Evening star., 1895-06-01

cans generally regarded with more than or
binary dislike. He was known here during
the COS as Bull Run RUSSELL" that title
having been given him in recognition of his
services as the author of the most inter est
irg account of the retreat of the Union
troops from the first battle Of Bull Hun
written by any Of the many who endeav-
ored either to describe or to hide the scenes
eEacted between Manassas and the Long
bridge. Mr.. Eusselrs published diary of
what he saw July y, 1861, is lively con-
tTibution to the history of that stirring
time. The newspaper report-which differs
but little from the very extensive diary
itself-defeated completely Mr.. Russelrs
design to move southwark with Mcclellan,
and resulted in a hasty return to England.
In the diary, and under the date men-
toned, occur the following descriptive frag-
ments, which are produced as likely to be
of general interest just now:
Il had ridden, writes the corr aSpon1ent,
between three and half and four miles,
as well as could judge, when was obliged
to turn for the third and fourth time into
the road by a considerab Bile stream which
was spanned by bridge. toward which I
was threading my way, when my atteu ton
was attracted by loud shouts in advance,
and l perceived several wagons coming
from the direction of the battlefield, the
drivers OF which were endeavoring to force
their horses past the ammunition carts,
going in the contrary direction near the
bridge; a thick cloud of dust rose behind
them, and running by the side of the wag-
ons were a number of men in uniform,
whom supposed to be the guard. My first
impression was that the wagons were re-
turning for fresh supplies of ammunition
But every moment the crowd increased; !;
drivers and men cried out. with the most
vehement gestures. Turn back! Turn backI
We are whipped They seized the heads
Of the horses and swore at the opposing
drivers. Emerging from the crowd.
hredthlsss man, in the uniform Of an Off
Ger, with an empty scabbari dangling by
his side. was cut Off by getting between
my horse and the cart for a moment.
What is the matter. Sir? What is all this
abont?' Why. it means that we are pretty
badly whipped: that's the TRUTH he gasped,
and continued on his way.
The Heat and the Uproar.
by this time the confusion had been
communicating itself through the lines of
| wagons toward the rear, and the drivers
| endeavored to turn round their vehicles in
| the narrow road, which caused the usual
amount of imprecations from the men and
| plunging and kicking from the horses
| '"The crowd from the front continually IN
| creased; the heat, the uproar and the dust
| were beyond description, and these v ere
| augmented when some cavalry soldiers,
| fourishing their sahers and preceded Icy an
! officer, who cried out, Make way there,
| make way there, for the general at
| tempted to force covered wagon, in which
| was seated a man with bloody handker-
| chief round his head. through the press.
| Il had succeeded in getting across the
| bridge with great difficulty before the
wagon came up. and I saw the crowd on
| the road was still gathering thicker and
| thicker. Again I asked an officer, who was
What is all this for" We are whipped,
sir. We are all in retreat. You are all to
go back Can you tell me where can
find Gen; McDowellT No! Nor can any
| "A few shells could be heard bursting not
| very far off, but there was nothing to ac-
count for such an extraordinary scene A
| third officer, however, confirmed the re-
| and that the federals were Beaten on all
| points. but there was nothing in this dis
| order to Indicate general rout All these
| things took place in few seconds. I got
| up out of the road into a corn field, through
| which men were hastily walking or run
| ming, their faces streaming with perspira-
| ton. and generally without arms, and
| worked my way for about a half mile or
| so, as well as I could judge, against an
| increasing stream of fugitives the ground
being strewn with coats. blankets, fire.
| locks. cooking tins, caps, belts, bayonets-
| asking in vain where Gen. Mcdowell was.
Roll of Artillery.
again I was compelled by the condition
|
ing passed piece of wood and a regiment,
which seemed to be moving back in column
of march in tolerably good order, turned
once more into an opening close to white
| house, not far from the lane, beyond which
| there was a belt of forest Two field
| pieces, unlimbered near the house, with
| painting horses In the rear were pointed
| toward the front, and along the road beside
! them there swept tolerably steady col
| unn of men, mingled with field ambulances
| and light baggage carts, going back to
Centerville. had just stretched out my
| hand to get a cigar light from a German
| gunner, when the dropping shots which
| had been sounding through the woods in
| front of us, suddenly swelled into an ami
mated fire. In few seconds crowd of
| men rushed out of the wood down toward
| the guns, and the artillerymen near me
seized the trail of a piece, and were wheel
| ing 1t round to fire, when an officer or ser
! geant called out, Stop! Stop! They are
| our own men, and in two or three minutes
| the whole battalion came sweeping past
| the guns at the double, and in the utmost
| disorder. Some of the artillerymen dragged
| the horses out of the tumbrils; and for g.
| moment the confusion was so great 1 could
not understand what had taken place; but
a soldier whom 1 stopped. said, We are
pursued by their cavalry; they have cut
| US all to pieces
| 'Murat himself would not have dared to
move squadron on such ground. How
|
| thing serious was taking place; and at that
| moment shell burst in front of the house
| scattering the soldiers near 1t, which was
! followed by another that bounded along the
| road; and in a few minutes more out came
another regiment from the wood almost
| as broken as the first. The scene on the
| road had now assumed an aspect which
has not a parallel in any description have
| ever read. Infantry soldiers on mules and
draught horses, with the harness clinging
| to their heels, as much frightened as their
riders; negro servants on their masters
| chargers; ambulances crowded with un-
| wounded soldiers; wagons swarming with
| men who threw out the contents In the
| road to make room, grinding through a
| shouting, screaming mass of men on foot
| who were literally yelling with rage at
every halt and shrieking out. Here are the
cavalry! viii you go onr This portion of
the force was evidently in discord.
Confused Accounts.
| There was nothing left for 1t but to go
with the current one could not stem. I
turned round my horse from the deserted
| guns, and endeavored to find out what
| had occurred as I rode quietly back on
| the skirts of the crowd. I talked with
| those on all sides of me. Some uttered
| prudigious nonsense, describing batteries,
| tier over tier and ambuScades and blond