SUSPENSION AND RENEWAL OF THE BATTLE.

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imagined they had won a victory. They had shown greater dash and steadiness than the enemy, from first to last; and while, by far, the most exposed, had inflicted a much heavier slaughter than they had undergone themselves. The whole aspect within our lines, or rather within the boundaries of our brigades, wore the look of triumph. Our enemies, wherever we had met them hand to hand, in anything like open opportunity, had sunk before us; all their batteries immediately within our reach had silenced; but, what was infinitely more conclusive to our green appreciations, General McDowell, our Commander in Chief, now came jingling on the field, waving, first his kid gloves, then his hat, calling us 'Brave boys,' and telling us with a grand air of Cæsar, that we had won the day. 'A big thing.""

But the shouts of the tired legions had scarcely died away, when the roar of battle was again heard, and the terrific yells of the enemy startled our wearied men to their feet. Johnson's re-enforcements, had reached the field, and began the attack from the woods. Gen. McDowell thus describes the

scene in his report:

"It was at this time that the enemy's re-enforcements came to his aid from the rail road train, understood to have arrived from the valley, with the residue of Johnson's army. They threw themselves into the woods on our right, and opened a fire of musketry upon our men, which caused them to break and retire down the hillside. This soon degenerated into disorder, for which there was no remedy. Every effort was made to rally them, even beyond the reach of the enemy's lines, but in vain.”

Col. Burnside reports his part of these transactions thus: "When the general retreat was ordered, the First Rhode Island passed on to the top of the hill, where it was joined by the remainder of the brigade, and formed into column. Large bodies of stragglers were passing along the road, and it

was found impossible to retain the order which otherwise would have been preserved. Yet the brigade succeeded in retiring in comparatively good condition, with Arnold's battery of artillery and Captain Armstrong's company of dragoons bringing up the rear. The retreat continued thus until the column was about emerging from the woods and entering upon the Warrenton turnpike, when the artillery and cavalry went to the front, and the enemy opened fire upon the retreating mass of men. Upon the bridge crossing Cub Run, a shot took effect upon the horses of a team that was crossing. The wagon was overturned directly in the centre of the bridge, and the passage was completely obstructed. The enemy continued to play his artillery upon the trains, carriages, ambulances, and artillery wagons that filled the road, and these were reduced to ruin. The artillery could not possibly pass, and five pieces of the Rhode Island battery, which had been safely brought off the field, were here lost., The infantry, as the files reached the bridge, were furiously pelted with a shower of grape and other shot, and several persons were here killed or dangerously wounded. As was to be expected, the whole column was thrown into confusion, and could not be rallied again for a distance of two or three miles."

While the fugitives thus made the best possible time toward Washington, Gen. McDowell resolved to take thither, as speedily as possible, what remained of his army. The movement began about nine o'clock, from Centreville, and by midnight, all able to move were on the march. A sad contrast, however, was presented, between the grand army of the Potomac, as it had moved to contemplated victory, and the routed and dispirited fragments, which were now in retreat. The Confederate forces did not pursue the fugitives, and it was well for the latter that they did not. Had the pursuit been vigorously pressed, the capture of all their trains, at least, would have been an easy matter. The rebel Gen. John

EXCUSES -ATTACK-PURSUIT.

251

son, ignorant of material facts, thus excuses himself for not following up his successes:

"The apparent firmness of the U. S. troops at Centerville, who had not been engaged, which checked our pursuit, the strong forces occupying the works near Georgetown, Arlington, and Alexandria, the certainty too that Gen. Patterson, if needed, would reach Washington with his 30,000 men sooner than we could, and the condition and inadequate means of the army, in ammunition, provisions, and transportation, prevented any serious thoughts of advancing against the Capital. It is certain that the fresh troops within the works, were, in number, quite sufficient for their defense; if not, Gen. Patterson's army would certainly re-enforce them soon enough."

