The Sun.
London, England, 1861-08-10 00:00:00

they were rallied and led forwards towards the
front. The Confederates again gave way, and the
Federalists advanced one more. Again the line ofl
the enemy appeared in front, and delivered fire. The
Zouaves, as they are called, and the 11th New York,
which were on the flank, fell into confusion not to
be rallied, and eventually retired from the field in
disorder, to use the mildest terms, with a conta-
gious effect on their comrades and with the loss of
the guns which they were supporting. Nothing
would, or could, or did stop them. In vain they
were reminded of their oaths to "avenge Elles-
worth's death." Their flag was displayed to the
winds, it had lost its attractions. They ran in all
directions with a speed which their fortune favoured.
"I tell the tale as it was told to me" by one who
had more to do with them, and had better opportu-
nity of witness their conduct than I had, for, as I
have already stated in a previous letter, I was late
on the ground, and had not been able to see much
ere the retreat was ordered. Though I was well
mounted; and had left Washington with the inten-
tion of returning early that night, I found fugi-
tives who had preceded me in masses all the way,
and when I crossed the Long-bridge about 11
o'clock I was told that the city was full of those
who had returned from the fight. But, if the
miserable rout and panic of the Federalists have
produced such deplorable results to their cause,
they have still much to be thankful for. Had the
Confederates been aware of their success, and fol-
lowed up their advantage early on Monday morning,
there was no reason on earth why they should not
have either got into Washington or compelled the
whole of the Federalist army that kept together and
could not escape, as it was all on one road, to sur-
render themselves prisoners, with all they possessed.
If the statements in the Federalist papers as to
their strength be correct, the rebels could have
easily spared 30,000 men for that purpose, with a
reserve of 10,000 or 15,000 in their rear. The chain
bridge, the fords above the Falls, were open to them
—at least, there could be but little or no opposition
from the disorganised forces. The columns moving
round from Fairfax to their left by Vienna would
have been able certainly to cross at Matildavilla ;
others could have got over at the Falls, and still
there would have been enough for Beauregard to
occupy Manassas, and to send on a heavy column
to cover Alexandria and to shut up the Federalists
in the earthworks and tete de pont, if not to wrest
them from troops deeply affected by the rout they
were witnessing. If the Confederates had the
cavalry of which so much has been said, they were
scandalously handled. A detour by a crossroad from
Centreville to the Germantown road would have
placed the horse in the rear of the retreating mass
in half-an-hour, and it is not too much to say that
mass would have thrown itself on the mercy of the
pursuers. If Beauregard's or Lee's force was small,
as they say, and suffered as much as the Federalists
aver, the flight is the more incomprehensible. But
still it is very strange that the victors should not
have been aware of their victory—that is, of the
utter rout which followed their repulse. The at-
tempt to form on the top of Centreville, only par-
tially successful as it was, might have imposed on the
enemy, and saved M'Dowell from the pursuit which
he did his best to avert. The journals, which at first
boasted of the grand Union army of 45,000 men, are
now anxious to show that only 20,000 were engaged.
Why did the other 25,000 run away ? The German
regiment under Col, Blucker, and perhaps some other
corps, may have retired in good order, but eventu-
ally few withstood the incessant alarms. The rain,
which commenced on Monday morning early, may
have had much to do with the undisturbed retreat
of the Federalists, as the enterprise and activity of
the enemy would be much diminished in conse-
quence, and as for the beaten army, it has been al-
ways observed that troops hold together and march
well in rain. But with all allowances and excuses,
it is still mysterious inactivity. Johnston, whose
junction with 40,000 men is said to have taken
place (if he had half the number it is more than I
give him credit for) on the morning of the battle,
must have swelled the force under Lee and Beaure-
gard to '70,000 men at the least. He is the best
officer in the Confederate army, and it is believed
here that he is already away operating in Western
Virginia, There is a suspicious silence in the de-
spatches and telegrams from the West and South-
Western camps of the Federalists which justifies the
Secessionist rumours of disaster in those quarters.
The Confederates by moving out to meet M'Dowell
anticipated the engagement, and brought on the
action sooner than he expected, so much so that he
was obliged to break up his column, and turn out
the regiments right and left as well as he could to
bring them into line. It would seem as if they were
aware of his plans, for they disregarded the move-
ments on their right, and did not exhibit any ac-
tivity there till the force opposite their left began
to give way, whereupon they made an attempt on
the left flank of the Federalists, which added to the
alarm of the retiring army.

