The Sun.
London, England, 1861-08-06 00:00:00

waters Artillery, Michigan, Captain T. W. Culp; Chicago
Cavalry, Captain Barker; Flying Artillery, Captain Howe.
At Cheat River-15th Ohio -Volunteers, Colonel G. W.
Andrews; 16th Ohio Volunteers, Irvine Vir-
ginia Union Volunteers, Col.
At Clarksburg—'.'.d Virginia Union Volunteers, Colonel
; 3d Virginia Union Volunteers, Col.--; Cincin-
nati Rover Dragoons, Capt. W. H. Stevens.
At Grafton—Headquarters of Brigadier-Gen. Hill-7th
Indiana Volunteers, Col. E. Dumont; troop of horse, Col.
Regular Artillery, from Kansas, Col. —; Com-
pany I, 4th Artillery, Lieut. Ward; 13th Ohio Volunteers,
Col. W. F. Smith ; sth Ohio Volunteers, Col. Dunning.
Phillippa—Brigadier-Gen. Hill-6th Indiana Volunteers,
Col. Crittenden.
Along railroad from Parkersburgh to Grafton-22d Ohio
Volunteers, Col. W. E. Gilmore.
Glenville-7th Ohio, Col. E. B. Tyler.
Ripley-21st Ohio Volunteers, Col. J. S. Norton.
En route by the Kanawha—Brigadier-Gen. Cox-Bth
Ohio Volunteers, Col. Du Puy ; 12th Ohio Volunteers,
Col. J. W. Lowe ; Ist Kentucky Volunteers, Col. W.
Woodruff; 2d Kentucky Volunteers, Col. W. G. Terrell.
En route-13th Indiana Volunteers, Col. J. C. Sullivan;
14th Indiana Volunteers, Col. N. Kimball ; 17th Indiana

Volunteers, Col. Hascall."
The division under General Patterson is about
22,000 strong, and has three batteries of artillery
attached to it; and General Mansfield, who com-
mands the army of Washington and the reserve
watching the Capitol, has under him a corps of
16,000 men almost exclusively volunteers. Gene-
ral M'Dowell has also left a strong guard in his
intrenchments along the right bank of the Potomac
guarding the bridges and covering the roads to
Alexandria, Fairfax, and Falls Church. The divi-
sion in military occupation of Maryland under Gen.
Banks, most of which is concentrated in and around
Baltimore, consists of 7,400 men, with some field
guns. The corps at Fortress Monroe and Hampton
under Gen. Batler is 11,000 strong, with two field
batteries, some guns of position, and the fortress
itself in hand. Gen. Lyon, who is operating in
Missouri with marked success, has about 6,500 men.
Gen. Prentis at Cairo commands a division of 6,000
men and two field batteries. There are besides these
forces many regiments organised and actually in the
field. The army under the command of Gen. Beau-
regard at Manassa Junction is estimated at 60,000,
but that must include the reserves, and a portion of
the force in the intrenchxnents along the road to
Richmond, in the immediate neighbourhood of
which there is a corps of 15,000 men. At Norfolk
there are 18,000 or 20,000, at Acquia Creek 8,000
or 9,000, and Johnson's corps is estimated at 10,000,
swollen by the debris of the defeated column. The
railways from the South are open to the Confederates,
and they can collect their troops rapidly, so that it
is not at all beyond the reach of probability that
they can collect 150,000 or 160,000 men in Virginia,
if that number is not now actually in the State. In
cavalry they have a superiority, but the country is
not favourable for their operations till the armies
approach Richmond. In field artillery they are not
so well provided as the Federalists. They have,
however, a great number of heavy batteries and
guns of position at their disposal. Food is plenti-
ful in their camps; the harvest is coming in. In
general equipments and ammunition the Federalists
have a considerable advantage. In discipline there
is not much difference perhaps in the bulk of the
volunteers on both sides, but the United States'
forces have the benefit of the example and pre-
sence of the regular army, the privates of which
have remained faithful to the Government. If we
are to judge by what may be seen in Washington
there are mauvais sujets in abundance among the
United States' troops. The various foreign Minis-
ters have been so much persecuted by soldiers
coming to their houses and asking for help that
sentries were ordered to be put at their doors.
Lord Lyons, however, did not acquiesce in the pro-
priety of this step, and in lieu of that means of
defence against demands for money, a document
called " a safeguard" has been furnished to the
domestics at the various legations, in which appli-
cants are informed that they are liable to the
penalty of death for making such solicitations.
