with his command taking the southern, which leads to Bull Run, and Gen. Tyler the northern-running parallel to it at a distance of WASHINGTON, Sunday night, July 22, 1861. about a mile and a half. The movement come battle yesterday was one of the most se- menced at about 3 o'clock. I got up at a little and sanguinary ever fought on this con- before 4, and found the long line of troops ext, and it ended in the failure of the Union tended far out on either road. I took the road s to hold all the positions which they by which Colonel Hunter, with his command, it to carry, and which they actually did and General McDowell and staff, had gone, and , and in their retreat to Centreville, where pushed on directly for the front. After going have made a stand, and where Gen. Mc-out about two miles, Colonel Hunter turned to ell believes that they are able to maintain the right-marching oblique toward the run, selves. which he was to cross some four miles higher up, and then come down upon the intrenched positions of the enemy on the other side. Col. Miles was left at Centreville and on the road, with reserves which he was to bring up whenever they might be needed. Gen. Tyler went directly forward, to engage the enemy in front, and send reinforcements to Col. Hunter whenever it should be seen that he was engaged.

Hunter's axemen clearing his way, and awaited | further back. Gradually the point of fire passed with some impatience the sound of his cannon on the opposite heights. Time wore along, with occasional shots from our guns, as well as those of Col. Richardson's column, but without, in a single instance, receiving any reply.

At a little before 11 o'clock, the First Ohio and Second New York, which were lying in the wood on the left, were ordered to advance. They did so-passing out of the road and climbing a fence into a wood opposite, which they had barely approached, however, when they were met by a tremendous discharge of a fourgun battery, planted at the left in the woods, mainly for the purpose of sweeping the road perpendicularly and the open field on its right, by which alone troops could pass forward to the opposite bank. They were staggered for a moment, and received orders to retire. Capt. Ayres' battery (formerly Sherman's) was advanced a little, so as to command this battery, and, by twenty minutes of vigorous play upon it, silenced it completely.

further and further to the left, until the dense clouds of smoke which marked the progress of the combat were at least half a mile to the left of what had been the central position of the rebels.

It was now half-past 2 o'clock. I was at the advanced point of the front of our column, some hundred rods beyond the woods, in which the few troops then there were drawn up, when I decided to drive back to the town for the purpose of sending you my despatch. As I passed up the road, the balls and shells from the enemy began to fall with more rapidity. I did not see the point from which they came; but meeting Capt. Ayres, he said he was about to bring up his battery, supported by the Ohio brigade, under Gen. Schenck, to repel a rumored attempt of cavalry to outflank this column. As I passed forward he passed down. General Schenck's brigade was at once drawn up across the road, and Capt. Ayres' guns were planted in a knoll at the left, when a powerful body of At half-past 11 we heard Hunter's guns on rebels, with a heavy battery, came down from the opposite height, over a mile to the right. the direction of Bull Run, and engaged this He was answered by batteries there, and then force with tremendous effect. I went to Cenfollowed the sharp, rattling volleys of musketry, treville, sent off my despatch, and started with as their infantry became engaged. The firing all speed to return, intending to go with our now became incessant. Hunter had come upon troops upon what had been the hotly contested them suddenly, and formed his line of battle in field, never doubting for a moment that it an open field, at the right of the road. The would remain in their hands. I had gone but enemy drew up to oppose him, but he speedily a quarter of a mile when we met a great numdrove them to retreat, and followed them up ber of fugitives, and our carriage soon became with the greatest vigor and rapidity. Mean- entangled in a mass of baggage-wagons, the time, for some three hours previous, we had officer in charge of which told me it was useseen long lines of dense dust rising from the less to go in that direction, as our troops were roads leading from Manassas, and, with the retreating. Not crediting the story, which was glass, we could very clearly perceive that they utterly inconsistent with what I had seen but a were raised by the constant and steady stream little while before, I continued to push on. I of reinforcements, which continued to pour in soon met Quartermaster Stetson, of the Fire nearly the whole day. The Sixty-ninth, Sev-Zouaves, who told me, bursting into tears, that enty-ninth, Second, and Eighth New York; the First, Second, and Third Connecticut, and the Second Wisconsin were brought forward in advance of the wood and marched across the field to the right, to go to Col. Hunter's support. They crossed the intervening stream and drew up in a small open field, separated from Col. Hunter's column by a dense wood, which was filled with batteries and infantry. Our guns continued to play upon the woods which thus concealed the enemy, and aided materially in clearing for the advance. Going down to the extreme front of the column, I could watch the progress of Col. Hunter, marked by the constant roar of artillery and the roll of musketry, as he pushed the rebels back from point to point. At 1 o'clock he had driven them out of the woods and across the road which was the prolongation of that on which we stood. Here, by the side of their batteries, the rebels made a stand. They planted their flag directly in the road, and twice charged across it upon our men, but without moving them an inch. They were met by a destructive fire, and were compelled to fall still

his regiment had been utterly cut to pieces that the colonel and lieutenant-colonel were both killed, and that our troops had actually been repulsed. I still tried to go on, but the advancing columns rendered it impossible, and I turned about. Leaving my carriage, I 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 columus had advanced, that they were all on the retreat. Sharp discharges of cannon in their rear indicated that they were being pursued. I waited half an hour or so to observe the troops and batteries as they arrived, and then started for Washington, to send my despatch, and write this letter. As I came past the hill on which the secessionists had their intrenchments less than a week ago, I saw our forces taking up positions for a defence, if they should be assailed.

