The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-08-24

leave gaps Ia their ranks not readily filed and tho num-
Dor OF colonies reported to be hOrs de combat would indicate
considerable less But the eves not likely to
BIO III for much for months to come and Is difficult
ho,o they mfu te fl for anything until hey get proper off,
Some Of the socalled regiments which recent
y como In are more m0bs, without proper equipments,
uniforms or arms; others in these respects much
better, marching well and looking like soldiers but still
no liter than the troops who beaten II Is not
rage need 1t be sad) which wantngt is officers; and
without them arc worth little nothing The Of
some regiments fought WE'LL others did not. There
little difference between the pvates Of the and
those OF tho other there prola%ya marked distinction
between the officers The West Point cadets will nil be used
up by tho increase Of tho regular army OF the United
States to 40 900 ut agreed upon by Congress- after
some disputes between tho Senate and the House Of
Representatives, and the bulk Of the officers with military
experience and education are provided for already
THE DISPUTES or PROFESSIONAL QuAcK MILITARY MEN,
The President Is not exempt from tho fate OF the unfo
tunate in all republics but he has yct good deal Of the
future to draw upon, and the people are amused by
changes among military commanders and by threats
and promises, for which they will have to pay before
the quarrel is adjusted II is generally asserted that
General did approve the advance for which his
plans not matured (and 1t is so probable too),
| that il may DO believed by those who have net tie
greatest faith in tho rmness of his character and WHO
think lie might BIO induced to give orders for the
ton of i'll conceived and hasy projects, at all events,
to prectae operations without the necessary conditions
OF success It Is certain the country becoming fret
full end impatient, and that men like Mr.. Wilson, Chair
man OF tho Military Committee Of the Senate were
loud in their complaints Of the delays and mac
tyity Of the army and Of its chief, and OF tho
pretensions OF the regular officers. The schism
,chich must dlscds eist boee professionals and qaacls,
IcDen regular soldiers and uointeery has been greatly
The volunteers indulge in reflections the gene
ralship of the commander the regulars speak with
temptuous bitterness Of tho neciency and cowardco Of
The volunteer officers. The former talk learnedy Of the
art OF war; and u the cruelty OF being led like sheep to
the slaughter. The latter without detracng from tho
courage Of the nveigh against those who directed
their regiments the field and the volunteer privates
are glad to add their testimony against many OF tho
officers, whose pride in uniforms gold lace did
permit them to soil them in the smoke Of gunpowder. It
Is remarkable that much hankerng after military
reputation should be accompaniedn some instances at
m
IN which Some officers speak OF being whipped is almost
bcasful and exultant. Last night heard declaring
us il would put an end to tho fighting; @ he
was quite sure of his would face the
confedcratcs again" Another Of opinion that it
lucky they had not advanced much further, in that
case they could not have escaped so we'll And so
II would be am certain unjust to the bulk OF the
officers to suppose they entertain such sentiments
these it would be in the last degree untrue that
their men were destitute Of and not ready
to fight any enemy if fairy disciplined and properly led
but the expression Of these things is Indicative Of tho
want OF proper esprit naaire and 1t should be repro
hcnded by those who wish to establish the loyalty Of the
volunteer army.
THE FIGHTING or THE GERMANS, scorcH-pp ANY
nRIsIiMAN FALaER IN All EiIANE UNIoNP
No doubt the papers will furnish detailed lists of killed
and wounded you have fancy TO publish them and
columns letters from the soldiers and pages of incidents
Of the battle which may be consulted by the curious but
there Is concurrence OF testimony to the good
sS aad .s ss
M'ngnsr u,I indeed co., ri, am td yielded to tho
uhch implied that for the noDent he recognized the Southern
coeae'acy as highly Lei;e,cnt Colonel Corcoran,
half in height object of attraction tho enemy
and is lying dangerously, if not mortaly, wounded.
The Rhode Island regiment has been however, the most
favored by the voice Of praise though many competitors
arc now putting in Claims for at least equal honor.