Gen. M'Dowell writes in his despatch from Fairfax
Court-house—" I am distressed to have to report
excesses by our troops. The excitement of the men
found vent in burning and pillaging, which, however
soon checked, distressed us all greatly." What will
take place at the close of a hardly contested action in
the front of populous towns and villages ? The vast
majority of the soldiers are very well behaved, but
it will require severe punishment to deter the evil-
disposed from indulging in all the licence of war.
The energy displayed in furnishing the great
army in the field with transport and ambulances is
very great, and I have been surprised to see the rapi-
dity with which waggons and excellent field hos-
pitals and sick carts have been constructed and for-
warded by the contractors. The corps in Virginia
under M'llowell may be considered fit to make a
campaign in all respects so far as those essentials
are concerned, and the Government is rapidly pur-
chasing horses and mules which are not inferior to
those used in any army in the 'world. These few lines
must suffice till the despatch of the mail on Wed
nesday.

demoralised army. Drivers flogged, lashed, spurred,
and beat their horses, or leaped down and aban-
doned their teams, and ran by the side of the road;
mounted men, servants, and men in uniform, ve-
hicles of all sorts, commissariat waggons thronged
the narrow ways. At every shot a convulsion as it
were seized upon the morbid mass of bones, sinew,
wood, and iron, and thrilled through it, giving new
energy and action to its desperate efforts to get free
from itself. Again the cry of " Cavalry" arose.
" Wnat are you afraid of ? " said I to a man who
was running beside me. " I'm not afraid of you,"
replied the ruffian, levelling his piece at me and
pulling the trigger. It was not loaded or the cap
was not on, for the gun did not go off. I was un-
armed, and I did go off as fast I could, resolved to
keep my own counsel for the second time that day.
And so the flight went on. At one time a whole
mass of infantry, with fixed bayonets, ran down
the bank of the road, and some falling as they ran
must have killed and wounded those among whom
they fell. As I knew the road would soon become
impassable or blocked up, I put my horse to a gal-
lop and passed on towards the front. But mounted
men still rode faster, shouting out, " Cavalry are
coming." Again I ventured to speak to some
officers whom I -overtook, and said, " If these run-
aways are not stopped the whole of the posts and
pickets into Washington will fly also !" One of
them, without saying a word, spurred his horse
and dashed on in front. Ido not know whether
he ordered the movement or not, but the van of the
fugitives was now suddenly checked, and, pressing
on through the wood at the roadside, I saw a regi-
ment of infantry blocking up the way, with their
front towards Centreville. A musket was levelled
at my head as I pushed to the front :—" Stop, or
I'll fire." At the same time the officers were shout-
ing out, " Don't let a soul pass." I addressed one
of them and said, " Sir ! I am a British subject, I
am not, I assure you, running away. I have done
my best to stop this disgraceful rout (as I had) and
have been telling them there are no cavalry within
miles of them." " I can't let you pass, sir !" 1
bethought me of General Scott's pass. The adju-
tant read it, and the word was given along the line,
" Let that man pass !" and so I rode through, un-
certain if I could gain the Long-bridge in time to
pass over without the countersign. It was about
this time I met a cart by the roadside surrounded
by a group of soldiers some of whom had " 69"
on thei; caps. The owner, as I took him to be,
was in great distress, and cried out as I passed,
" Can you tell me, sir, where the 69th are?
These men say they are cut to pieces." " I
can't tell you." " I'm in charge of the mails,
sir, and I will deliver them if I die for it.
You are a gentleman, and I can depend on your
word. Is it safe for me to go on ?" Not knowing
the extent of the debacle, I assured him it was, and
asked the men of the regiment how they happened
to be there. " Shure, the Colonel himself told us to
go off every man on his own hook, and to fly for our
lives," replied one of them. The mail agent, who
told me he was an Englishman, started the cart
again. I sincerely hope no bad result to himself
or his charge followed my advice. I reached Fair-
fax Court-house ; the people, black and white, with
anxious faces, were at the doors, and the infantry
were under arms, I was besieged with questions,
though hundreds of fugitives had passed through
before me. At one house I stopped to ask for water
for my horse ; the owner sent his servant for it
cheerfully, the very house were we had in vain
asked for something to eat in the forenoon. " There's
a fright among them," I observed, in reply to his
quesiion respecting the commissariat drivers.
" They're afraid of the enemy's cavalry." " Are you
an American," said the man. "No, I am not."
" Well, then," he said, " there will be cavalry on
them soon enough. There's 20,000 of the best horse-
men in the world in Virginny !" Washington was
still 19 miles away. The road was rough and un
certain, and again my poor steed was under way ;
but it was no use trying to outstrip the runaways.
