The National tribune., 1884-10-30

every Jump: calSSon tealilS lahillS tiiSii V"i
way out of the melee! The teams OF the fine
barouches with the CongreSsmen, where were
thew Echo answered "Whercy' They had I'M
portant business to transact at the seat of Gov
ernment Without witnessing such scene, one
cannot picture III his imagination one like 1t.
THE RoUT
MANY of the stragglers commenced an indis-
criminate firing from a point op the road west
of the hospital, near tho stable ani edge OF
woodland, which had the effect 10 check, IN a
measure. any movement Of the cavalry down
the Warreuton road as DO doubt WAS their ln-
tention.
had crossed the road from the place had the
guard stationed ana got near the hospital yard
fence. There was a cassiOn near by, over the rail
of which | threw my blanket drew my pstoi
and took position alongside OF one oi the artll-
lery horses: the driver had cambered of, as he
was struck at by cayalryman with his saber,
and got 10 the head OF his horse; an artillerynan
Jumped OF the seat on the caIsSou as the oil horse
was shot. All three of US were ranged alongside
the near wheel horse | in the middle. With my
left hand holding to the harness. The TWO
horses i'm the lead had got loose somehow and
gone. The artiileFyman to nay left was shot IN
the shoulder. as it afterwards proved, and fell
TO the ground, hanging on to the rein OF the
horse; the horse being shot reared up, got his
legs over the tongue, and we al fell IN heap,
the horse lying sn my left loot. with his breech-
ing around the heel of my boot. The artillery
man to the right fell on top OF me. In my ex-
ertiou to free myself, throwing him of, fired
nv pistol The bah must have taken effect in
the back of the horse, as his struggles some
what freed my foot, all except the breecklng.
While in that position had view of cavalry
men riding between and around the teams,
running away, firing pistols and striking with
their saberS. Many persons were run over,
and ii was the belief, had not the cavalry met
tba at he nj Wnnll
have gone down the Warrenton road in the
rear of our brigade.
The attack at the hospital was soon known
to the brigade. which came marching TO the
rear, preceded by howitzer. which opened
fire. tearing great gaps in their ranks and
causing hasty retreat
WILD SCENE.
The scene at that time cannot be fully de-
scribed. All heads seemed TO be turned on the
back track. How far they were gong or where
they We're going no one knew. | AIN satisfied
it was the belief of three-fourths or more of
the soldiers in our brigade that we would be
into another fight the next day. The brigade
marched in the rear of the hospital, and upon
entering long strip of cleared ground on the
north side of the pike, all the regiments formed
in hollow squares, aud marched III that way
until they approached the bridge over Cub
Run. From the hospital along the road to-
wards the bridge could BE- nothing but
confusion, - teams running wild without
drivers some with drivers; wagons Overturn-
ing; fine barouches on their sides Noticed one
astride the fence, with pieces of traces to the
swingletreP, perhaps six inches III length; a
Congressman or two aStrlde a carriage horse,
they not having time TO remove the harness.
perhaps not knowing the horse had harness
on, in their hurry to get to the IT ar and Wash
ington city. Confusion was 10 name for it.
Rout Upon the arrival of Gen. Schenck's
Brigade at the Cub Run bridge the regiments
resumed their line of march by right in front.
Quite number OF teams and wagons were piled
in an indescribabe mass not far from the west
end of the bridge. Many men, rather than
wait or take time to cross the bridge. jumped
into the water and waded TO the opposite shore.
UNTIL CUB RUN BRIDGE
was reached the regimental lines were well pre-
served, but from there to Ceutervile not so well;
yet all or near all reported at the regiment that
evening. Across the bridge all seemed to be
in hurry. The brigade kept up its organiza-
tion as well as could be expected under the
circumstances, as teams with and without
drivers, were going pel-mell for the rear, and
ones life was endangered by them. / got off
to the left of the woods. After passing through
the bridge, and upon a little rising ground,
looking back, beheld the cavalry which wassup-
posed to be torn almost 10 pieces by our fire at
the hospital coming into line. upon the same
ground over which we had marched. in hollow
squares
RALLYING ROUND THE FLAG.
The color-beaier of the pa \. Y. coming up
the slope from the roadway about the same
time, / caught hold of him and the flagstaff,
and said: By all above Us. let us STOP and
around the flag We wall rally and repel any
charge the cavalry may make" lie did SO, and
some 200 men faced towards the west in few
minutes. the left resting at the roadway No
lgIlt Ar.rfEp nfa haft haR iy1-t
crossed the bridge, l ran To- the bank and beg
ged the officer in command Lieut.. Avres be-
lieve was his name TO wheel OIL and into posi-
tion. ready for the charge, should one be made.
The two pieces were soon in position OH our
right toward the woodland. While we were
forming, the Major of the I'd \. Y WAS every
where helping TO rally the men. Gen. Scbenck
rode back as the two pieces of artillery We're
going into position AID asked by whose au-
.horlty the troops were forming | replied by
pointing in the direction where the cavalry
was formed. By this time the guns of the
battery were in position and loaded. Gen.
Schenck ordered change of formation by
placing the position of the battery between us
and the road, in which position we remained
until all our troops, and what trains were un-
der control. had crossed the bridge. The cav
airy, no doubt, seeing our readiness for warm
reception, wheeled from their position and
went across the road in the direction whence
they came. Our
MARCH WAS THEN RESUMED
towards Centerville, going into position short
distance east Of that place, in d woodland on
the north Of the Warrenton road Many were
the comments by the private soldiers during our
stay there, and as / have said, the opinion was
fully expressed by great many, we would
go into another fight the next day" Many
soldiers tired and hungry, lay down on the
ground that evening and were soon asleep
among the number About 9 or $50 o'clock as
near as / can recollect, it may have been little
later, word was whispered from one TO another:
Get up. Get up. Fall in! We're going TO
fall back !"
GREAT God WE'RE WHIPPED"
They didn't know il until then. 1t was not
long until the troops the march became so
thoroughly mixed up il was a difficult thing
for one to find another who belonged TO the
same company even regiment. Footsore,
weary and hungry We trudced along toward
Fairfax Courthouse, occasionally passing a
fire started by some one along the road for
cooking OF something TO eat. Tramp tramp,
tramp was the order OF the night; many going
toward Alexandria from Fairfax Courthouse
others keeping the road toward Fails Church.
Just as reached Fairfax Court-honse which
i suppose about ! O'Clock. the cry was
raised, Here comes the Black Horse Cavalry"
ONLY SCARE
II proved 10 be a scare and was caused by q
portion Of our own cavalry being sent around
20 reconnoiter, aud their returning upon the
road We were on. How MANY Vot over fences