In my last letter, sent at 4 o'clock on Tuesday
morning by special courier to Boston, where it
arrived in time for the Wednesday packet of July
24, I brought down my narrative to the Monday
preceding, such as it was, and have nothing to add
to it of much consequence. One of the first
acts of the Secretary of War on being made
aware of the reverse was to telegraph to General
M'Clellan to come to Washington, and to de-
mand reinforcements from the Governors of
the Northern States, as well as to put the autho-
rities at Fort M'Henry on their guard against
a rising in Baltimore. On Tuesday, the rain
having ceased in the morning early, the streets
were crowded with baggage carts and with
soldiers who wandered up and down astonish-
ing the natives with anecdotes of battle, and doing
anything but duty with their regiments. These
men have now been coerced by the mounted patrols
to repair to the rendezvous assigned for them by
General Mansfield or to go to durance vile; but for
the whole day and night the capital presented an
extraordinary aspect, to which a deeper interest
was lent by the arrival of waggons and ambulances
of wounded.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 24.

Before breakfast I rode over the Long-bridge to
Arlington. There were groups of soldiers, mostly
without arms or belts, some few shoeless, a gcod
many footsore, going along the ground or standing
in the streets of the city engaged in the occupation
called "loafing" in these parts. Several of the men
stopped me to inquire after the different regiments
to which they belonged. They were dejected and
broken looking fellows, but, at all events, their
mein was more becoming than that of their officers
who are crowding about the hotels and talking of
their " whipping" with complacency and without
shame. A Washington paper, alluding to the de-
moralisation of the regiments yesterday evening,
calls on these officers " to forego one day's duty at
the bars and hotels," and to return to their corps.
Thousands of men follow the example of their su-
periors. The necessities of others compel them to
of
seek out the quarters of their regiments that they
be fed. One man dressed in uniform had the im-
pudence toc
anecdotes,
om e into
which m y
would room
furnishto-d a
day and after
series
stupen-
dous sequel to Munchausen, as to his valour,
"masked batteries," 1- c targes of cavalry, &c., to ask
me for the loan of 5 d 1 o 8., on the ground that he
was a waiter at the hotel at which I had stopped in
New York. I could perceive by •
his talk and by
that of some other soldiers the mode in which these
stories about " charges" and k
mas ed batteries"
are made up. A newspaper reporter is made the
victim of some glorious myths by a frightened, in-
toxicated, or needy warrior, and these are duly
made immortal in type. Then hundreds of men,
anxious to see what is said about them in the
papers, and, ignorant as soldiers generally are of
the incidents of the affair in which they have been
engaged, read of "Black Horse Rangers," "Pro-
digious slaughter," " Fire Zouav , es " Captain
Meagher on a white charger, with a green flag,
rushing in the midst of inaccessible and impregna-
ble masked batteries, and persuade themselves it is
all true, adding to their subsequent narratives such
incidents of life and colour as may be within their
knowledge or imagination. Excitement has a won-
derful influence on their perceptive faculties. Great
exertions were requisite yesterday to prevent the
mob of disorganised soldiers and the rabble from
maltreating or murdering the Confederate prisoners

and it was necessary to rescue them by patrols of
dragoons. In one instance a Senator informed Gen.
M'Dowell that he had seen the mob with his own
eyes hanging a prisoner, and that gallant and gene-
rous officer at once rushed off, if he could not rescue
at least to avenge the " rebel," but on arriving at
the place he was happy to find he was in time to
shield the man from the violence of the crowd, and
that the Senator had mistaken an "effigy" for a human
being. Gen. M'Dowell has been much distressed by
the dastardly conduct of some of the beaten troops
towards their prisoners, and there have been strange
scenes in consequence. " General," said one man,
" had I known this, I would have died a hundred
times before I fell into these wretches' hands. Let
me go free, and let any two or four of them venture
to insult me then !" The soldiers are, however,
greatly irritated not only by defeat, but by reports
of the most horrible cruelties and atrocities towards
prisoners and wounded by the Confederates ; indeed,
if it should be the case that the latter burnt an hospi-
tal at Centreville with all the wounded, and that they
cut the throats of captives and dying soldiers on the
field of battle and in the retreat, the indignation
and disgust of the whole civilised world should visit
them, and their cause will be marred by more such
vile cowardice and blood-thirstiness than ten such
victories could advance it. For one, lam loath to
credit these stories, but it is only right to say that
there are many such current, particularly in refer.
ence to the New Orleans &naves-