Once or twice I imagined I heard guns in the rear,
but I could not be sure of it in consequence of the
roar of the flight behind me. It was most surpris-
ing to see how far the foot soldiers had contrived to
get on in advance. After sunset the moon rose, and
amid other acquaintances I jogged alongside an
officer who was in charge of Colonel Hunter, the
commander of a brigade, I believe, who was shot
through the neck, and was inside a cart, escorted
by a few troopers. This officer was, as I under-
stood, the major or second in command of Colonel
Hunter's regiment, yet he had considered it right
to take charge of his chief, and to leave his battalion.
He said they had driven back the enemy with ease,
but had not been supported, and blamed—as bad
officers and good ones will do—the conduct of the
General ; "So mean a fight I never saw." I was re-
minded of a Crimean General who made us merry by
saying after the first bombardment, "In the whole
course of my experience I never saw a siege con-
ducted on such principles as these." Our friend
had been without food, but not, I suspect, without
drink—and that, we know, affects empty stomachs
very much—since 2 o'clock that morning. Now,
what is to be thought of an officer—gallant, he may
be, as steel—who says, as I heard this gentleman
say to a picket who asked him how the day went in
front, " Well, we've been licked into a cocked hat ;
knocked to —." This was his cry to teamsters,
escorts, convoys, the officers, and men on guard and
detachment, while I, ignorant of the disaster behind
tried to mollify the effect of the news by adding
" Oh, it's a drawn battle. The troops are re-occupy-
ing the position from which they started in the morn.
ing." Perhaps he knew his troops better than
did. It was a strange ride, through a country now
still as death, the white road shining like a river in
the moonlight, the trees black as ebony in the shade;
now and then a figure flitting by into the forest or
across the road—frightened friend or lurking foe,
who could say ? Then the anxious pickets and sen-
tries all asking, " What's the news ?" and evidently
prepared for any amount of loss. Twice or thrice
we lost our way, or our certainty about it, and
shouted at isolated houses and received no reply,
except from angry watch dogs. Then we were set
right as we approached Washington by teamsters.
For an hour, however, we seemed to be travelling
along a road which in all its points far and near was
" 12 miles from the Long-bridge." Up hills, down
into valleys, with the silent grim wood for ever by
our sides. Now and then in the profound gloom,
broken only by a spark from the horse's hoof, came a
dull but familiar sound like the shutting of a dis-
tant door. As I approached Washington, having left
the colonel and his escort at some seven miles on
the south side of the Long-bridge, I found the grand
guards, pickets' posts, and individual sentries burn-
ing for news, and the word used to pass along
" What does that man say, Jack ?" " Begorra, he tells
me we're not bet at all—only retraiting to the ould
lines for convaniency of fighting to-morrow again.
Oh, that's iligant." On getting to the tete de pont,
however, the countersign was demanded; of course,
I had not got it. But the officer passed me through
on the:production of General Scott's safeguard. The
lights of the city were in sight and reflected on the
waters of the Potomac, just glistened by the clouded
moon, shone the gay lamps of the White House,
where the President was probably entertaining
some friends. In silence I passed over the Lou g-
bridge. Some few hours later it quivered under the
steps of a rabble of unarmed men. At the Wash-
ington end a regiment with piled arms were wait-
ing to cross over into Virginia, singing and cheer-
ing. Before the morning they received orders, I
believe, to assist in keeping Maryland quiet. For
the hundredth time I repeated the c
which to the best of my knowledge vaatieteit_ous
rue. There account
were men, women, and soldier: toasheeedarwitiharTdh,se.
clocks had just struck 11 p.m. as I p
The pavement in front of
hotnhadelihne.saoltlaenwldaaptsshecedrroewpdoerdts.
The rumours of defeat had come in, but few of the
which prevailed could credit the
many who had been
of complete victory
as it was called, had representatives in
intelligence.
" Grand Army 0 f
thoroughfare, without arms, the North,"
the streets toldS.ethveensftheo:ruyru.sp The
Ins/ orders, or offi-
cers,out in the drenching
evesttahnOring
rain. Whoa
all these most unaccountable phenomena was occur-
ring 7
ehe morning,
r oed ,
I was fast asleep, bnt i could scarce credit my
informant
when
had
fallen
l tolden bamcke
uponthat
the rederrthsts, utterly
Arlington to def
.end the capital, leaving nearly Bye

batteries of artillery, 8,000 muskets, immense quan-
tity of stores and baggage, and their wounded and
prisoners in the hands of the enemy !
Let the American journals tell the story their
own way. I have told mine as I know it. It has
rained incessantly and heavily since early morning,
and the country must be unfit for operations ;
otherwise, if Mr. Davis desired to press his advan-
tage, he might now be very close to Arlington
Heights. He has already proved that he has a fair
right to be considered the head of a belligerent
Power. But, though the North may reel under the
shock, I cannot think it will make her desist from
the struggle, unless it be speedily followed by blows
more deadly even than the repulse from Manassas.
