The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-07-25

OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.

WAsHtNGroN, July q.
There is still great excitement uneaspess and
apprehension in this city, though apparently de-
cFessing In ferVor- Many of the troops who fec in
ened sheep returning to their fold They are scat
tered about the city-the more desperate cnes ma
raudlng upon the citizens purses aud provender
Tor their daily sustenance. do not desire to init;
mate that highway robberirs are freunent hn,
mat The soldiers no without money ask in
Such peremptory manner tina it is alD,nat
Ole to deny their requests without being in rnnst
instances insulted, to place the matter in the mild
est possible form.
Every effort is made to conceal the extent Of the
disaster on Sunday. Guns have been mouoted and
gwen to artillery companies and the puhI;c ~,
t"rmed that they have been recovered from tho
oatt'e-heid, the enemy not having followed sniff
ciently TAR to capture them. They do not seem tn
reflect hat II this be true that it ONLY adds To the
oVefw he'mng disgrace of the fight Whs, evonoo
can be made for man calling himself q snIdisr =. ~
""uid abandon his guns when the foe was mt
even in sight? N"'
There is no doubt about the extent Of the Peda~al
i"ss lt has not been exaggerated in vOur accnunts
government officials pretend now to say that il ia
only l,Z0o- The assertion is a reflection on the
American name. Tie fact that an army of 80 GOO
men, spendidlv equipped, should abandon all thpi,
AFH'isfy ana war tqulPage, and retreat in such
otceT diaorder before an enemy whom they but a.
few hours before affected to despise after suss;u
lug loss of only 200, would atlix lasting stigma
which no subsequent heroism could wipe out. And
yet they claina to have fought with unexampled
bravery.
The "grand army of the Union'' il still disorosn-
ized, demoraliZed, paralyz.d. Numbers of the
volunteers leave by each train for their honse
Inose who nave money, and cannot get away,
provide themselves with food and keep sloof from
headquarters General Geo. L. Mcclellan will ar
rive, II Is expected, to morrow, and upon reporting
himseit to the Department will immediately be as
signed duty. So soon as be takes command the
raen will be obliged to report themselves, unless
they can previously get away.
Ihe Confederate pickets extend considerable
distance this side of Fairfax Court House. Th,v
are doubled and frequently relieved tluch fear
exists in this city of an invasion psrticulerIv
among officials. have noticed, for two or three
DAYS past, that several Senators and merpbera of
congress go to Baltimore by the evening train and
return here again next morning. Such n habit
Could only be practised by fear of a pisht at
tack. E'"' ~
Twelve or fourteen regiments are ordered to IIar
pers Ferry to supply the vacancies created bv De-
serters and the absence of those whose time hiss
expired The feeling of the privates in Patterson,s
Command is varied. Some say that they will not
serve under the "Abolit0u Genaral' Ranks ,yhn
they have no confidence in. McNuliin's Rsnonrs
and the Scott Legion, who served with honor in
tue Mexican campaign intend to 60 home On the
nther hand some from the interior of the Sfate
inud IN their criticisms of the military ,nurpmerts
OF patterson, claiming for him the tbs ttls of Ore
pei anu orator., saying he should have attacked
Johnston, o cut eff bis retreat
dov. Wise now being strongly reinfnrcod with
iten guns ADD material, will reopen tha campaign
VI Tue h&nawha Valley and AIerhepiss win @
doubled vigor, and at short notice to the Fsa.reI
troops. w We S rtuer al