The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1861-09-03
WAsHINGTON. July %, 1861.

in this country, we give the following extracts
from it
WASHINGTON, July p, 1861
| sit down to give account, not of the action
yesterday, but of what | saw with my own eyes
Let me, however, express an opinion to the affair
of yesterday. In the first place, the repulse of
the Federas, decided as it was, might have had no
serious effects whatever beyond the mere failure
which politically was of greater consequence than
in military Sense-but for the disgraceful con
duct Of the troops.
The retreat on their lines at Centrevillc seems
to have ended in cowardly rout-a miserable,
causeess panic. Such scandalous behavior Oh the
part Of the soldiers l should have considered i'm
possible, as, with some experience of camps and
armies, [ have never, even in alarms among camp
followers, seen the like of it. How far the dis
organization of the troops extended, | know not !;
but it was complete in the instance of more than
one regiment.
Washington this morning is crowded with
soldiers without officers, who have fed from Cen.
treville, and with ''t three months men," who are
going home from the face Of the enemy on the
expiration of the time for which they en-
listed. The streets, in spite Of the rain, are
crowded by people with anxious faces, and groups
Of wavering politicians are assembled at the
corners, in the hotel passages and the bars If
in the present state of the troops the Conederates
Washington, turning the works at Arlington, the
capital might fall into their hands.
The North will, no doubt, recover from the
shock. Hitherto she has only said, ago and fight
for the Union" The North must put its best
men i'll the BATTLE she will inevitably fail before
the energy: the personal hatred and the superior
fighting powers of her antagonist In my letters
in my conversation, have endeavored to show
that the task to which the Unionists have set them
selves is one Of no ordinary difficulty, but in the
state of arrogance and supercilious confidence
either real or affected to conceal sense Of weak
ness, one might we'll have preached to the Pyra-
mid Of Cheops.
Indeed, one may form some notion Of the con-
dition Of the public mind by observing that
journals conducted avowedy by men of disgrace
ful personal characteristic be-whipped and be-
kicked and unrecognized parahs Of society in
New 1ork-are nevertheless, in the very midst Of
repulse and defeat, permitted to indulge in ridicu
lous rhodomontade towards the nations of Europe,
and to move our laughter by impotcntly mag
nant attacks on ''our rotten old monarchy while
the stones of their blan new republic arc tumJling
about their ears. 1t will be amusing to observe
the change of tone, for afford to observe
and to be amused at the same time.
After describing several adventures connected
with the trip, he gives the following account of
meeting with returning regiment:
\ babel Of tongues rose from them, and they
we're all in good spirits, but with an air about
them | could not understand. Dismounting at a
stream where group Of thirty men were drinking
and halting in the shade, | asked an officer,
g Where are your men going, sir?' We'll, we
are going home, sir, [ reckon to Pennsylvani |
1t was the Fourth Pennsylvania Regiment, which
was it's march | learnt from the men g
suppose there is severe work going on behind you:
~, C.
there is We're going home," he added, after
hat the movement required an explanation |
cause the mems time is up" We have had three
months Of this work.
| proceeded my may Illuminating the |
feelings of General who sees one-haf brigade |
walk quietly away on the very morning Of an
action and on the frame of mind of men who
would have shouted till they were hoarse about
heir beloved Union-possibly have hunted down
my poor creature who expressed belief that it
vas not the very quntesscnce of everything great
md good in Government and glorious and omnipo-
ent in arms-coolly turning their backs on it
when in its utmost PERIL because the letter Of their
engagement bound them no further. Perhaps
he Fourth Pennsylvania were right, but let us
hear no more of the excellence of three months
service volunteers. And so we left them.
Mr. Russell having reached the top Of hill,
rom which number of persons were viewing the
oattle, he gives the following particulars:
Up rode an officer with crowd of soldiers after
lim, from the village. "Weve whipped them on
Ill points, he shouted. We've taken their
batteries, and they're retreating." Such an up
oar as followed. The spectators and the men
;heered again and again, amid cries of Bravo"
Bully for US, " Didn't tell you so? and gut
eral % hooks" from the Deutschland folk and
oud I" hurroos" from the Irish.
| had met my friends on the road, and after a
ew words rode forward at long trot as well as
could past the wagons and through the dust, when
suddenly there arose a tumuIt in front Of me at
small bridge across the road and then | perceived
he drivers Of set Of wagons with their horses
urned towards me, who were endeayoring to force
heir way against the stream Of vehicles setting in
he other direction. By the side Of the new set Of
va gons there were number Of commissariat men
md soldiers, whom at first sight | took to be the
baggage guard, They looked excited and alarmed,
md were running by the side of the horses; in
front the dust quite obscured the view. At the
bridge the currents met in wild disorder 50 Turn
back = Retreat ~ shouted the men from the
front. We're whipped-we're whipped!' They
cursed and tugged at the horses heads, and strug
5led with frenzy to get past. Running by me on
foot was man with the shoulder straps of an off,
Ger. {" Pray, what is the matter, sir 2" SIT
means we're pretty badly whipped and that's
fact" he burted out in pufs, and continued his
CARER
The teOmstsrs Of the advancing Fagons now