Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1904-10-07

oouJ vi cavalry TuSuCu uoWh upou ou'
columns near the bridge. They came
from the woods on the left and in
fantry poured out behind them. Ty'
Ter and his staff, with the reserve
were apparently cut off by the quick
manoeuvre. l succeeded in gaining
the position had just left, there wit
messed the capture of Carlisle's bat
terry in the plain, and saw another force
of cavalry and infantry pouring into
the road at the very spot where the
battle commenced and near which the
South CurOlinians who manned the
battery silenced in the morning had
doubtless all day been lying concealed
The ambulances and wagons had
gradually advanced to this spot and OF
course an instaneous confusion and
dismay resulted. Our own infantry
broke ranks in the field, plunged into
the woods to avoid the road, got up
the hill as best they could, without
leaders, every man saving himself in
bis own way.
THE FLIGHT FROM THE FIELD.
By the time 1 reached the top of the
hill, the retreat, the panic, the hideous
headlong confusion. were now beyond
a hope. / was near the rear of the
movement, with the brave Capt. Alex
ander, who endeavored by the most
gallant bnt unavailable exertiOns to
check the onward tumult. 1t was diff
fcult to believe in the reality of our
sudden reverse. What does it all
mean?" 1 asked Alexander. II means
defeat" was his reply. I'VE are beat
en-; it is shameful. cowardly retreat.
Hold up, men," he shouted, don't be
such Internal cowards." and he rode
backwards and forward, placing his
horse across the road and vainly try
ing to rally the running troops. The
teams and wagons confused and dis
membered every corps. We we're now
cut off from the advance body by the
euemy's infantry, who had rushed on
the slope just left by us surrounded the
guns and suffers wagons and were Ap-
par emily pressing up against us. tits
no use, Alexander" l said, "you must
leave with the rest" "I'll be id
if l wilI,' was the sulIen reply and the
splendid fellow rode back to make his
way as best be could. Meantime saw
officers with leaves and eagles on their
shoulder straps, majors and colonies
who had deserted their commands, pass
me galloping as if for dear life. No
enemy pursued just then, but l sup
pose all were afraid that his guns would
be trained down the long, narrow ave
nue. AMI NOW the retreating thousands,
and batter to pieces army wagons and
everything elsa W lich crowded t..
Only one field officer, so far as my OBJ
servatlon extended. seemed to have re-
membered his duty. Lieut.-COl Spei-
del, a foreigner attached to Connect
cut regiment, strove against the cur
rent for a league. l positively declare
that with the two exceptions mention
ed all efforts made to check the panic
before Centerville was reached were
confined to civilians. / saw a man in
citizens dress. who had thrown off his
coat, seized musket and was trying
to rally the soldiers who came by at
the point of the bayOnet. In reply
to request for his name he said it was
Washburne and learned he was the
member by that name from Illinois.
The Hon. Mr.. Kellogg made a similar
effort. Both these Congressman brave
ly stood their ground till the last mo
ment and were serviceable at Center
vile in .sisting the halt there ulti.
mately made. And other civilians did
what they could.
To be continued next week.