Daily national Democrat., 1861-08-31
Letter from Colonel Colcoran.


The N. Y. Herald publishes the following
letter which, it says, Mrs. Corcoran, wife of
the commandant of the Sixty-Ninth regiment,
has received from her husband, now pris-
oner at Richmond:
RICHMOND, Va, July 80, 1861.
My DEAR WIFE:-I wrote a letter to Cap
tain Kirker, a few days since, acquainting
him of my being in close confinement here,
also Captain McIvor and Lieutenant Connolly,
with about thirly-seven other officers. and
six hundred non commissioned officers and
privates from various regiments. Among
them are Sergeahts Murphy and Donohoe,
and thirty-fve privates of my regiment
We are all in good health. | was very i'll
for the first two days after my arrest, but
feel quite well at present l am deeply af-
fiicted with the loss of acting Lieutenant
Colonel Haggerty, who was among the first
that fell on the battlefield, and several of
my brave soldiers. 1t is, however, consong
that they attended to their religious duties
for that day. l have had many narrow, hair
breadth escapes but God in his infinite mercy
has been pleased to preserve me
| am uneasy to know the fate Of many
officers and members whom had not seen in
line Immediately after the battle, among
whom are Captains Thomas f. Meagher and
kavanah, and acting Adjutant (late Captain)
John A. Nugent. My regiment came off the
field in admirable order, and was on the road
to Centerville, when | halted to rest and
await orders for future action, knowing that
our artillery would need protection in return
ing Two regiments that had not been in
line, and were retreating in disorder, being
on my flank, and when the cavalry were seen
advancing towards u.s. these regiments broke
precipitately through my lines, throwing us
into disorder. causing a general flight.
dsmounted and crossed rail fence over
which they had gone. and got the color
bearer to hat, calling on the men to rally
around the flag. Just at this moment a dis
charge of carbiues from the pursuing cavalry
and our artillery drowned my voice and de-
stroyed all my efforts to muster the men.
had only nine men who heard me and halted
and these, with the two officers and myself,
were immediately surrounded and taken to
| Manassas We left there on the following
morning and arrived here on Tuesday night
Lieutenants Bagley and Cannon. with two
Colonels one Lieutenant Colonel, and other
officers and prvates. arrived here this morn
ing Some of our wounded have also been
brought here, but have not yet learned their
names.
Give my love to your aunt, William, Cap
tain Krker and friends.
Your affectionate husband.
MICHAEL CoRCoRAN.
MORE ABOUT PnIL MoRE.-Either from the
effects of terror or drink, or both, Phil Moore
became deranged while on his way to Salt
Lake. A correspondent of the Alta says:
AT the the last station, Edwards Creek J
while at supper, he insisted that the conduct
or and driver were conspring together to
harm him that they were whispering to-
gether. and making him the subject of their
remarks. lie insisted that the driver had
rubbed up against him, and was armed with
revolver. After starting he demanded to
know what their designs were, protesting
that he had not injured any man intention
ally, that he was he pess, and had no arms,
save a Derringer lie offered it to the
! ductor, who, after much persuasion, con-
sented to take it, very much to my relief
AS we approached the outward station,
| he became alarmed and anxious, expecting
a dispatch for his arrest and detention. He
protested his intentions were good. All at
tempts at paciicaton were in vain, and his
anxiety and excitement increased every mo-
moment, as we approached the station, urging
the driver to increase his speed that he might
send a dispatch to friend in California and
explain his conduct etc. There was no dis
patch for his arrest, and after forwarding his,
he became more calm, and passed the day in
a quiet manner.
In the twilight of evening, passing up
ravine along which grew few stunted will
lows beside small brook, he saw men,
masked, behind the bushes then Indians
skulking, the number increasing till he count
ed zone, two, three, five, nine, eleven, thir-
teen, thirty. What do you want? Here |
am, tiends and red devils | am ready to be
sacrificed. See, bare my breast-ready,
aim, firef' We prevailed upon him to take
drink of brandy and lie down. lie slept,
and did not arise till dewy MORN"