Gen. McDowell excused the disaster, by the delay of the advance from the 8th to the 16th of July, by the want of previous drill of his force in masses, the weakening of his force to re-enforce Gen. Patterson, that the trains were drawn by undisciplined animals, and driven by awkward men, and unexpectedly slow and lingering in their movements, that the consequent delays gave the enemy three days' notice of his intention, and enabled them to concentrate an immense forceall indeed which they had transportation to convey; that he moved at the earliest possible moment, and with all possible dispatch; that as the best part of his force were three months' men, he could not delay, for their time was nearly out, and in a few days ten thousand of his best troops would return; and that he crossed Bull Run with only 18,000 men, all told, the balance being at Blackburn's Ford, on the road near Stone Bridge and at Centreville.

The engagement began at one half past ten in the morning, and was vigorously continued until after three in the afterOur men had been on their feet, in the march and the battle, full thirteen hours, on an oppressively hot summer day.

252

LESSONS OF THE DEFEAT.

At one time the enemy was confessedly beaten, and his utter rout was only prevented by the arrival of the large command of Gen. Johnson, which, having come on by rail road, was fresh and vigorous, and was dashed furiously against our wearied and weakened columns, which produced that shameful and humiliating rout which sent a thrill of sadness to every loyal heart. That the enemy was badly beaten, is conclusively proved, by the fact that, even with his large number of fresh troops, he dared not pursue our flying and utterly disorganized forces.

Our loss, in this disastrous battle, was, killed 481, wounded 1,011, missing 1,216,-total 2,708.

We also lost 17 rifled, and 8 smooth-bore guns, 150 boxes small arm cartridges, 87 boxes rifled cannon ammunition, 13 wagons loaded with provisions, 30 boxes old fire-arms, 2,500 muskets, 8,000 knapsacks and blankets. Gen. Beauregard states the loss of the rebels as follows: Killed outright, 269, wounded, 1,483, total, 1,852.

Thus the first great battle of the war ended, in the utter discomfiture of the loyal forces. As the intelligence flew over the country, the greatest disappointment and depression were manifested by the people, by whom the possibilities of severe reverses had not been entertained. But the subsequent events of the war taught them to unlearn the error, and to respect at least the reckless earnestness of the foe, however they might regard the cause in which he was fighting, and the depraved and brutal spirit with which he waged the contest.

Immediately after this reverse, troops were rapidly concentrated at Washington, in large numbers, the Army of the Potomac was thoroughly re-organized, and something like military order and discipline were enforced. The war was seen to be an earnest affair, and not to be ended by the mere mustering of troops, by dress parades and reviews, or the exhibition of gaudy uniforms in drawing rooms or on gala occasions.

CHAPTER VII.

RETIREMENT OF GEN. SCOTT-CAMPAIGN IN

WESTERN VIRGINIA.

Gen. Scott's Letter-Promotion of Gen. McClellan-Gen. Rosecrans Promoted -Gen. Wise commands the Insurgents- His Vandalism-Loyalty of the People-Gen. Cox's Advance upon Wise-His Flight-Gen. Rosecrans' Command - Battle of Scareytown-Battle of Carnifax Ferry-Battle of Cheat Mountain - Battle of Camp Defiance - Battle of Chapmansville - Massacre at Guyandotte-The Retribution- Battle of Romney-Battle of Camp Allegany-Battle of Blue Gap-Battle of Blooming Gap.

When, by the treachery of the rebels, the National Capital was imperiled, Gen. Scott came forward, and patriotically offered his services to the Government, to aid in repelling their threatened assaults. Though, from age and infirmity, he needed quiet and repose; yet he felt that the peculiar perils of the time, demanded of him, and of every loyal citi zen, the devotion of his time and talents to the salvation of his country.

As soon, therefore, as the rebellion was manifest, he devoted all his time and energies to its suppression; and, it is believed, that had more attention been given by the Government to his early and sagacious advice, the rebellion might have been strangled before its development. In the laborious duties of organizing, arming, supplying and directing the movements of our armies, he continued, until his failing health absolutely compelled him to retire, and which he did by transmitting to the Secretary of War the following letter: