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Had there been but one hour more of daylight the defeat would have been as complete as was that in the battle of Bull Run, which had been fought on precisely the same ground. However, under cover of the darkness the Federals retreated to Centreville, whence they were driven on the following day.
Tyler's three immediate brigades or some of them are slow in starting Westward, along the Warrenton Pike, to the Stone Bridge; and this leads to a two or three hours delay of the divisions of Hunter and Heintzelman, before they can follow that Pike beyond Centreville, and commence the secret detour to their right, along the cross-road leading to Sudley Springs.
The rebels left Centreville, which turns out to be scarcely a breastwork, with wooden guns, and they slipped off from Manassas.
Learning that the left was compromised, without a moment's hesitation he turned aside, and placed his brigade in the only position where it could have held its ground. At Groveton, when he received the news that the Federal left wing was retreating on Centreville across his front, the order for attack was issued almost before he had read the dispatch.
"Not to-day," he answered. "I can try Mr. Walton's box, and if it helps me I can order some more." "You may not be able to get it, then," said the doctor, persuasively. "I may not be in Centreville." "If the panacea is well known, I can surely get it without difficulty." "Not so cheap as I will sell it." "I won't take any to-day," said Ferguson, decisively.
He had no difficulty in finding the office. It was in the second story of a building, just at the junction of two roads near the center of the town, the post office being just underneath. He ascended a staircase, and saw on the door, at the head of the stairs: "CENTREVILLE GAZETTE" He opened the door and entered.
When a telegram came about five o'clock in the afternoon, that the day was lost, and McDowell's army in full retreat through Centreville, General Scott refused to credit the news, so contradictory of everything which had been heard up to that hour. But the intelligence was quickly confirmed. The impulse of retreat once started, McDowell's effort to arrest it at Centreville proved useless.
It was a fitting answer to the calumny heaped upon us from both North and South, that our soldiers could not fight, and were no match for their boastful enemy. "All quiet along the Potomac." Preparations. Army of the Potomac Moves! Capture of the "Quaker Guns" at Centreville. Return to Defences. Guerillas. Their Attacks and Stratagems. The Bovine Foe. Picketing; how it is done. Sufferings.
"Yes, but on starvation pay," said Clapp. "I'm in the office of the 'Centreville Gazette." "And I'm in a shoemaker's shop. It's a beastly business for a young man of spirit," said Luke. "Well, I'm a gentleman at large, living on my wits, and pretty poor living it is sometimes," said the stranger. "As I think we'll agree together pretty well, I'm glad I've met you.
This confused retreat passes through Blenker's lines until 9 o'clock P.M. and then, all is secure. At midnight, McDowell has decided to make no stand at Centreville, but to retire upon the defensive works at Washington.
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