There is much talk now (of "masked batteries," of
course) of outflanking, and cavalry, and such mat-
ters. The truth seems to be that the men were
overworked, kept out for 12 or 14 hours in the sun
exposed to long-range fire, badly officered, and of
deficient regimental organisation. Then came a most
difficult operation—to withdraw this army, so con-
stituted, out of action in face of an energetic enemy
who had repulsed it. The retirement of the baggage,
which was without adequate guards, and was in the
hands of ignorant drivers, was misunderstood and
created alarm, and that alarm became a panic,
which became frantic on the appearance of the
enemy and on the opening of their guns on the
runaways. But the North will be all the more
eager to retrieve this disaster, although it may
divert her from the scheme, which has been sug-
gested to her, of punishing England a little while
longer. The exultation of the South can only be
understood by those who may see it, and if the
Federal Government . perseveres in its design to
make Union by force it may prepare for a struggle
the result of which will leave the Union very little
to fight for. More of the " battle" in my next. I
pity the public across the water, but they must be
the victims of hallucinations and myths it is out of
my power to dispel or rectify just now. Having
told so long a story, I can scarcely expect your
readers to have patience, and go back upon the usual
diary of events; but the records, such as they are,
of this extraordinary repulse must command atten-
ion. It is impossible to exaggerate their impor-
,ance. No man can predict the results or pretend
;0 guess at them.

IRELAND.

DUBLIN, MONDAY.
Yesterday a pastoral letter from Archbishop
Cullen was read in all the Roman Catholic churches
and chapels of his diocess. He begins with recom-
mending prayers for the Pope, who, though Vio-
lently assailed by all the enemies of God and of re-
ligion, steers with a firm hand the bark of Peter.
While other princes and statesmen present a lament-
able picture of weakness or perfidy and are tossed
about like fragile reeds, he upholds the principles
of eternal justice and the rights of the Church and
of society with undaunted courage, at the same time
edifying the world with the example of his meek-
ness and all the virtues that adorn Christ's Vicar on
earth. " What a happiness," he exclaims, "that Goa
has given to the Church so holy a Pontiff-to guide
her in these troubled times !" From the Vatican to
the workhouse is but a step with Dr. Cullen. Dis-
regarding the report of the Committee for inquir-
ing into the Operation of the Poor Law he reite-
rates his former statements ; that the diet of the
paupers is scanty and bad ; that they are exposed
to many and dangerous diseases ; that in sickness
they are badly attended by nurses frequently taken
from the most degraded classes in society ; that
the vicious are mixed with the young and innocent,
and that very little provision is made for their re-
ligious worship. He complains of the exclusion of
Roman Catholics from situations in the Unions.
For example, in all the workhouses of Ulster there
is only one Catholic schoolmaster to 21 Protestants,
and five Catholic schoolmistresses to 34 ProtestantS•
There are 40 Protestant clerks to five Catholics ; 36
Protestant masters and 38 Protestant matrons to
three Catholic masters and three Catholic matrons'
while there are 213 Protestant medical men attached
to the unions, and only 13 Catholics. The settle
exists in the counties of Dublin, Wicklow, and Car.
low. The Archbishop congratulates the priests and
laity, that after centuries of exclusive enjoyment
of persecuting power and Church property, there
are only 47,000 members of the Established Church
in Dublin, whereas the Catholics, who have suffered
persecution and degradation, amounting to 194,000.
" What a proof of the sterility of Protestantisci,
and the vitality of Catholicity !" The practical
conclusion which Dr. Cullen draws from the Cen-
sus is that the Established Church ought to be
abolished. " Were:such an institution," he says'
" discovered in Naples or Modena, with what ac-
cents of fiery indignation would it not be denouncea,
by the very men who defend it here in Ireland.A
Let us hope that the liberal spirit of the age
not tolerate the continuance of so frightful fi:f
abuse, and that the overwhelming majority 'a
Catholics in Ireland will no longer be coraPeller't
in despite of justice and common sense, to suPP°.O,
an establishment the existence of which is anilir,
sult to their feelings and their religion." 'l'd
Cullen hopes that the Census will open the eye So,
the subscribers to the Protestant Missionary the
cieties, and " teach them to put little trust in 1
stories fabricated by missionaries, sent, certain v
not by God, who is a lover of truth, but the Oleo(
of lies ; fabricated undoubtedly for the purpose
promoting their own interest, and concealing
signal failure of all their efforts."