The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-07-23
the EXCITEMENT IN THE CITY.


SCENE AT THE GENERAL TELEGRAPH
OFFICE.
ANXIETY OF THE FAMILIES OF THE VOLUNTEERS.
Among the many places which naturally became the
centre of excitement yesterday was the general office If
the American Telegraph Company, situated corner OF
Broadway and Liberty street. Numbers Of persons
mostly Of the higher walks OF society," visited the place
during the day, especially the forenoon when the
Of the dreadful slaughter of the Union troops and the
treat on Washington had become generally known To
witness the evidences Of poignant grief and narrowing
suspense marked the haggard features Of wives
mothers fathers sisters and friends gathered together
with the hope Of hearing cheering Of tho loved
ones far away on the scene of carnage was spectacle
which not the sernest could long endure.
The hot scaldng trcklcd down tho pale cheek of
many an anxious parent, while with trembling hand the
lines Of inquiry TO be sent the electric wires
pcnned with tho desperate hope that good ings would
be returned. But in nearly every the was
more disheartening and crushing than could be the
worst reality. mo news, news" was the
reply almost invariably, and the afflicted inter
rogator would depart With still more wocfu lock,
tortured TO the very soul by tho terrible agones of
pcnse. 50 il with the mother the brother the sis
ter the wife and friend The lightning messenger could
afford no comfort to any.
probable that for several days nothing positive will
be ascertained the the killed and wounded
The frghtfu confusion Of retreat must be taken into
account and the difficulties of getting at the result
considered As the day this fact seemed to b.
UNDERSTOOD as the numbers ockng to the telegraph Office
very much decreased and towards evening matters
on pretty much as usual quietly and without excitement
Doubtless government will itself to the utmost
terminate speedily the suspense Of the families Of the
Union troops, by preparing full list Of the killed and
wounded.
AFFAIRS AT THE HEADQUARTERS OF THE
SIXTY-NINTH REGIMENT.
The great battle fought at Bulls Sunday last
and the splendid charge of the Third brigade in which
this fine Irish regiment bore leading part were
theme Of general talk every where in the city yesterday
While every laented the temporary of the
Union arms, they could not help expressing their delight
and satisfaction at the way in which the Irish Scotch
American regiments had done their duty to a common
country At the headquarters Of the Sixty ninth the utmost
Indignation prevailed, and ii would have been no difficult
matter to have got recruits any I'll the places
Of the heroes who have fallen. But there another
side to the picture While brave and vigorous men were
vowing 10 ayenge the death Of their friends there were
hundreds Of weeping around the building making
the most frghuul lamentations and peousy inquiring
when their husbands and would be coming home
The establishment Of Messrs DUNCAN Brothers. book
sellers, Of this city, OF which firm Captain Krkor, of the
sixty ninth regiment is a member, was yesterday The
scene Of general excitement and all during the day large
numbers Of men and there collected en-
deavorng to hear something Of the of their dear
friends who had gone the and engaged the
bloody fight Of Bulls rum and the retreat Washington
The published the mornings HERALD had inspired
their hearts with hope in thesuccess of the Union army
and therefore they satisfied with everything that
they heard. But when the intelligence of the retreat of
the Union reached the CITY the
and horror succeeded among them There were many
who did not believe the statement They Thought that
the Union army could never be defeated because they
considered It's appointments Of the very first order
and therefore equal to anything tho enemy could
bring against it, The positions Of the enemy fortified with
so much care and skill, not for IL moment con
sidered by these poor people, who actually believed
that the mere advance Of the Union would be SUN
cient to sweep the field When the facts all their truth
made known, the poor up such howl of
despair as we have seldom equaled Nothing was
then heard Of but inquiries for the list Of killed
wounded One poor woman with in her eyes, came
up to the door and asked for admission SO that she
might hear the news, saying that she had two song
in the Sixty ninth, who her support, and she
was anxious to know what had become of them
but no one knew anything about them. The lady
wept bitterly, but consoled by being informed that
the reports in all probability greatly exaggerated
and that the Union losses would in the end be found n he
nothing the numbers that had been at first repre-
sented This considered more satisfactory and
as will be seen, was afterwards borne out by despatch
from Secretary Cameron.
The folowngetter from Colonel Corcoran Of the Sixty
ninth regiment will be read with much interest by every
one who feels concerned in this truly noble aud gallant
corps
HEADQUARTERS sixty NINTH REGIMENT N. Y SN1
CxNrRRvHLE FAIRFAX COUNTY,
- NRAR Bulls RUv, Va, July 10 1861
NY DoAR kIRkER-I sent you a hurried line yeaterday
ny asVaper but lest may not bave reached You AMI