Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1861-08-01


from exhaustion, and it is supposed was left
on the field, in the tumult Of retreat. One
gallant fellow, Sergeant Morton, Of the reg.
ular service, distinguished himself in the
course Of an infantry charge. The men
were proceeding up decliyity. on double.
quick time, 10 take battery. The sergeant
rushed out in advance Of his company. and,
waving his flag, cheered for them to come
on. The artillery poured forth their deadly
voley, but they went on, and the battery
was taken.
Among those who fell was one old man
whose head was white with age, and whose
story is romance of war. He had been
thirty years in the regular service as a pri-
vate soldier He had followed the Indians
! through the everglades of Florida, bivouack-
ed upon the side of the Rocky Mountains,
chased the Camanche and Cherokee through
New Mexico stood before the fire of Buena
Vista, charged up the heights of Chepul-
tepec, and followed the victorious flag of his
country along the plaza of Mexico and into
the halls of the Montezumas. His arm was
covered with cheverons, six blue stripes in
dicating six consecutive enlstments. and two
red battle stripes, typifying Florida and
Mexico; and with these simple insignia he
felt prouder than ever did the white -plumed
Murat at the head Of his gaudy cavalry
He fell in the heat Of battle, with the shouts
OF his comrades ringing in his ears. Poor
fellow! Lowly among the brave, almost for
gotten In this age of ingratitude and for
getfuness, who shall relate his eyentful and
glorious history
The smoke is passing away, and we begin
clearly TO comprehend our recent disaster in
Virginia. 1t is gratifying to know that the
magnitude Of that disaster is lessened the
more closely we scanit. The killed, wound
ed, and missing will not outnumber more
than few hundreds, and of the wounded,
all are well treated and most of them will
recover. One thing appears to be certain,
that If the rebels have gained victory, that
victory has been barren one, and so CON-
pletely have their forces been demoralized
and decimated by the splendid, though in
eftectual, valor of cur soldiers that they
were unable to follow up their triumph, and
realize its advantages. 1t was at first thought
! that the main body of their reserve army
had moved down in the rear of our retreat
ing column, occupying Centrevie and Fair
fax, and all during yesterday and the day
before the most vivid approximations were
entertained for the safety of the city. Ii
was rumored that Beauregard had taken
Fairfax, and that, a: soon as his army had
rested, he would move at once upon Airing.
| ton and menace the capitol. That appre
henslon, indeed, has not entirely passed
away, and many an anxious head lay upor
its pillow last night, expecting to be awaken
ed by the guns of the victorious enemy.
Battles are judged by their results, ant
when we know the tide of victory has turn
ed either one way or the other way. VIC
hardly caro- to ask the details of the engage
ment, or the valor of one or the intrepidity
of another When victorious, all are de-
serving. When defeated, we do not ask
who did the most to avoid that defeat, but
upon whose shoulders must the responsible.
ity fall. This is the great question which
agitates Washington to-day, and rumor,
with her thousand tongues, is busily endeav-
oring to attach the misfortunes of the day
to'some erring or unfortunate public SER
want. BY many it is charged that General
Mcdowell, envious perhaps of the fame of
General McClellen in the West, was anxious
to hurl his column instantly upon Manassas,
and risk defeat for the opportunity of
gaining the splendid renown of decisive
victory. / have heard this charge made by
officers who served under him; and | have
heard it said further that so closely did Gen
eral Mcdowell conceal his purpose, that
officers Of high grade, commanding under
him, had no idea, on entering the field, that
they entered to participate in a general en-
gagement. Another charge fixes the whole
responsibility upon General Patterson, at
Martinsburg, who either neglected or re-
fused to form connection with Mcdowell,
or prevent the junction of Johnston with
Beauregard at Manassas. The disposition
is general to fix the blame on Patterson, and
nothing but the official showing of his in
structions and his doings can relieve that
officer from the responsibility showered upon
him.