A Chaotic and Frenzied Retreat

A Chaotic and Frenzied Retreat. . , The Union Line Breaks, By mid-afternoon August 30, 1862, Confederate Gen. Edmund Kirby Smith had defeated the Union army in the two previous engagements. He knew he would do so a third time. To make his victory complete he ordered Col. John Scott's cavalry behind the Union line to cut off their retreat., The Union line in the City Cemetery made a valiant effort. They bloodied the Confederates, but could not hold. When this third and final Union line broke confusion reigned. Union Gen. William "Bull" Nelson tried to rally his exhausted and dispirited troops one more time. He failed. Hope extinguished, Nelson and his staff joined the chaotic retreat., A Disorganized Rout, The Union soldiers, most of whom had been in the army less than a month, were finished - they ran. There was no orderly withdrawal. The roads out of Richmond were a mass of terrified soldiers, horses, and wagons. Pvt. David LeSourd, 12th Indiana, remembered, "They moved along every street and alley, the whole of our force, men, batteries, wagons, ambulances, all going pell-mell to the rear.", Thousands Captured, The Confederate cavalry pursuing the fleeing Federals accomplished its mission. Of the 6,500 Union soldiers that took the field the morning of August 30, 1862, some 4,000 were captured. Col. Scott wrote: "I captured also nine pieces of artillery, a large number of small-arms, and wagons loaded with army supplies. Among the prisoners were Brigadier-General Manson and a number of field and staff officers.", (Captions):, Col. John Scott, C.S., Gen. Mahlon Manson, U.S. , Manson commanded the Federal forces until Gen. William Nelson arrived in the late afternoon.