New-York daily tribune., 1861-08-22

are len tunes many ready b. como on perhaps to the
ssfne Iate. we wish we could fnd spme'bing 10 this
v,.ory npon which we eonld congratulate either tbs
yictors or The vsnquished. We wish we could in
u the probable of that humility or tha content.
men' wicn mig tfaciitaiepeac We an, howeverun'
Happily see la It nothing but what must stimulate tas
evil passions OF both eoabatants.
From The london ksrs l.q s.
Tie news from America lie Of the most ipooyt.
aDco Serious az il, IL is probably correct becsrsa
the disaster has happened to the Northern troops and
the intelligence comes through Northern source. Il
need excite surprise IT, when the detailed accounts
arrive the losses sustained may be greater than
at present reported. At the same time nothing has
happened which not ami ipsted possible; and.
indeed in hese columns the very contingency pre-
dcted which actually happened the 2ist Of July.
II will be remembered that upon the 18th Of last
mouth the Southern Confederates, TO the number Of
$1,000 were posted near Manassas Gap, In strongly
inirenched po,iion, under Gen. Beaurcgsrd Tho
Federal army under Gen. Mcdowell IN five divisions,
and Numbering about $1,000, was advancing from
Alexandria and Arlington Hghts to TIE attack. h Is
now obvious from the tone OF the Amer an Journals
that the popular cmor was loud agass delay and tns
somewbst extIavsgaDt terms in which TIE N. Y.
Times announced the advance of Mcdowell seemed %
make it probable that the prudent Scott wss compeied
10 move on at all hazards Tie victories Of Gen. No
Clean in Western Vrg inia, and the retreat OF Gen.
Johnston from Hsrper's Ferry, seem 10 have
convinced the popular critics that the Northern
Army Lad nothing TO do but TO follow Tue sIeps o .pe
retreating Confedentes. Ii is well known that the
Confederate off almost oil graduates of "est
Point who have held active commands Il is equally
well known that in the Federal army, With tbe excep-
ton Of Generals Mcdowell Mcclellan and Scott, toe
Commandef-in- Chief almost al the generals of division
and the brigaders civilians, without military expe-
rience. Il 10, therefore, by means imDrobib that
the impaience Of these o0ieers combined With the
popular feeling excited by the newspapers, may have
led General Scott TO adopt policy which in bis heart
he disapprovedj certainly, considering tie eircum-
stances Il is difficult 10 believe that officer of Gem
era Sc1tts experience could have directed The grard
attack against the Confedertes without serious mis-.
givDgs.
IL wac certain as we observed some days ago. that
the postiOn at Manassas junction woud not be absn-
doned by the Confederates If they could possibly avoid
IT, IL commands the various roads toward tie west
and the south; beside which, the nature Of the situation
is such as be readily converted in skfol bands into
a most formidable military posiIion. About thee
miles Ia front there Is wooded valley through which
flows the stream OF the Bull Run, the south tie right
flank of the COnfederstes is protected by ano hex
large river while upon the north and west OF the Cos
ederafes there Is rugged country covering the roads
from Harpers Ferry aud Winchester, admirably lifted
for defensive operations. Now lt appears that Gen.
Beauregard fully appreciated these nataral adyan.
tages aud, being young captain Oh engineers, Was
Thoroughly competent 10 give practical elect
=, these advantages. The history of the old
American war doabt quite familiar TO him. nor az
military can be be ignorant OF the history or
the Crimssn war and the power OF resisaoce which
we-constrctsd intrenchment gives against even the
best.disciplined troops Of Europe IL the Turks be-
mind their earthen GefenSes could maintain themselves
against the Russian veterans led by Gorchakoh, II 10
not Surprising if the mitia Of Carolina and Alabama
shoud be able to maintain their ground against tae
hall trained leyes Of New-YoTk and Massachusetis.
