All this time Quinby’s regiment occupied another ridge, to our left, overlooking the same field of action, and similarly engaged.  Here, about half-past 3 p.m., began the scene of confusion and disorder that characterized the remainder of the day.  Up to that time, all had kept their places, and seemed perfectly cool, and used to the shell and shot that fell, comparatively harmless, all around us; but the short exposure to an intense fire of small-arms, at close range, had killed many, wounded more, and had produced disorder in all of the battalions that had attempted to encounter it.  Men fell away from their ranks, talking, and in great confusion.  Colonel Cameron had been mortally wounded, was carried to an ambulance, and reported dying.  Many other officers were reported dead or missing, and many of the wounded were making their way, with more or less assistance, to the buildings used as hospitals, on the ridge to the west.  We succeeded in partially reforming the regiments, but it was manifest that they would not stand, and I directed Colonel Corcoran to move along the ridge to the rear, near the position where we had first formed the brigade.  General McDowell was there in person, and need all possible efforts to reassure the men.  By the active exertions of Colonel Corcoran, we formed an irregular square against the cavalry which were then seen to issue from the position from which we had been driven, and we began our retreat toward the same ford of Bull Run by which we had approached the field of battle.  There was no positive order to retreat, although for an hour it had been going on by the operation of the men themselves.  The ranks were thin and irregular, and we found a stream of people strung from the hospital across Bull Run, and far toward Centreville.  After putting in motion the irregular square in person, I pushed forward to find Captain Ayres’s battery at the crossing of Bull Run.  I sought it at its last position, before the brigade had crossed over, but it was not there; then passing through the woods, where, in the morning, we had first formed line, we approached the blacksmith’s shop, but there found a detachment of the secession cavalry and thence made a circuit, avoiding Cub Run Bridge, into Centreville, where I found General McDowell, and from him understood that it was his purpose to rally the forces, and make a stand at Centreville.

But, about nine o’clock at night, I received from General Tyler, in person, the order to continue the retreat to the Potomac.  This retreat was by night, and disorderly in the extreme.  The men of different regiments mingled together, and some reached the river at Arlington, some at Long Bridge, and the greater part returned to their former camp, at or near Fort Corcoran.  I reached this point at noon the next day, and found a miscellaneous crowd crossing over the aqueduct and ferries..  Conceiving this to be demoralizing, I at once commanded the guard to be increased, and all persons attempting to pass over to be stopped.  This soon produced its effect; men sought their proper companies and regiments.  Comparative order was restored, and all were posted to the best advantage.