Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1861-07-25
[FrOm Our Special Correspondent
From WashiagtOn---Tho Retrsat---DiS-
Grneefhl Condnet Of some Omeers.

GVnsefal COndnet Of some OmeeFs.
WAsaISGroS, Jaly %, 1861.
did not write you yesterday as all was
panic and confusion. To-day things are
assuming some shape, though several regi-
ments were so broken up that the proper
officers have not been able to make out their
reports Regiments that yesterday could
not find more than two or three hundred,
are to day nearly full. Sdn there are many
regiments that are badly cut to pieces. /
send you extracts from our papers, giving
more in detail than can by letter. shall
try to see your lst Ohio to-day and gather
what information can, though members Of
the Grays will give yOu details before you
receive mine.
You have been advised by telegraph that
the disaster is not so great as feared. This,
is true, bnt is bad enough, heaven knows
whatever newspapers may say to the con-
trary. The defeat was positive and un-
qualified. The loss oflife in having our regi-
ments scattered-to be gathered on the same
ground occupied month ago at Arlington
House. There is mo doubt but the enemy
Outnumbered US three to one, neither is there
doubt about our having gained steadily on
them and taken their strong points at four
o'clock in the evening. This was accom-
plished by less than one halt our troops. A
IL
why after our men had taken these pOin ts-
being eight hours engaged without food and
under broiling sun,-they were not re.
placed with the $4,000 fresh troops, and
among the finest regiments Of the army,
giving men already exhausted time to
breathe and refresh themselVes-but instead
Of this being doWn-these very men were
required 10 meet twice their number of The
enemy's reserve. They did all that men
could do, but were forced to yield. The men
who ran, to their eternal disgrace were those
who had been the least exposed. The fault
of all this was with the officers, and it is a
shame that the best 6ghting men in the
world should be permitted to disgrace them
selves by being furnished with inexperienced
and inefficient officers. A man may be a very
clever fellow out very poor colonel. In
the reports you will see that these regiments
with officers Of military experience stood
against fearful sdds like a wall of FIRE, while
these with mushroom officers ran away
without even smelling secession powder.
Many Of the officers would not obey or
ders. A staff officer told me that be him
| self gave q written order to q Colonel, re-
/ quiring him TO take certain position and
hold it. The reply was that he would zee
| Gen. damned before he would 90
there with bis men, and be didnt-on the
contrary, moving in an opposite direction.
What can be expected with such men in
commando They did well, however, in the
stampede, for most of them we're In the ad-
vance. A friend there says he saw two
militia officers on one hOr-e going it for dear
life He stopped them long enough to in
quire the regiment, and where they were
The answer was-NeW York; that they were
all killed and prisoners except about one
hundred, who were scattered. The report is,
this morning, that the regiment have sixteen
men missing, and probably they, or most OF
them, will be in before night. What can be
expected Of troops with such oficers7
know it is easy to dnd fault, but 1t seems
cruel to see the lives Of men thrown away,
or their good name wilfully tsrnisbed.
The report is, this morning, that General
Mcclellan takes command Of the army Of
the Potomac, and Gen. Banks that OF the
Shenandoah (Patterson's). This is hoped to
be true, as it would give the country conf.
dence in the army movements.
There were great many well informed
men here on Sunday, who favored the result
even after the news Of the taking Of the Bul
! Run batteries, All things considered, Oul
loss is not heavy, and can be easily repaired
except the prestige Of success this mus
be wiped out by another battle.
Advices here show that the whole countr.
is aroused to take summary punishment
: upon those who have murdered good an
true men.
Congress did very little yesterday, exeeF
In the way of resolutions. All seemed blu'
and adjourned at an early hour. May al
ValIandigham were in close confab in th
z Members lobby, and, TO me, locked well sa
y Is6ed with the result of their interview.
Yourg w