Acting upon this principle, Gen. Beauregard seems 70
have prepared held OF battle beween the spur OK
III. Blne Ridge on the north-weSt, the OccOqnan
River on the southeast aud on the banks oil tne
Bull Ron In his front. For several miles wih-
in this circuit tue ground must have bTlstled WI
masked batteries; aud go skilliuly and secretly
were these formidable preparations made that tho
Federal officers seem 10 have been igaoraut either
nj the number Of guns ia the batteries, or Of the par
enlar position which they occupied. Al all eyents,
on the Stn Col. Richarcson, wits the 4th Brigade of
the Ist Division advanced from Cenreyile tue heac.
! quarters Of Gen. Mcdowell But be sogn foaSd Ian.
| self in the mitst OF an ambuscade. He was hfed
upnn by unseen batteries in 'front.' flank, ind rear and
wa. ultimately compelled TO retreat win loss OF sope
twenty killed and wounded, according 10 the story of
the Federats. II was obvious that careful recon.
noissanee necessary, aud that much more vgor-
ous attack was 10 be organized. Accordingly the l'h
and 9th of July spent In rec0nnoterlng and IN
| bringing mp the whole corps d'armee, under Gen:
| Mcdowell In the mean tine, the batteries al Bun
| Run remained in the hands OF the Coniederates'
E,rI, Ia the morning of the 2lst Gen; Mcdowell ad
yanced with bis IS eD ut the least, and mat be PEE
tuaed that every available who could be spared
from Washington must have been present on the field.
The teleuaphc dispatch is too brief to enable us TO
ascertain tbe pian Of attack IL may lave been that
tie attempt TO turn either flank proved impossible.
But at all events considering that The attacking frce
consisted OF five divisions and twelve bngd.s each OF
four or ye eglmens il is vious that front OF
IA k must have been somewhat extended. The rlgLt
of The Fe6eraists to have Iesed upon Cenlre-
VILE the left upon Fairfax Coar-House, and the adj
vance must have been made right sgsinst the Con-
federaie batteries. II s needless 10 say that opera
tion of this nature is OF the most hazardous in
var and unless aided by flank attack, is
generally unsuccessful According " The telegram tbs
Feceralsts after struggle OF Line hour, managed
10 uossess themselves OF three batteries. But at
this crisis important event took place which marks
the skill OF the Confederate general. General john
atom aopeared with a Reinforcement Of % 100 men.
TINS officer, il will be remembered, had retreaed be-
fore the EedeIast General, Patterson, from liarpers
F,rry and thence 10 the Sodtb. IL Is evident from
the New.York journals that they imagined Johnston
10 be In full retreat lest be might be overwhelmed by
the Federasis, wbo alter leaving HaIperr Ferry had
oecuuied MsuinsbUrg. Bat the probability Is ,hatt
anticipating an attack at Bull Rum he made all speed
fbtonIh tls dofles OF the Blue RJ Jge Noun ai1s 10
oin General Besuegaci, which lie succeeded la doing
In time TO take part IN the battle Of the 2st. Accord
iug 10 letter which win be found in another column,
General Johnston is described as one OF the very
l4st." and indeed this very movement which
mo aecomoli.hed is that which our oorre-
sponSent anticipates. After tue junction OF
these 25O0O men General Beauresard assumed
tho offensive attacked the Federal army, ana
drove il I'm disorder from the field. retreat for
a discipued army is too often disastrous. Proverbi-
ally eieady as Brfh troops are, the history OF tho
Peniusular and Indian wars proves that they cannot
alWays DC relied upOn IL heed excite no surprise,
therefore to he told in the WORDS Of the telegram,
"that the whole army fed in open disorder to Wash-
ington." Nor di I'll the efforts Of General Mcdowell
avail to check the retreat II any hug wee needed
TO prove the serious nature Of the catastrophe, It
would be found in the fact that the FedeIalists lese
"the whole OF their Tied cannon, with large qnsnti.
ties Of stores and arms In short, the Federal army
seems to have been completely routed, and, as natu-
nl consequence has rttIeated to the neghbo hood OF
Alexandria on tie bauks Of the Potomac.
The first step 10 be adopted by the Federal Govern
ment IS 10 leorganze the Federal army ana 70 Fre'
Ye u .la2r Q ngs I'm lfIf.-