Swansea and Glamorgan Herald, and South Wales Free Press. — 1863-05-27 (Swansea, West Glamorgan, Wales)

FREDERICKSBURG ON THE 2ND.—I must frankly confess that I have no ability to do justice to the scene that followed. It was my lot to be in the centre of that field when the panic burnt upon us. May I never be a witness to another such scene. On one band was a solid column of infantry retreating at double quick from the face of the enemy, who were already crowding their rear; on the other was a dense WES of beings who had lost their reasoning faculties, and were flying from a thousand fancied dangers as well as from the real danger that crowded so close upon them, • aggravating the fearfulness of their situation by the very precipitancy with which they were seeking to escape from it. On the hill were 10,000 of the enemy, pourI ing their murderous volleys in upon us, yelling and , hooting to increase the alarm and confusion; hundreds of cavalry horses, left riderless at the first discharge of the rebels, were dashing frantically about in all direetions ; a score of batteries of artillery were thrown into disorder, some properly manned, seeking to gain positions for effective duty, arid others flying from the field ; battery waggons, ambulances, horses, men, cannon, caissons, all jumbled and tumbled together in an apparently inextricable mass, and that murderous fire still I pouring in upon them. To add to the terror of the occasion there was but one means of escape from the field, and that through a little narrow neck or ravine washed out by Scott's Creek. Towards this the confused mass plunged headlong. For a moment it seemed as if no power could avert the frightful calamity that , threatened the entire army. That neck passed, and this panic-stricken, disordered body of men and animals permitted to pass down through the other corps of the army, I our destruction was sure. But in the midst of that ' wildest alarm there was a cool head. That threatened calamity was averted by the determined self-possession of Major-General Daniel E. Sicklea. Spurring his horse forward, he forced his way through the tangled mass and entered this narrow neck. Across this neck there runs a thick brick wall, behind which the forces of Generals Williams and Berry had already thrown themselves preparatory to meeting the enemy. On one flank of the wall was the deeply sunken bed of the creek, impassable for any species of vehicle and scarcely safe for men. At the upper end of the wall was a narrow gateway, the oniy opening to be found. To this point General Sickles picked his way, and there, drawing his sword, blocked the passage with himself and horse. On came the panic-stricken crowd, terrified artillery riders spurring and lashing their horses to the utmost ; riderless horses dashing along regardless of all obstacles ; ambulances upsetting and being dashed to pieces against trees and stumps ; men flying and crying with alarm— a perfect torrent of passion, apparently uncontrollable. But, against it all the brave General threw himself, and by his determined bravery brought the first heavy mass, —cannon drawn by six horses, well mounted—to a halt, and blockaded the passage. Others dashed up behind and crowded upon the first, their drivers cursing and aweariag and calling to the foremost to go on. The loose horses jumped the stone wall, and the flying men scrambled over it, utterly oblivious to the fact that the opposite side was crowded with men whose lives were thus doubly endangered. But by the blockade of the main passage the stampede of the artillery and cavalry had been principally checked. Once halted, reason began to return to those who had previously lost it, and much of the artillery, properly manned, was quickly brought back upon the field. They all seemed possessed with an instinctive idea of the shortest and most direct line from the point whence they started to the United States Ford, and the majority of them did not stop until they had reached the ford. Many of them on reaching the river dashed in and swam to the north side, and are supposed to be running yet. It was no worse with privates than with officers. The stampede was universal; the disgrace general.—Xeso York Herald.