In a previous letter some account was given of
the defences on the right bank of the river opposite
to Washington. Men were engaged in working at
the tete de pont, and letting the water of the river
into the newly dug ditch. It is probable the Long-
bridge is mined, as no one is allowed to smoke upon
it, but the carters, many of whom are negroes, do
not pay much attention to the order when the
sentries are not looking. Apropos of negroes, it is
confidentially asserted that a corps of them is em-
ployed by the Confederates for camp duty, if not
for fighting, and that they were certainly employed
to guard the prisoners to the intense anger of
Federalists. One officer who came in says that
he was actually in their-custody. He escaped by a
method not often resorted to by officers, for he
pledged his word of honour he would not attempt
to go away if he were allowed to go for a drink of
water, and when he had done so he made the best
of his way to Washington, and told the anecdote in
society among whom was a member of the British
Legation. There is an increase of the camps on the
heights up to Arlington, and there must now be a
strong force of infantry there, though there is a
deficiency in field artillery. Of guns in position
in the works there is the greatest abundance. The
road up to Arlington House was dotted with men
returning to the camps, few of whom were encum-
bered with firelocks. General M'Dowell was sit-
ting with some officers before his tent under the
trees which shaded the place from the sun. He is
a man in the prime of life, some 40 and odd years
of age, very powerfully built, with a kindly, honest,
soldierly expression in face and manners, and it was
pleasant to see that, though he was not proud of
being " whipped," there was no dejection other
than that a man should feel who has been beaten
by his enemy, but who knows he has done his duty.
Originally he had proposed a series of operations
different from those which were actually adopted,
and his dispositions for the advance of his columns
after the scheme of attack was decided upon were
careful and elaborate. But he miscalculated some-
what the powers of regular troops. All his subse-
quent operations were vitiated by the impossibility
of gaining the points fixed on for the first day's
march, and General Tyler, who engaged somewhat
too seriously with the enemy on the left at Bull's
Run on the Thursday before the battle in making
what was a mere reconnaissance put them on the
alert and hastened up Johnston.
The General was kind enough to go over the plans
of the attack with me, and to acquaint me with the
dispositions he had made for carrying out the orders
he had received to make it, and to my poor judg-
ment they were judicious and clear. With the maps
laid out on the table before his tent be traced the
movements of the various columns from the cora-
, mencement of offensive measures to the disastrous
advance upon Manassas. It was evident that the
Confederate Generals either were informed or
divined the general object of his plan, which was,
in fact, to effect a turning movement of his centre
lind right, while his left menaced their right on
Bull's Run, and to get round their left altogether;
for they had, soon after he moved, advanced their
columns to meet him, and brought on an engage-
ment, which he was obliged to accept on ground and
at a time where and when he had not contemplated
fighting. The initial failure of the movement took
place several days earlier, when his columns were
late on the march, though ample time had been
allowed to them, so that, instead of getting into
Centreville and to the Run, he was obliged to halt
at Fairfax Court-house, and to lose another day in
occupying the positions which ought to have been
taken when he first advanced.