REPORTS OF The UNITED STATES ARMY OFFICERS
There various statements in reference tho conduct
OF the regular cavalry and infantry The regular officers
admit that at ono time the cavalry gave way, but they
again, and slowed front TO the enemy The regular Off
declare that it the infantry which tho
treat, covering 1t steadily in conjunction with the Ger
and tho losses Of the United States Marines argue
that they had large share of the enemy fire. The
tcry who lost their guns speak, artillery will do under
the circumstances Of tho infantry which deserted them
and the general officers, who must after all be the best
judges bear strcng testimony the good services and
steadnes of the regulars engaged in the action
MR.. RUSSELL MAKES VERY SERIOUS AssERroNs-us UNION
TROOPS MADE NO BAyoNEr CHARGE TOOK NO BArERRs NOR
ASNInILATED
When the statements in tho American papers are CON-
pared with the facts am aware it will be necessary to
rely little on character in asking faith for what re-
port There not layo charge made by the eerali
infantry during the day. there net charge OF any kind
enemy until the latter trtke.. There was not hand to.
hand encounter between any regiments. There
| were no maskct batteries in play by the former.
There onnildtion Of rebl horse BY Zoua,ss Fire
on other. voiey fired by ono battalion emrted three
saddles among body Of horse who appeared at dis
lance and the infantry which performed tho execution
then retired There desperate struggles ercet by
those cho tcaned get drdy, The whole matter plain
| English amounts to this.
| WHAT rnR CONFLICT WAS IN HIS OPINION
The Federasts advanced slowly but steadily under the
fire Of their artillery driving the enemy, who rarely
showed out of cover, in line before them, and gradually
forced thcm back on the right and centre for mile and
half towards Manassas AS tho enemy fell back they used
their artillery also and there good deal pounding
at long ranges with light field guns, and some heavier
SEQ yards Of each other. On occasion the
! regiments on the right were received by musketry
fire from the which induced them TO fall back but
they rallied and let forwa toward toward the
The conederacs again gave way, and the fed rass ad
vanced once more Again the line Of the enemy appeared
called, and tho Eleventh New York, which the
flank, fell into confusion not to BIO rallied, and
eventually retired from the field in disorder, to tho
| mdest form, with contagious effect on their
rades and with tho loss Of the guns which they
| supporting. Nothing would, or could or did stop
them In vain they were reminded Of their oaths TO
"avenge Esworths DEATH" Their flag displayed to
the winds, il had lest It's attractions. They all
al tell the tale as II was told 70 me" by who had
more TO do with them and had better opportunity Of
witnessing their conduct than had for, as have
already stated in previous letter, late the
and had not been able to much the retreat
was ordered.
SHOULD BIZ THANKFUL THE REBELS DID NOT TAKE
Though was well mounted, and had left Washington
with the intention Of returning early that night found
gitives had preceded In all the way and when
crossed the Long bridge about eleven O'Clock told
that the city full OF who had returned the
tight But IL tho miserable route and panic of the fed
| cralists have produced such deplorabe results to
| then cause, they have still much TO be thankful for
Had Tie Coedroes Tern anure Of their success and fol-
oped up their advantage early Mondag morning there
earth tohy they should not haze ckr AIT
into washington coxnpe.d the Whole of the fedraiit
army that kept together and could not escape on
road TO surrender Themselves prisoners nth al tAev DOS
.sssd If the statements in the fcderalst papers as to
their strength be correct the rebels could have easily
| spared thirty thousand men for that purpose, with
! reserve Of ten thousand fifteen thousand in
their rear. The chain bridge, the fords above tho
Falls open TO themat least there could be but lit
tie opposition from the dsorganized forces Tbs
columns moving round from Fairfax to their left by W.
would have been able certainly Matilda
vlie others could have got at the Falls and still
there would have been enough to permit Beaurcgard
occupy Manassas, and to send on heavy column to
cover Alexandria and 10 shut up the fcdcra!ists in
theil from troops deeply affected by the rout they
witnessing. If tho Confederates had the cavalry Of
which much has been said they were scandalously
handled. detour by road frcm Centrcville
the Germantown road would have placed the horse
Of the retrcatng mass in half hour and 1t Is