on, passing their own camps and heading swiftly for the distant Potomac, until for ten miles the road over which the grand army had so lately marched southward, gay with unstained banners, and flushed with surety of strength, was covered with the fragments of its retreating forces, shattered and panic-stricken in a single day. From the branch route the trains attached to Hunter's division had caught the contagion of the flight, and poured into its already swollen current another turbid freshet of confusion and dismay. teamsters, many of them, cut the traces of their horses, and galloped from their wagons. Others threw out their loads to accelerate their flight, and grain, picks, and shovels, and provisions of every kind, lay trampled in the dust for leagues. Thousands of muskets strewed the route, and when some of the fugitives were rallied and induced to form into a line, there was hardly one but had thrown away his arms. The Many who went into the battle with Heintzelman and Hunter fled by the road over which Tyler had advanced. In the general race, all divisions and all regiments were mingled. There was not even an attempt to cover the retreat of Tyler's division. With Heintzelman's it was better; Lieutenant Drummond's cavalry troop keeping firm line, and protecting the artillery until its abandonment was imperatively ordered. Regulars and volunteers shared the disorder alike. Whole batteries were left upon the field, and the cutting off of others was ordered when the guns had already been brought two miles or more from the battle-ground. A perfect frenzy was upon almost every man. Some cried piteously to be assisted in their helplessness, and others sought to clamber into wagons, the occupants resisting them with bayonets. Even the sentiment of shame had gone. Some of the better men tried to withstand the rush, and cried out against the flying groups, calling them "cowards, poltroons, brutes," and reviling them for so degrading themselves, especially when no enemy was near. There were, of course, numerous exceptions to the general spirit of fear and frenzy. Thus, when the order was given at head-quarters for retreat, the word was passed down the line to the New York Zouaves. "Do not!" exclaimed a score of the "pet lambs" in a breath; "Do not!" "We are ordered to retreat," said the commander, to his brave men. "Wot'n thunder's that?" responded one of the hard-heads, who evidently did not comprehend the word exactly. "Go back retire," continued the commander. "Go back-where?" "Leave the field." "Leave? Why, that ain't what we come for. We're here to fight," insisted the boys. "We came here with one thousand forty men," said the commander; "and there are now six hundred left. Fall back, boys!" and the "lambs" sulkily retired, evidently displeased with the order. It was these who received the first charge of the famous Black Horse Guard, a splendid corps of cavalry, all the horses. of which were coal-black. They came upon the Zouave regiment at a gallop, and were received by the brave firemen upon their poised bayonets, followed instantly by a volley, from which they broke and fled, though several of the Zouaves were cut down in the assault. They quickly returned, with their forces doubled-perhaps six or seven hundred-and again they dashed with fearful yells upon the excited Zouaves. This time they bore an American flag, and a part of the Zouaves supposed for an instant that they were friends, whom they had originally mistaken. The flag was quickly thrown down, however, the horses dashed upon the regiment, the ruse was discovered, and the slaughter commenced. No quarter, no halting, no flinching, marked the rapid and death-dealing blows of the men, as they closed in upon each other, in mutual madness and desperation. The brave fellows fell, the ranks filled up, the sabers, bowie-knives, and bayonets, glistened in the sunlight, horse after horse went down, platoon after platoon disappeared, the carnage was dreadful, the bravery on both sides unexampled. Blenker's brigade did heroic service. Steady and watchful, he held his line throughout the evening, advancing his skirmishers at every token of attack, and spreading a sure protection over the multitudes who fled disordered through his col umns. With three regiments he stood to fight against an outnumbering host already flushed with victory and eager to complete its triumph. As the darkness increased, his post became more perilous and more honorable. At eleven o'clock, the attack came upon the advance company of Colonel Stahel's rifles, not in force, but from a body of cavalry whose successful passage would have been followed by a full force, and the consequent destruction of the broken hosts of the routed army. But the cavalry was driven back, and never returned, and at two in the morning, the great body of federal troops having passed and found their road to safety, the com mand was given to retreat in order, and the brigade fell slowly and regularly back, with the same precision as if on parade. Over and over again, Blenker begged permission to maintain his post, or even to advance. "Retreat!" said he in a voice of thunder, to the messenger from headquarters, "bring me the word to go on, sir!" But the command was peremptory, and he was left no alternative. As an illustration of the almost universal lack of military order and discipline characterizing the conduct of the federal army, after being seized with panic, the following is in point: At five o'clock P. M., the New York Sixteenth and Thirtyfirst regiments being well in advance. toward Blackburn's ford, were called upon to stem the tide of the Virginia cavalry, who were swooping at the retreating forces. An order from Miles, consequently, sent the First California regi division, and acting as general, too, for there is no general on the field." The fortunes of war seemed to favor the confederate army, in some respects quite unlooked for, during the day's struggle, though at one time their fate hung trembling in the balance. Generals Bartow and Bee had been stricken down; LieutenantColonel Johnson, of the Hampton Legion, had been killed; and Colonel Hampton had been wounded. General Beauregard, however, promptly offered to lead the Legion into action, which he executed in a style unsurpassable. He rode up and down the lines between the federal troops and his own men, regardless of the heavy firing, cheering and encouraging his troops. About this time, a shell struck his horse, taking his head off, and also killing the horses of two of his aids. General Johnston threw himself into the thickest of the fight, seizing the colors of the Georgia regiment, and rallying them to the charge. At this critical moment, General Johnston was heard to exclaim to