the
turnpike. Four hundred troopers between them? No! _Four thousand_--and
each riding like the Headless Horseman with terror in his hand! There
was Confederate infantry upon the turnpike--a couple of regiments, a
legion, a battery--they were making for a point they knew, this side
Centreville, where they might intercept the fleeing army. It behoved the
army to get there first, to cross Bull Run, to cross Cub Run, and to
reach Centreville with the utmost possible expedition. The ravens
croaked of the Confederate troops four miles down Bull Run, at the lower
fords. They would cross, they would fall upon Miles and Tyler, they
would devour alive the Federal reserves, they would get first to
Centreville! That catastrophe, at least, the mob did its best to
prevent. It threw away its muskets, it dropped its colours, it lightened
itself of accoutrements, it fled as if each tired and inexperienced grey
soldier behind it had been Death in the Apocalypse. Each man ran for
himself, swore for himself, prayed for himself, found in Fate a personal
foe, and strove to propitiate her with the rags of his courage. The men
stumbled and fell, lifted themselves, and ran again. Ambulances, wagons,
carriages, blocked the road; they streamed around and under these.
Riderless horses tore the veil of blue. Artillery teams, unguided,
maddened, infected by all this human fear, rent it further, and behind
them the folds heard again the Confederate yell. Centreville--Centreville
first, and a little food--all the haversacks had been thrown
away--but no stopping at Centreville! No! Beyond Centreville the
Potomac--Washington--_home_! Home and safety, Maine or Massachusetts,
New York or Vermont, as the case might be! The sun went down and left the
fleeing army streaming northward by every road or footpath which it
conceived might lead to the Potomac.

In the summer dusk, back at the Lewis House, a breathless courier
brought to Beauregard a circumstantial statement. "From Major Rhett at
Manassas, general! The Federal Reserves have been observed crossing
below MacLean's. A strong column--they'll take us in the rear, or
they'll fall upon Manassas!" That McDowell would use his numerous
reserves was so probable a card that Bonham and Longstreet, started upon
the pursuit, were recalled. Ewell and Holmes had just reached the
battlefield. They were faced about, and, Beauregard with them,
double-quicked back to MacLean's Ford--to find no Miles or Richardson or