great deal of wild and harmless firing done.  And just as we were about to proclaim a great victory over the enemy—­for many far-sighted persons declared they could see Mr. Beauregard and his men with the toes of their boots turned towards Richmond—­a strange chapter of accidents occurred and changed the whole scene.  A number of our brave boys got killed, a greater number got hurt, and a still greater number got frightened and thought it high time to look to their own safety.  A backward movement, not ordered by our gallant general, began, and this soon resolved itself into a grand race for Washington, where, it was thought, shelter and safety were to be found behind its forts.  What caused this sudden backward movement still remains an undecided question.  It was first noticed among a regiment of brave Pennsylvanians, who had been homesick for several days, and wanting to go home, started for that purpose.  The example of these gallant fellows was soon followed by our Congressmen, editors, and citizens generally, each leaving his stock of luxuries, and, indeed, everything he had, as a peace-offering to the enemy, and resolved not to be outdone in the race, especially in a case where it was made so clear that discretion was the better part of valor.  Indeed, these distinguished non-fighting gentlemen proved themselves remarkably fleet of foot, and not to be outdone in a race where personal safety was at stake.  But the worst of it was that their example was at once imitated by a regiment of fierce Zouaves, from New York, who firmly believed, when they went out to meet the enemy, that they were more than a match for him.  It is reported that these fierce Zouaves became very much alarmed, and did some of the very best running of the day, under the apprehension that they were followed by not less than a troop of savage horsemen, better known as the black-horse cavalrymen, whose sabres they had no taste for.  But I have always been of opinion, my son, that these fierce Zouaves were so intent on making the best speed they were capable of, that they never looked behind them to see if these savage horsemen were men of buckram or real substances.  I have also heard it intimated that the good speed made by these red-legged heroes was owing to the fact that they had left their courage at home, and were returning to get it.  Another very plausible theory I have heard advanced by an Englishman, who had very profound ideas as to how war should be carried on and battles fought.  He very gravely told me (adding that he had undoubted authority for his statement), that what set the gallant Zouaves to scampering was this:  There were a large number among them who had a weakness for office-holding.  Knowing this, a mischievous member started the report that there was a vacancy in the New York Custom-house.  The fellow could not have done a more rash act, for it sent them all scampering off the battle-field, each in the hope of being first to gain the prize.  Her Majesty’s sagacious subject contended that this sufficiently accounted for the good speed made in retreat by that gallant regiment, and also for its leaving more firearms than dead men on the field.