Year: 1861

1t was now 2 l-2 o'clock. was at the
advanced point OF the front of our col


umns, some hundred rods beyond the


woods, in which the few troops then there


were drawn up, when / decided to drive


back to the town, for the purpose of send
ing you my dispatch. As / passed up
the road the balls and shell from the ene-
my began to fall with more than usual
rapidly. ! did rot see the point from
which they came; but meeting Captain
Ayers, he said he was about to bring up
his battery, supported by the Ohio Brig
ade, under Gen. Schenck, to repel ru-


mored attempt Of cavalry to outhank this
column. AS went forward he passed
down. Gen. Schenck's Brigade was at
once drawn across the road, and Captain
Ayers guns were planted in knoll at
the left, when a powerful body of rebels,
with heavy battery came down from
the direction of Bulls Run, and engaged
this force with tremendous effect. |


went to Centrevile, sent off my dispatch,
and started with all speed to return, in
tending to 60 with our troops upon what
had been the holly contested field, never
doubling for a moment that it would re-
main in their hands. | had gone but
quarter of mile when we met a great
number Of fugitives, and our carriage
soon became entangled in mass of bag
gage wagons, the officer in charge of
which told me it was useless to 60 in that
direction, as our troops were retreating.


Not crediting the story, which was utter
ly inconsistent with what had seen but
little while before, continued TO push
on. | soon met Quartermaster Stetson
of the Fire Zouaves, who told me, burst


ing into tears, that bis regiment had been
utterly cut to pieces, that the Colonel and
Lieutenant Colonel were both killed, and
that our troops had been actually repulsed,
| still tried to proceed, but the advancing
columns rendered it impossible, and /
turned about. Leaving my carriage,
went to a high point of ground and saw,
by the dense cloud of dust which rose
over each of the three roads by which
the three columns Of the army had adj
vanced, that they were all on the retreat.


Sharp discharges of cannon in their rear
indicated tina. they were being pursued.
waited half an hour or so, to observe
the troops and batteries as they arrived,
and then started for Washington, to send
my dispatch and write this letter. AS 1
came past the hill on which the seces-
sonists had their intrenchments less than
a week ago, saw our forces taking up
positions for defense if they should be
assaied.


Such is very rapid and general his
tory of yesterdays engagement. 1 am
unable to be precise or proluse in mat
tiers of detail, and must leave these to
future letter.


! hear nothing on every side but the
warmest and heartiest commendation
of our troops. They fought like veter-
ans. The rebels did not in single in
stance stand before them in a charge, and
were shaken by every volley of their
do not mean to praise any
one at the expense of another. The
sixty,ninth fought with splendid and te-
nacous courage. They charged batteries
two or three times, and would have taken
and held them but for the reinforcements
which were constantly and steadily pour
ed in. Indeed it was to this fact alone
that the comparative success of the rebels
is due. We had not over 26000 men in
action, the rest being held behind as re-
serves at Centrevlle, while the enemy
must have numbered at least 10000.


The Fire Zouaves, before they had
fairly got into action, were terribly cut up
by a battery and by musketry which
opened on their flank. They lost great
many of their officers and men.


About mile this side of Centrevile, n
took place among the teamsters
and others, which threw everything into
the utmost confusion, and inflicted some
very serious injuries. Mr.. Eaton OF
Michigan, in trying TO arrest the flight OF
some OF these men, was shot by one OF
them, the ball taking effect in the hand.
Quite a number of Senators and men,
bers of the House were present at the
battle"


g7T We don't see why the South Car
,linians need grumble at being cut off