The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-07-24
THE SITUATION.

THE STU ALTON.
The detailed accounts Of the battle at Bluffs M.
which have reached us mp to the latest moment,
show that had it not been for the unfortunate
panic which seized upon the troops in the
rear arising from the stupid mistake Of the
teamsters and the host of idle civilians
on The field, who ought not to have been
there at all, the victory which crowned the
arms Of the Union troops after eleven hours
hard fghting-up TO the hour when the retreat
commenced-would have been completed and the
field would have been n their possession. There
were reserves enough behind to relieve the jaded
troops had the ground been maintained little
lonse5 has Reen ascertaned that the rebels
were ad !eating at the very moment when
the panic struck our army. 1t is said that their
provision wagons and large bodies of their infantry
were falling back on Manassas Junction. utterly
unconscious that their foes we're abandoning
the field; and this seems quite probable-irom
the fact that the rebels did not pursue
be retreating army. nor were the guns and pro.
tsion wagons which had to be abandoned,
hken possession Of by them, for It appears
hat Colonel Einsteln, with the Twenty. sixth
pennsylvania regiment, returned to the Geld Of
action at eleven o'clock on Sunday night, and
found six OF the siege guns in the spot where
they had been left, and brought into camp. There
was not rebel soldier in sight at this time. In
like manner one hundred and fifty wagons, loaded
with provisions, which the terrified teamsters de.
serted, were found on the road Gear
Fairfax Court House on Monday, and VIII
be all brought In. Sherman's fine battery wa.
all saved. Centreville, from which the advance
was made, 1T appears is still In possession Of the
except that which was obtained by tho fight dur
Ing the early portion Of Sunday at Bulls run.
although large part Of the army has returned TO
its original quarters on the Potomac.
We give to-day additional lists Of the killed and
wounded. The loss OF life on the side OF the
Union army is vastly inferior 10 that q a'st re-
ported. Although we afs not turnished with
complete lists of the killed, tie nUmcer ap.
pears from the various accounts cot to exceed
from 500 TO ooO and il is probable ina. the frst
calculation is nearer to the mark Stragglers,
supposed to be killed, have sisce come into the
camps by hundreds. The serious loss OF officers
however, proves how CALAMITY they must have
borne the brunt Of the battle.
The army is being rapidly re.organizcd and re
s,fo in tha no V;ro ~
Potomac. Sixty thousand fresh troops have been
accepted by the War Department, and will a. once
proceed to the seat OF war; The President and
secretary Seward visited the quarters yes.
terday, and had an interview with the
Sixty ninth, which has been terribly cut
up. and whose Colonel (Corcoran) va. wounded
and is still missing The term OF the sixty.ninth
has expired, but upon Mr.. Lincoln who eompli-
men.ed them upon their valor aud valuable ser.
vces-asking them to re.eniist, they declared with
loud cheers, their determination to DO 90 to q
man. and see the fight out
Major General Banks Is to proceed to-day to take
command OF the army of the Upper Potomac in
western Virginia. superseilng General Pat,
terson, whose diiatoryness permitted Gene,
raj Johnston to join the army Of General
Beauregard at Balls run. Major General
John A. Dix st once assumes the command OF The
Baltimore district. vacated by General Banks.
General Mcclellan ha, left Grafton, to take com.
mand Of the army Of the Potomac. and ives OK.
peeted In wass.ag,on last night.