By moving out to attack or meet him the enemy
obliged him to abandon the design of turning them
and getting round their left below Manassas, and
when once they did so it became obvious that he had
not much chance of succeeding, unless he could
actually push back the enemy and " keep them
moving" with such rapidity that they would fly
into and out of their lines just as his own troops
did from the field. The officers who were present
were all agreed that the Federalists had advanced
steadily on the right and centre, and that they had
driven bask the Confederates with considerable loss
for a mile and a half when the panic took place in
the regiments on the flank of the right, which neces-
sitated the issue of an order for the retirement of
the whole force, and the advance of the reserves to
cover it. The Volunteers who had broken could
not be rallied, the movement always dangerous
with such materials, under such circumstances was
misunderstood by the waggon drivers and by other
regiments, and the retreat became finally the
shameful rout, which was only not utterly disas-
trous because of the ignorance and inactivity or the
weakness of the enemy. Major Barry, an officer
of the regular United States Artillery, told me he
could not stop the runaways, who ought to have
protected his guns, though the gunners stood
by them till the enemy were fairly upon them,
and that, as for the much-talked-of cavalry, two
round shots which were pitched into them by his
battery sent them to the rigbtabout at once.
The regular officers spoke in only one way of the
conduct of the officers of the Volunteers and of cer-
tain regiments. Indeed, what could be said of men
who acted after and in action as others acted before
it, and went away as fast as they could ? Thus the
men of a Volunteer battery marched off, leaving
their guns on the ground, the very morning of the
engagement, because their three months' term of
service was up, and the Pennsylvania regiments ex-
hibited a similar spirit. The 69th Irish volunteered
to serve as long as they were required, and so did
some other corps, I believe ; but there must be some-
thing rotten in the system, military and political,
which generates such sentiments and developes
neither the sense of military honour nor any of that
affectionate devotion for the Union which is called
by one party in America patriotism. As the General
was speaking to me, a Volunteer Colonel came up,
and said abruptly, " General, my men have had no-
thing to eat for four days ; what is to be done ?"
"Make an application to the commissariat officer,
and represent the circumstances to me. There is no
reason whatever why the men should be without
food, for there is plenty of it in camp." " Yes ; but
the carters won't bring it. They go away and leave
us, and, as I tell you, the men have had nothing for
four days." " I tell you, Sir, that must be the fault
of their officers. Why were not the circumstances
reported ? Go over to Capt. --, and he will take
the
necessary steps."
na acquainted übaemstaei dd
that
th And after some further ex •
patiation on the hardships of his case, the Colonel,
who is as brave as a lion, but who is not very well
tmheilinataernywreoruetinnoet, raeettinraeldi.y
without
hoeendt
food for four days,
although the Colonel's statement
in reference to the commissariat was true. Reckless
as ail soldiers are of provisions and food, Volunteers
are notoriously extraordinarily so. Then there is
probably a want of organisation in the commissa-
riat. M‘Dowell's corps were ordered to march
with three days' food cooked, not including, of

course, the day of marching. The food was, how-
ever, issued inclusive of that day, and next day the
men had eaten up, or wasted, the two days' rations
in one, and had nothing. They were badly pro-
vided with food and with water on the very day
of the action, and some men told me that evening
they had eaten nothing since 230 a.m. Indeed,
the General witnessed the disorder which was
caused by the regiments rushing out of the ranks
to drink at a small stream before they went into
action, though their canteens were filled before
they set out. Mr. Wadsworth, a gentleman of
New York of large fortune, who, with the rank of
Major, is acting as aide-decamp to the General, had
just come in from Centreville from the Confederates,
to whom he had gone yesterday with a flag of truce
relative to the dead and wounded. They would
not permit him to enter their lines, but otherwise
received him courteously, and forwarded his de-
spatches. This morning he was told that an answer
would be sent in due time to his despatches, and he
was ordered to return to his quarters. While I was
at Arlington despatches and messengers were con-
tinually arriving. One was from headquarters, ap-
pointing Major Barry to command the artillery.
Another stated that the enemy had advanced to
Fairfax Court-house. Presently in came two young
men, who said they had been prevented going to
that place by the approach of the Confederates, and
that they had heard the sound of guns as they
turned back. The balloon was up in the air re-
connoitring, or, as I suspect, struggling with the
wind, which was drifting it steadily towards the
Confederates. No one seemed to know, however,
what Beauregard and Lee are doing, but it is
affirmed that Johnston has gone off with a corps
towards Western Virginia once more, and that an
insurrection in Baltimore and Maryland is only
prevented by the reinforcements which are pouring
in to General Banks and by the anticipations of
speedy aid from the Confederates. Mr. Bernal, the
British consul, came over to-day to consult with
Lord Lyons on certain matters connected with our
interests in the city of Baltimore. As the truth is
developed the Secessionists in Washington become
radiant with joy, and cannot conceal their exulta-
tion wherever it is safe to indulge it. Their ears are
erect for the sound of the cannon which is to herald
the entrance of the enemy into the capital of the
United States. The Unionists, on the other hand,
speak of the past hopes of the enemy, of the great
reinforcements arriving, of the renewed efforts of
the North, and of its determination to put down re-
bellion. There must be an infatuation which
amounts to a kind of national insanity in a portion
of the North, or is it possible that they believe what
the journals tell them—that they are the strongest,
bravest, richest, mightiest people in the world, and
that they have only to will it, and the world—in-
cluding the Confederate States—is prostrate before
them ? The exaggerations and misstatements of
part of the American press would certainly lead
those who believed it to such conclusions.