ment, under Colonel Matheson of the New York Thirty-second, forward to their support; but, though the cavalry was thus turned to the right about, it was found impossible to withstand the mad career of the extraordinary mass that came pouring back upon Centreville. The best that could be done, therefore, was for the California regiment to stay just where it was, and, in absence of further orders, lend what aid it could to the protection of Green's battery, which was busily plying its fire upon the harassing approaches of the Virginia horse. While the Thirtysecond was in this position, the Sixteenth and Thirty-first having passed within its range, a youthful orderly rode up to Colonel Matheson to inform that the Black Cavalry, sheltered from his observation by a piece of woods, were coming upon the right, and if he would take a cut with his regiment across the fields, they would be turned back upon their errand. The evolution was performed, gave the protection that was desired, and the Black Horse gave up its purpose in that quarter. General Cocke, "Oh, for four regiments!" While the regiment, however, was adher- His wish was answered, for in the distance ing to this position, the same youth who some re-enforcements appeared. The tide had imparted the previous suggestion rode of battle now turned in their favor, for up to the regiment again, and told Gen. Kirby Smith had arrived from WinMatheson he had better fall back on chester with four thousand men. General Centreville, as his duty at that spot Smith heard while on the Manassas railhad been thoroughly performed. As this road cars the roar of battle. He stopped was the first sign of orders (with one the train and hurried his troops across the single exception) he had received durfield to the point just where he had been ing the entire day, Matheson felt some most needed. They were at first supposed curiosity to learn who this young lieu- to be federal troops, their arrival at that tenant was, and whence these orders point of the field being so entirely unexcame; he therefore turned sharply on pected. Jefferson Davis left Richmond the youth, who, he now perceived, could at six o'clock in the morning, and reached not be more than twenty-two or three, Manassas Junction at four, where, mountand said: ing a horse, and accompanied by numerous "Young man, I would like to know your attendants, he galloped to the battle-field name." just in time to join in the pursuit by a "I am a son of Quartermaster-General magnificent body of cavalry. As he waved Meigs." his hat, and exclaimed "Onward, my brave "By whose authority, then, do you de- comrades!" cheer after cheer went up liver me these orders?" "Well, sir," replied the youth, smiling, "the truth is, that for the last few hours I have been giving all the orders for this from the enthusiastic host. Thus, with the arrival of Davis on the field, the confederate army may be said to have had three commanders-in-chief during the course of the battle. The whole south was, of course, jubilant over the victory which their arms had achieved. Te Deums were sung in the churches, and a day of thanksgiving observed. Through out the north, the gloom and humiliation at this most unlooked-for defeat was intense. According to General McDowell's report, the federal army's losses in this engagement were 481 killed and 1,011 wounded. The confederate losses, according to General Beauregard's report, counted up 269 killed and 1,533 wounded. An immense quantity of ordnance, ammunition, etc., fell into the hands of the victors. In the summer of 1865, on the return of peace, a monument was erected by friends of the Union, about three-fourths of a mile beyond Bull Run bridge, in "memory of the patriots" who fell in this celebrated battle, and the dedicatory ceremonies consisted of a solemn dirge, the reading of the Episcopal burial-service, the singing of an original hymn composed by Pierpont, and addresses by Generals Wilcox, Farnsworth, Heintzelman, and others. The interest attaching to this famous battlefield, viewed in all its historic circumstances and consequences, is not exceeded by that of any other on the American continent. LXIV. EXTRAORDINARY COMBAT BETWEEN THE IRON-CLADS MERRIMAC AND MONITOR, IN HAMPTON ROADS.-1862. Sudden Appearance of the Merrimac Among the Federal Frigates.-Their Swift and Terrible Destruction by Her Steel Prow.-Unexpected Arrival of the "Little Monitor" at the Scene of Action!-She Engages and Disables the Monster Craft in a Four Hours' Fight.-Total Revolution in Naval Warfare the World Over by this Remarkable Contest.-How the Merrimac Changed Hands.-Burned and Sunk at Norfolk, Va.-Her Hull Raised by the Confederates.-She is Iron Roofed and Plated.-Proof Against Shot and Shell.-A Powerful Steel Beak in Her Prow.-Most Formidable Vessel Afloat.In Command of Commodore Buchanan.-Departs from Norfolk, March 8th.-Pierces and Sinks the Cumberland.-Next Attacks the Congress.-The Noble Frigate Destroyed.-Fight Begun with the Minnesota. Suspended at Nightfall.-Trip of the Monitor from New York.-Her New and Singular Build.-Lieutenant Worden Hears of the Battles.-Resolves to Grapple with the Monster.-The Two Together, Next Day.-A Scene Never to be Forgotten.-Worden Turns the Tide of Fortune.Repulse and Retreat of the Merrimac. "BE IT RESOLVED, ETO., That the thanks of Congress and of the American people are due, and are hereby tendered, to Lieutenant J. L. Worden, of the United States Navy, and to the officers and men of the iron-clad gun-boat Monitor, under his command, for the skill and gallantry exhibited by them in the late remarkable battle between the Monitor and the rebel iron-clad steamer Merrimac."-RESOLUTION PASSED BY COFGRESS. UITTING the city of Norfolk, Va., on the eighth. of March, 1862, the confederate iron-clad steamram Merrimac sailed down Elizabeth river into Hampton Roads, Chesapeake Bay, and there signalized the naval history of the civil war in America by an action not only memorable beyond all others in that tremendous conflict, but altogether unprecedented in the annals of ocean warfare in any country or in any age. On the abandonment and destruction, by fire, of the Norfolk navy yard, in April, 1861, by the United States officers in charge, among the vessels left behind was the steam frigate Merrimac, of four thousand tons burden, then under repair. In the conflagration she was burned to her copper-line, and down INTERIOR OF THE TOWER OF THE MONITOR. through to her berth-deck, which, with her spar and gun-decks, was also burned. Soon after the confederate authorities took possession of the navy yard, the Merrimac was raised and converted into an iron-plated man-of-war of the most formidable character. Immediately after this, she was placed upon the dry |