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Details of the Disaster.

We publish from the New York Tribune a detailed account of the affair at Manassas Junction. It appears, says that paper, that before light on Sunday morning, our forces advanced from Centreville toward Bull Run, in two columns, under Gen. Tyler and Col. Richardson; when near the enemy, Gen. Tyler's division divided, and Gen. Hunter and Col. Heintzelmann turned off the road to the right, with the intention of flanking the rebel position, and attacking it in the rear. Gen. Tyler advanced direct, and by six o'clock was in face of the enemy. During the forenoon our batteries played on the enemy with good effect that provoked little response. At about noon the infantry engagement was opened by Gen. Tyler's force, and Gen. Hunter's division began to make itself heard in the distance. The latter drove the enemy from point to point with great loss, and their works were taken from them, one by one, until they held only two or three. These, however, they held with damaging effect, upon our troops, who still maintained their ground and even pressed on. Just at this juncture, when everything was apparently going on well for us, and we were in a fair way to drive the army from his last hold, an order to retreat on Centreville was given. The reason for this is not known, cannot even be conjectured. But the order was given, and the retreat commenced.

Then occurred the panic which threw all things into confusion, and brought disaster upon us. The sudden and noisy movement of some baggage wagons startled a portion of our army; the infection of terror spread, and in a moment there was no army, only a flying rabble. The scene which followed is beyond description. The only thought of the soldiers was for their personal safety. What they fled from they knew not, and this very vagueness of their fears added wings to their flight. All night long the rent continued. Guns, small arms, baggage, fell into the enemies hands, or, rather, were left on the field and along the way. The rebels did not pursue in any great force or with any spirit, Colonel Blenker's brigade convered the flight, and sustained itself nobly, retiring slowly and in perfect order.

Thus it appeared the great disaster was simply and only the effect of a wild panic; it was not a defeat. An army will yield to the former, while it would stand against any positive force that could be brought against it. The panic seized the troops, and they ran; the enemy did not pursue.

The losses on our side are by no means so great as they were at first reported. Each dispatch reduces the list. It is certain that not more than 1,000 are killed, and some authorities say that not more than 300 have fallen. The enemy had suffered terribly, beyond a doubt; when the killing was going on, our troops had the real advantage, driving the rebels before them. It was only when the fighting was done, and the ridiculous panic turned the heads of the men, that they seemed to waver.