Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-08-27
MR. LINCOLN.

people are amused by the changes among the
military commanders and by threats and prom
quarrel is adjusted. 1t is 30 generally asserted
that Gen. Scott did not approve the advance,
for which his plans were not matured land it
is so probable, too,) that it may believed by
| those who have not the greatest faith in the
frmness Of his character, and who think he
might be induced to give orders for the execu-
ton of ill-conceived and hasty projects, or, at
all events, to precipitate operations without
the necessary conditions of success. It is cer-
tain the country was becoming fretful and i'm.
| patient, and that men like Mr.. Wilson, chair
| man Of the military committee of the Senate,
| were loud in their complaints Of the delays and
inactivity of the army and of its chief, and of
the prstensions of the regular officers.
REGULARS AND VOLUNTEERS.
The schism which must always exist between
| professionals and quacks, between regular SOL
| diers and volunteers, has been greatly widened
/ by the action on Sunday. The volunteers in
| dulge in severe reflections on the generalship
| Of the commander; the regulars speak with
contemptuous bitterness of the ineficiency and
| cowsrdice of the volunteer officers. The former
talk learnedly of the art of war, and the cruel
ty of being led like sheep to the slaughter. The
| latter, without detracting from the courage of
| the men, inveigh against those who directed
their regiments on the field; and the volunteer
privates are glad to add their testimony against
| many of the officers, whose pride in uniforms
and gold lace did not permit them to soil them
| in the smoke Of gunpowder.
There are various statements in reference to
| the conduct of the regular cavalry and infan-
try. The regular officers admit that at one
| time the cavalry gave way, but they did not
| break or fly; they were rallied, drew up in line
again, and showed front to the enemy The
regular officers declare that it was the infantry
which saved the retreat, covering it steadily
in conjunction with the Germans; and the
losses of the United States marines argue that
they had a large share of the enemy's fire.
The artillery who lost their guns speak, as
artillery will do under the circumstances, of
the infantry which deserted them and the
general officers, who must after all be the best
judges, bear strong testimony to the good SER
vices and general steadiness of the regulars
engaged in the action.
is so?
When the statements in the American papers
are compared with the facts l am aware it will
be necessary to rely little on character" in
asking faith for what report. There was not
bayonet charge made by the Federalist in
| fantry during the day; there was not a charge
Of any kind made by the Confederate cavalry
upon any regiment of their enemy until the
latter broke. There was not a hand to- hand
encounter between any regiments. There was
not single "battery charged or taken by the
Federalists There were no masked batteries
Iuc iOTmor. 1n6re was no an0lnl-
latlon OF rebel horse by Zouayes Fire or other
A volley fred by one battalion emptied three
saddles among body of horse who appeared
at some distance, and the infantry which per-
formed the execution then retired. There
were no desperate struggles except by those
who wanted to get away. The whole matter
In plain English amounts to this
The Federalists advanced slowly, but stead
lily, under the fire of their artillery, driving
the enemy, who rarely showed out of cover, in
line before them, and gradually forced them
back on the right and center for a mile and a
half towards Manassas. As the enemy fell
back they used their artillery also, and there
was good deal of pounding at long ranges
with light field guns, and some heavier rifed
ordnance, the line on both sides being rarely
within five hundred yards of each other On
one occasion the regiments On the right were
received by musketry FIRE from the enemy,
which induced them to fall back, but they
were rallied and led forward toward the front
The Confederates again gave way, and the
Federalists advanced once more Again the
line Of the enemy appeared in front, and de.
liyered FIRE.
The Zouayes, as they are called, and the
Eleventh New York, which were on the flank,
fell into confusion not to be rallied and event
ually retired from the field in disorder, to use
the mildsst term, with contagious effect on
their comrades and with the loss of the guns
they were supporting. Nothing would, or
could, or did stop them. In vain they were
reminded of their oaths to "avenge Ellis.
worth's death" Their flag was displayed to
the winds, it had lost its attractions. They
ran in all in all directions with a speed which
their fortune favored. al tell the tale as il
was told to me" by one who had more to do
with them, and had better opportunity of wit
Messing their conduct than / had for as have
already stated in a previous letter, was late
| on the ground, and had not been able to see
much ere the retreat was ordered.
Though / was well mounted, and had left
washington with the intention of returning
early that night, found fugitives had pre-
| ceded me in masses all the way, and when 1
crossed the Long Bridge at IL o'clock, 1 was
| told that the city was full of those who had
returned from the fight. But if the miserable
rout and panic have produced such deplorable
results to their cause, they have still much to
| be thankful for. Had the Confederates been
| aware OF their success, and followed up their
| advantage early on Monday morning, there
was no reason on earth why they should not
have either got into Washington or compelled
the whole Of the Federalist army that kent
together and could not escape, as it was all on
one road, to surrender themselves prisoners,
with all they possessed.
GENERAL M'DowELL.
General Mcdowell was sitting with some
officers before his tent under the trees which
shaded the place from the sun. He is man
in the prime Of life, some forty and odd years
of age, very powerfully built, with kindly,
honest, soldierly expression in face and man.
| ners, and it was pleasant to see that though
he was not proud Of being whipped" there
was no detection other than that a man should
feel who has been beaten by his enemy, but
who knows he has done his duty. Originally
he had proposed q series of operations differ
ent from those which were actually adopted,
and bis dispositions for the advance OF his
columns after the scheme of attack was de-
cided upon were careful and elaborate. But
he miscalculated somewhat the powers of reg
ular troops. All his subsequent operations
were vitiated by the impossibiity Of gaining
the points fixed on for the first days march,
and General Tyler, who engaged somewhat too
seriously with the enemy on the left at Bull
Run on the Thursday before the battle in
making what was mere rsc0NnotsSouce put
them on the alert and fastened up Johnston
The General was kind enough to 20 over the
plans of the attack with me, and to aeauaint
me with the disposition he had made for carry
| ing out the orders he had received to make it.
and to my posr judgment they very judicious
and clear. With the maps laid out on the table
before his tent he traced the movements of tk q