the exec ution that fewer men were
and our mel fought here with a val
" that was not shown on that serious, sad,
mock heroic day in July. We rode nearly
miles in this madcap way, until on the
,dge of a ravinc, which might formerly have
,een a bayou, We found Emory's division
Irawn up in line. Our retreating men fell be-
-ond this line, and Emory prepared to meet
he rebels. They came with a rush, and as
he shades of night crept over the tree tops,
hey encountered our men. Emory fred three
ounds and the rebels retrcated. This ended
fight, leaving the Federals masters. Night
nd the paralizing effect of the stampede upon
'ur army, made pursuit impossible. The enc
ny fell back taking with them some of the
Togons hat were lef. and a number of the
,uns that were a~baudoued.