Let us take a few phrases from the papers in re-
ference to the action at Manassas. One New York
journal on Monday announced positively " the na-
tional troops undisputed victors." "Bull's Run lost,
they must want water." " The enthusiasm which
carried certain regiments" whose "brave and bril-
liant exploits were pre-eminent," " into the face of
the intrenched foe was startling in its effect."
" The nation has triumphed ! Praise be to God !
Live the Republic !" It does " not infer the South-
ern men are cowards," but that "all the forgery,
perjury, and telegraphic lying have not weaned a
very large proportion of them from their old love of
the Union." " Splendid Union Victory !" " Terrible
slaughter!" " Twelve hours' terrific fighting !"
" Their last hope gone !" " Heroism of the Union
forces!" "They know no such word as fear !"
"Hot chase of the rebels !" At 5 30, when the Fe-
deralists were in retreat, " an officer telegraphs the
enemy totally routed." There is, of course, plenty
of " flanking" and " masked batteries ;" and, as a
proof of hard work on the part of the pioneers, it is
remarked—" An observer judged it would ordinarily
take three months to do what these lumbermen did
in half a day !" " Guns were discharged as rapid
as two in a minute." "We have successfully out-
flanked the enemy." A " brigadier-quartermaster"
was taken. In several places it is stated that the
men asserted " their officers were cowards." In an-
other journal of New York there are accounts of the
" Greatest battle ever fought on this continent ;"
"Fearful carnage on both sides !" "Incessant roar
of artillery and rattle of small arms !" " Terrible
tenacity !" " After a terrific fight, each and every
rebel battery was taken !" " Now on to Richmond!"
" The rout of the enemy was complete !" " Crushing
rebellion !" " Victory at Bull's Run ; Sumter
avenged !" A " battle of unparalleled severity !"
". Our gallant laurel-crowned army !" Another
newspaper, " Our army went into battle with firm
step and light hearts, singing patriotic songs."
Bull's Run defeat is placed " among those great
military achievements which in ancient and modern
times have overthrown or marked the beginning of
empires," &c., " not less than 125,000 being en-
gaged on both sides." The poor blusterer tells us
"an army equal in numbers to that of France, and as
well disciplined, will burn to resent the wrongs that
have been offered to the country, and they will re-
joice at being able to display abroad the valour for
which there will be no longer a field at home." It
would be worth while to know what the Secretary
of State thinks of this style of writing at present.
His frame of mind just now, perhaps, is not suited
to such strong expressions, particularly as the people
they are meant to arouse only laugh at them.

THURSDAY, JULY 25.

List night there was an alarm that the enemy
were advancing. General Scott and his staff were
roused up in the night by messengers from the out-
posts. There was a similar alarm in Alexandria,
but the report was untrue. The Confederates,
however, have advanced their pickets within six
miles of the latter place. The War Department is
in ignorance of their general movements, and can
get no intelligence from the country. Several regi-
ments marched out of the city, as their time was
up, and their place will be taken by others coming
in from the north and west. The three months
men are going off just as their services are most
needed. Can any one say the three years men may
not do the same ? The proportions of the contest
are not likely to be dwarfed.

FRIDAY, July 26.
I have kept my letter open to the last moment,
but there is no change to announce, except a nearer
advance of the enemy's pickets on the road to
Alexandria. General M'Clellan has arrived, and
it is said he will send a force out at once to guard
the Upper Potomac, and to prevent any force cross-
ing in that direction. The weather is not excessively
hot, and is favourable enough for campaigning
operations. Washington is quiet to-day as.yet.
There are considerable additions to be made to the
works on the other side, and, indeed, there is a hill
in front of one of the redoubts which commands it
a trifle, and which it is an oversight not to fortify.
In a few days, if any column is ready, I hope to be
able to accompany it.

THE QUEEN'S VISIT TO IRELAND.--A corre-
spondent of the Cork Examiner says :—" I am now in a
position to state that the characteristic generosity of the
noble house of Kenmara has been remarkably exhibited.
At an adjourned meeting of the committee held on Friday,
to carry out the arrangement, &c., for receiving her Ma-
jesty, it was stated that Mr. Thomas Gallwey, agent to
Lord Castlerosse, will in a short time announce the
route her Majesty will take in going through his de-
mesne, to the people of Killarney, who will be
allowed to remain present when her Majesty passes. It is
now positively ascertained that her Majesty will remain
here but for three days, and not four as was stated. On the
last day she will remain at IVluekross House, when Colonel
Herbert will get up a stag hunt on the Upper Lake. The
preparations at Killarney House are all of a most extensive
and superb description. Workmen are busily engaged in
erecting platforms in the last avenue.
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