Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1861-08-23
the day wen. in front. ..Mel, We've been

the day went iu front, ''Wrll, we've been
licked into u cooked hat; knocked to-
This was his story to stenmsters, escorts,
conveys, the officers, and men on guard
and detachment, while | ignorant of the
disaster behind, tried to mollify the effect
of the news by adding, "oh, It's drawn
battle. The troops are re-occupying the
position from which they started in the
morning" Perhaps he knew his troops
better than | did It wus y strange ride,
thruu-h a country now still as d, ath, the
white road shining like river i'll tue MOON
light, the trees black as ebony in the shade;
now and then figure fitting by into the
forest or across the roNd-frighteuedf friend
or lurking foe, who could say? Then the
ANXIOUS pickets and seutries all asking:
What's the news 2" aud evidently pre-
pared for any amount of loss.
Twice or thrice We lost our way, or our certainty
about it, and shouted isolated houses and recetT-
ca no reply except from angry wStSh 'ioEs. men
we were set rtgh as We approached Washington. by
travelling along road which in ni Its points far and
near, WAS Twelve miles from the Long Bridge
Uphtils, downin valleys, with the sit mt grim wood
forever by sides. Now and then in tue profound
gloom, broken ouIy by spark from hehorses hoot,
came II dull but familiar sound like the shutting OF
distant door. As approached Washington. having
lett the colonel and his escort at sNne seven miles
on the south Side of the Long Bridge. found the
grand guards, pickets posts and individual sentres
along, ''What does that man say, Jnok!" "Regorra,
he tells me we're not het at all-ony retreating 10
the oud lines for cOnvaniCncy OF fighting to morrow
again. Oh, That's ilig0nt' On getting 70 the tcte
dc poRt however, the cOuntersiGn was demanded
of course, had not got it. But the officer passed
me through on the production oil General Scotts safe
guard The lights of the city were i'll sight and re-
ccted on the waters Of the Potomac Just glistened
by the cloudy moon, shone the gay lamps of tho
White House, where ths President was probably er-
tcrraining Somo friCndl. In silence passed
the Long Bridge. Some few hours later. it IuiVerCd
The Washington end u regiment with piled nrms
waiting to cross overinto Virginia, singing and
cheering Before the morning, they received orders,
believe to assist in keeping Marylnnd quiet. For
the hundredtl time lrepcatEd the cautious account,
which to the best OF my knowledge was true. There
wore men, women and soldeis TO hear It. The
clocks had Just struck IL P. NJ. as passed Wizards.
The pavement In front of the hall was crowded.
The runIors Of defeat had come in, but few of the
many who had been fed upon lies and the reports of
complete victory which prevailed, could credit the
intelligence. Seven hours had not elapsed before
the streets told the story "The grand army of tho
NOrth,' it called, had representatives, in every
thorOngharc, without arms orders of officers, stand
ing ont in the drenching rain. When nll these most
un1ccountRhle phenomena were occurring L was
fast asleep but could scarcely credit my informant
i'll the morning. when he told me TINT the Federal
lists, utterly rOutod had fallen back upon Arlington
to defend the capital, leaving nearly two batteries
Of artillery, eight thousand mnsltGts immense Quon,
Exit les of stores and baggage and their wounded and
prisoners in the hands of the enemyl
Let the American Journals tell the story their own
way. have told mine MS know it. lt'has raincd
country must be unfit for operations; otherwise, IL
Mr.. Davis desired to press his advantage, he might
be very close to Arlington Heights lie has
already proved that he has fair right to be consid
cred the head ola bcligcreat pOlUer." But, though
the North may reel under the shOCi cannot think
it will make her desst from the strugglC unless it
be speedily followed by blows more deadly even ttan
the repuse from NlnuaSsas There il much talk now
(of masked battcricJ," oI cuurse) of OuthankinG
and cavalry, and such matters. The truth seems TO
be that the men were ovcrw0rked-kept out for
twelve fourteen hours in the sun, exposed to long
range fire, badly oilicered and of deficient regimen
tai organization. Then came most difficult opera
ton-tO Withdraw this Army, constituted, out of
action. in face of energetic enemy who had re-
pulsed it. Tho retirement of the baggage, which
without adequate guards and WIS in the hands
of ignorant drivers, misunderstood and created
frantic the appearance of the enemy and on the
North will be all the eager to retrieve this
disaster, although it may divert her from the scheme
which has been suggested TO her, of punishtng Eng
land II little while longer. The eNultutiOn of the
South can only he understood by those who may SEQ
it, and If the National Government perseveres in its
design to make Union by force, it may prepare for
struggle the result of which will leave the Union
very litto to fight for. More of the "batle in my
next. pity the public the water, but they
be the victims of Authorizations and myths it is
out of my power to dispGl or rCCiy Just now. llav
iHs; told So long stOry can scarcely expect your
readers to have patience, and go back upon The
nj diary of events bnt til records, such AS they are,
of this extraordinary repulse, must command aten
tion. 1t is impossible to eNaggeratc their impor-
t"nce. No man can predict the results, or pretend
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