Such is a very rapid and general history of this day's engagement. I am unable to be precise or profuse in matters of detail, and must leave these to a future letter.

I hear nothing, on every side, but the warm

where your correspondent stood. Gens. Beau- | regard, Johnston, and Bonham reached this point at 12, and one of these balls passed directly over and very near them, and plunged into the ground a few paces from where I stood. At a quarter past 12, Johnston and Beauregard galloped rapidly forward in the direction of Stone Bridge, where the ball had now fully opened.

Gen. Ewell been received and carried out, and our entire force brought upon the field, we should have destroyed the enemy's army almost literally. Attacked in front, on the flank and in the rear, he could not possibly have escaped, except st the loss of thousands of prisoners and all Lis batteries, while the field would have been strewed with his dead.

Finding that his orders had in some way failed to be executed, Gen. Beauregard at last ordered up a portion of the forces which were intended to cooperate with Gen. Ewell. It was late, however, before these reinforcements came up. Only one brigade reached the field before the battle was won. This was led by Gen. E. K. Smith, of Florida, formerly of the United States army, and was a part of Gen. Johnston's column from Winchester. They should have reached here the day before, but were prevented by an accident on the railroad. They dashed on the charge with loud shouts and in the most gallant style. About the same time Major Elzey coming down the railroad from Winchester with the last of Johnston's brigades, and hearing the firing, immediately quit the train and struck across the country, encountered the extreme right of the enemy as he was feeling his way around our flank, and writh his brigade struck him like a thunderbolt, full in the face. Finding he was about to be out

The artillery were the first to open fire, precisely at 11 o'clock. By half-past 11, the infantry had engaged, and there it was that the battle began to rage. The dusky columns which had thus far marked the approach of the two armies, now mingled with great clouds of smoke, as it rose from flashing guns below, and the two shot up together like a huge pyramid of red and blue. The shock was as tremendous as were the odds between the two forces. With what anxious hearts did we watch that pyramid of smoke and dust! When it moved to the right, we knew the enemy were giving way; and when it moved to the left, we knew that our friends were receding. Twice the pyramid moved to the right, and as often returned. At last, about two o'clock, it began to move slowly to the left, and thus it continued to move for two mortal hours. The enemy was seeking to turn our left flank, and to reach the railroad leading hence in the direction of Winchester. To do this, he ex-flanked himself, the enemy gave way after the tended his lines, which he was enabled to do by reason of his great numbers. This was unfortunate for us, as it required a corresponding extension of our own lines to prevent his extreme right from outflanking us a movement on our part which weakened the force of our resistance along the whole line of battle, which finally extended over a space of two miles. It also rendered it the more difficult to bring up reinforcements, as the further the enemy extended his right, the greater the distance our reserve forces had to travel to counteract the movement.

This effort to turn our flank was pressed with great determination for five long, weary hours, during which the tide of battle ebbed and flowed along the entire line with alternate fortunes. The enemy's column continued to stretch away to the left, like a huge anaconda, seeking to envelope us within its mighty folds and crush us to death; and at one time it really looked as if he would succeed.

second fire. Meanwhile Beauregard rallied the centre and dashed into the very thickest of the fight, and after him rushed our own brave boys, with a shout that seemed to shake the very earth. The result of this movement from three distinct points, was to force back the enemy, who began to retreat, first in good order and finally in much confusion. At this point the cavalry were ordered on the pursuit. The retreat now became a perfect rout, and it is reported that the flying legions rushed passed Centerville in the direction of Fairfax, as if the earth had been opening behind them. It was when Gen. Beauregard led the final charge, that his horse was killed by a shell.

We captured thirty-four guns, including Sherman's famous battery, a large number of small arms, thirty wagons loaded with provisions, &c., and about seven hundred prisoners. Among the latter were Gen. Burnside, of the Rhode Island brigade, Col. Corcoran, of the New York Irish 69th regiment, Hon. Mr. Ely, member of Congress from New York, Mr. Carrington,* of this State, a nephew of the late William C. Preston, who had gone over to the enemy, and thirty-two captains, lieutenants, _ &c. Wa came near bagging the Hon. Mr. Foster, Senator from Connecticut.

