Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1861-08-07
One of the correspondents Of the Baltimore En-


elanoe, writing from Alexandra, says:
aThis town has been to day the theatre Of events
and snectacles die like of which have never before
been witnessed on this continent. The Grand Army
of the Union, which SO lately left here in aif tue
pride pcnp and circumstances Of glorious war WIN
drums beating, colors dying and ranks dressed as 1t
fora holiday parade, returned to-day, but IN suen
pliaht that it was taxing creduty to the utmost to
believe that these were the same men.
1t ia impossible to conceive of a more deploraoie
spectacle, to say nothing of the repulsive and mar
rowing appearance of dead and wounded bodies; inc
living and unwounded men themselves we're ut OBJ
jects Of nothing but compassion Exhausted WIN
fatigue and hunger, fear and dismay upon every
countenance, with torn clothing, covered with dust
and blood many without shoes or hats, they were
to be seen in all quarters Of the town, lying upon
the pavements cellar-doors or on any other spot
that offered them place for the repose winch ma
ture demanded Many of them had not their arms,
knapsacks, &C., and had nothing of the appearance
of soldiers left except their besmeared and tattereo
uniforms. They did not pretend to observe any or
der, nor did their officers seem to exercise the least
authority over them. They went where they pleas
if but temporarily from the disgusting tasks which
their leaders had vainly sought to accomplish oy
their hands,"
A correspondent of the same paper, writing un-
der date June 25, says:
~ was much amazed at q conversation between
two soldiers of different regiments. "Hallo strang
er. where do YOU hail fromy He was informed oil
the strangers native place. "Well, when you were
at home did you ever sing Carry me back to oid
Virginny?'" "Yes, olen." "Then, never DO 1t
again, for il was q thousand miles from Old Viz
g,nny, I'd never want to see it any more"
had the honor Of seeing the entrance into the
town of Lincoln, Seward and Mcdowell" in an
open barouche, followed by the Presidents Life
Guard. The pressure Of business allowed them but
a ten minutes visit and then they whrled away
could not but contrast this picture with that had
seen of the wounded and weary soldiers stretched
upon the sidewalk, while he who had brought them
to such strait paused to give but careless glance,
satisfied that nobody was hurt" 1t seemed very
mockery- -.
He did not hear, as did, the shot blessings"
which followed him, or the VOWS that all the Cabi-
net and all the money in the Treasury should not
induce them to fight again in such cause.
The men were especially indignant at their off,
GERS, whom they cursed roundy, declaring that they
had been treated outrageousy and with great lndlf
ference They accused their officers Of great cowar-
dice, and one man declared that his Colonel hid De-
hind haystack, while most Of the officers were the
first to run.
overheard ore of the men sitting on the door
step of the house describing the charge of the Black
Horse Cavalry, part Of which | believe is Captain
SCOTS Fauquler Cavalry. He said they advanced
IN wedge form, then opened, disclosing battery
which fired upon his regiment and that then the
cavalry charged upon the regiment, hernming it in
on all sides and cutting right and left with tremend-
Gus blows, each blow powerful enough to take Oft
mans head He said he never wished to see such
charge again"
correspondent of the Philadelphia Inquirer thus
speaks of the scenes in Washington after the de-
feat:
"Ths morning. soon after Daylight it became
known that the disasters of Sunday had not ended
with the light, but that new reverses had been ex
perienced during the night All this morning up
to the time Of writing q p. m., Monday struggling
squads Of soldiers have been pouring over the Long
Bridge, and along Pennsylvania avenue. They are
all unwounded, but in every case covered with
thick coating of dust and sweat their hair matted
their clothes torn and blood stained some armed
and some unarmed There are no less than 10000
of them here, up to this time, and they are still
coming have seen among them men from the fol-
lowing regiments: Seventy-first New York; Second
Maine; First and Second Ohio; Sixty-ninth and
Seventy-ninth New York, (the latter the Highland
ers; Second and Third Michigan; Twenty sevehth
New York Second New Hampshire; Eleventh New
1oTh, (tHe AOuaVeS.) many Vi lne ulei tilTow tein-
selves down on door steps, on curb stones, and on
the pavement, and family cry for water.
Since 10 o'clock Pennsylvania avenue has been
crowded with them, and since that time measures
have been taken for their relief From many Of the
cross streets, people are running, bringing buckets
of refreshments, bread milk, water, coffee &c Ee-
gantly dressed ladies, side by side with negro
men, carrying wine coffee and water to the sol
d,ers unheedlng the rain, that is fast falling The
ladies don't stop to draw the corks Of the bottles Of
Catawba wine, but knock the necks off, and pour
out the contents in new tin cups. soldier has
just died. The men state that for three days they
have had nothing to eat except crackers and were
all day yesterday without water. The men state
that last night after 10 o'clock. the enemy advanced
on Centreville in strong force with mortars for
throwing shells. That we were unprepared to re-
sist them, and were compelled to retreat That our
army made a stand at Fairfax, but were driven out
of that place. the shells pouring in upon them like
hail and that the whole army is now in full retreat
upon Washington"
One Of the correspondents of the Philadelphia En-
quirer says:
"The firing Of the enemy was kept up on our
rear with artillery, and their eaoaIry rode through
and through, cutting and slashing wiM perfect
tendishnesa 100
Our wounded and dead arc nearly all on the bat
tie held in the hands OF the enemy; such az could
crawl or walk were trying to get away, and such
pitable spsctacles as made our heart sick
but We could not help them; the few smbulances
were started of early with the wounded, and never
returned. We saw number lying on the roadside,
with medicine chests and bandages.
The immense baggage train, consisting Of some
six hundred or q thousand wagons lined the road
for mile and half on the v arrenton road towards
Bulls Run, two miles back of Centreville. When
the panic started the wagons tried to fall back on
Centrevie, but number were upset and broken
down; the drivers would Immediately leave them
and escape on the horses. Others would throw out
their load Of provisions and stores and fill up with
soldiers and muskets; the body Of the luggage,
however, got in the rear Of Centreville.
Our greatest loss is in the thorough demoralizs.
ton of our army. 1t will take weeks to gather the
scattered forces in the condition we had them.
The cowardly retreat on the morning Of the fight
by the Pennsylvania Fourth, and various batteries
bad depressing effect upon our force, and encour
aged the rebels by the story that our men usrs run
ming. That their 81 time was up" is an excuse that
will not answer; they fed ANONYMOUSLY when oul