The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1861-08-02
A Letter frsa an Omoer In the Arsy.
VmorIA, 'SAcRrD Son,"l
I'll NglI

July 81, 1861.
We are In tho midst Of high sxpectatien Of
an attack from the enemy avery moment. So
We have bssn since the 22d. Why the rsbsls
did not march on Washington We cannot tivin,.
The army was 30 dsmoralizsd that the Sunday
retreat would have heea tho retreat Of N ,nday,
II the enemy had followed up his advantage I
bslopgsd TO the reserves, and We ware ordered
up and met the retiring army-nying, psll.
NELL, before nothing. We, like othsrs. had
Our orders TO retreat. 1t was CALLING order
10 the old war dog" who lad "a. Thsrs was
no help for II. II the army had mads stand
and returned upon Ito own track. We could
have taved the wounded, and gathered
up the arms and ammunition, the
baggage and oonmissary stores, aud all
tho material Of war, thrown away la
that shameful retreat. The snsmy would not
and did dare TO pursue any great distance. He
did not dream that he had gained . victory.
It was, at first, as much Of surpris 70 him .,
to MS. victery was an aftsr thought, And
wh,n once found out-oh It was 30 glorious -
when in truth they had been wsll whipped.
have not had my boots of for wssk-s1-
psctIng every moment an attack. We arc In
the very fore front Of the invading army upon
the sicrsd soil" Where that ord to
retreat caus from nobody kuowL 1t was
peri sps on., having q secession origin We
do not expect nov TO have anothsr like
II, ard the next tims there will bs no retreat.
You ns,d not be surprised at anything,
sec % ,ionism Is every whore. Oh the awful
cgruption svrywhsro! I;dIss seem as IL all
Washipgton and A.xandIia and every other
place were determined TO keep our soldiers
crunk. Some Of the cfIlcsrs Of ouf noble reg
imsnts have not drawn . sober breath in three
months. What can you expect Of men, when
tn. Col. Of q regiment can hardly dt o, his
horse, and rides along AZ the head OF his men
with his military bat cooked on ono sids-!n the
styls Of drunken loAfer--as addls pAtsd as
any Of the regular old loaf,rs in the halls of
Water stree? The army needs weeding, aud
these nui1 inces should be rootsd out. IL Is
enough to make a man mad to sec what I'm
posi lions are laid on US.
| couli name 10 you commanders OF regi-
msnts who are nsvsr really sober, who neglss!
their mon ,aud who know no more OF war than u, 4,
nswsboys of New York. They rids in PoliH-
cal sasdhs, and ought to DO unhcrSed at ones.
ThAnka be to 0od we have now pious,
go6ly man at the head Of this military DEPART
msnt-Gsa. MoCLKLLAS. He 10 Ia tbs saddle
every day, and is intHsing his own spirl. into
the army. Hitherto the hotels and grog shops
OF washin gton and Alexandria have swarmsd
with officers and sold!srs drinking and csrous
ing. Do you wonder that the Inhabitants Of
WsshiDgton feel inScIrs9 fJu MED not
wonder vOald not, II Jou know wha, kuoW.
The universal corruption staggors my hops
IN God. How can G1i spare such a guilty
people.
There Ia ono comtoE.. The people are not 50
st.ep.d Ia sin as tho msn IL authority. For
the sake Of the righteous, God may spare us.
Do ne. hs afraid to speak right out. We must
put away corruption II We would put down 10
cession. We must. All the departments In
WAshInGton arc rAA OF sssssJionists and spies
War Treasury Navy - IOtsri0r every
where. wbyS That iA the question: VINO
will aA1Wsr III
II "a q shame 10 bring ow noble men
here 10 nBut pattios AbAmsI SoSossiVnus'Si
whsn they are eating by scores at the
public crib every day. Lift up the Voice, and
show ths servants OF the people In WsshIng'Or
their Alns. This evil will never correct itsslt
The pressure Of public sentiment must corrsc
H..
buried poor soldier under tree In ou
old cAup ground, where We hAs bssn accus
| toned TO hold the daily prayer meeting. IL
was sto. by accident. His poor mother wi
fe,l his loss dreAdiully. He was her sole dc
psnt for support. started homo with ih
body, Gpt then received an order to bury 1t.
am writing this oa tho board on which he la
few monSnts ago. The resurrection will A q
ban here.
Ths Fight 81 nSiia, mLssurL