The moment he discovered the enemy's order of battle, General Beauregard, it is said, despatched orders to Gen. Ewell, on our extreme right, to move forward and turn his left or rear. At the same time he ordered Generals Jones, Longstreet, and Bonham, occupying the centre of our lines, to coöperate in this move- The official reports of the casualties of the ment, but not to move until Gen. Ewell had day have not yet come in, and consequently it made the attack. The order to Gen. Ewell un-is impossible to say what our loss is. I can fortunately miscarried. The others were deliv-only venture an opinion, and that is, that we ered, but as the movements of the centre were lost in killed, wounded, and missing, about 1,500 to be regulated entirely by those on the right, These are errors. Gen. Burnside and Mr. Carrington nothing was done at all. Had the orders to were not captured.-Ed. R. R.

which about four hundred were killed. enemy's loss was terrible, being at the st calculation 3,000.

| chivalric Colonel to the last. The more furious the fire, the quicker became the advancing step of the two regiments. At last, and just when they were nearing the goal of their hopes, and almost in the arms of victory, the brave and noble Bartow was shot down, the ball striking him in the left breast, just above the heart. Col. Bartow died soon after he was borne from the field. His last words, as repeated to me, were: They have killed me, my brave boys, but never give up the ship-we'll whip them yet." And so we did!

66

The regiments that suffered most and were in the thickest of the fight, were the 7th and 8th Georgia, the 4th Alabama, Fourth South Carolina, Hampton's Legion, and 4th Virginia. The New Orleans Washington Artillery did great execution.

CHARLESTON "MERCURY" ACCOUNT.

us far I have said but little of the part a by particular officers and regiments; for reason that I desire first to obtain all the . Nor have I said any thing of the gallant nth and Eighth regiments from Georgia. part of my duty is most melancholy. It be enough to say, that they were the only gia regiments here at the time, that they among the earliest in the field, and in the rest of the fight, and that their praise is the lips of the whole army, from Gen. regard down. Col. Gartrell led the Sevregiment, and Lieutenant-Colonel Gardhe Eighth, the whole under the command 1. Bartow, who led them with a gallantry was never excelled. It was when the briwas ordered to take one of the enemy's gest batteries, that it suffered most. It BATTLE FIELD OF BULL RUN, July 22. a most desperate undertaking, and followed After the repulse of the 18th inst., the enemy he bloodiest results. The battery occupied withdrew towards Centreville, and, except in op of a hill, on the opposite side of Bull burying the dead, appeared to be inactive durwith a small piece of woods on the left. ing the 19th and 20th, until about midnight. ending the valley along the Run, he pro- At that hour, the rumbling of artillery over the ed under cover of the hill to gain the stony roads, the barking of dogs, etc., etc., told Is alluded to, and from which he proposed that vast preparations for the attack of the ake a dash at the battery and capture it. morrow were going forward. To the ears of eaching the woods, he discovered that the the Kershaw's detachment, who were thrown ry was supported by a heavy infantry out half mile to the left, and in advance of our estimated at 4,000 men. This whole centre, Mitchell's Ford, those sounds were quite , together with the battery, was turned distinct. At 5 o'clock A. M., a cannonading, on the Eighth regiment, which was in the the right, begun, apparently from the point of with terrific effect. Indeed, he was ex- attack of the 18th inst. A few minutes later, 1 on the flank and in front to a fire that the firing of heavy guns was heard on the left, ldest veterans could not have stood. The also, in the direction of the Stone Bridge. The and shells from the battery, and the bullets calibre of the pieces was, evidently, from the the small arms literally riddled the woods. sound, greater than that of those used on the six inches in diameter, and great limbs 18th, and together with the peculiar whirr of cut off, and the ground strewn with the the shells, and stunning detonation of the morx. It became necessary to retire the tars, gave ample proof that the Northern genh regiment, in order to reform it. Mean- erals were determined to use every effort to , Col. Bartow's horse had been shot from annihilate us that day, the memorable 21st, as him. It was observed that the forces they had promised to do on the first fair occawhich his movement was to be supported sion. Gradually the cannonading on the left ot come up. But it was enough that he increased, whilst that on the right grew less. been ordered to storm the battery; so, The post of the picket guard of the 2d Palmetto g himself at the head of the Seventh reg- regiment was upon a hill overlooking all the , he again led the charge, this time on country to the north and westward. And from and gallantly encouraging his men as they this point, curling up over the tree tops, which 1 on. The first discharge from the ene- hid the battle field, could be seen the smoke, guns killed the regimental color-bearer. but nothing more. About 10 o'clock there rose w immediately seized the flag, and again a great shout, and a rumor soon came down to g himself in the front, dashed on, flag in us that our boys were driving back the enemy. his voice ringing clear over the battle- This seemed to be confirmed by the smoke, which and saying, "On, my boys, we will die receded to the northwest. The Confederate than yield or retreat." And on the brave cavalry, too, were seen galloping in that direcid go, and faster flew the enemy's bullets. tion, perhaps to cut up the flying columns of the re was awful. Not less than 4,000 mus- Yankees. More than an hour passed on, and vere pouring their fatal contents upon nothing of the strife is heard but the roar of while the battery itself was dealing death ordnance and the rattle of musketry. ery side.

gallant Eighth regiment, which had y passed through the distressing ordeal, rallied, determined to stand by their

Suddenly an order comes, borne, I believe, by Gen. McGowan, for the 2d and 8th Palmetto regiments to hasten to the assistance of the left wing. Couriers are despatched to Capt. Perry