M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1861-08-08
MEttuantuns.
on the Battle Field
Fighting with Bowie Knives
Hand 10 Hand COnAIcts-lncI-
dents OF the Retreat, &c.
WASHINGTON, July Is, 1861,

hO htoL luliulubiOil VI biiC ICNGIbtt
sustained by the Government arms
reached Washington about ten O'Clock
on Sunday night, and created an in
tense degree Of excitement, the express
sion ofwhich was, however, restrained
by the general doubt OF the reliability
Of the intelligence. Accounts receiv.
ed up to seven had been so unvaryinz
in theiriudications of Federal success
that the sudden announcement of sc
unexpected and disastrous a reverse as
that which was bruited through the
streets Of the Capitol by the first ter.
rife refugees who reached the city
from the scene OF the conflict, found
few ifany believers. aa't
The reported defeat was, however,
fully confirmed before daylight, and
great as had been the rumored disas.
ters, they we're doubly nagnified in
in extent and in their tragic results
by the crowds of fugitives--so soldiers,
civilians--who hocked across the
Long Bridge about Z o'clock.
Shortly after 8 o'clock the remnant
of Ellsworth's Fire Zouaves, about
150 strong, entered the city, and as
this handful of travel.stained and de-
jeeted but yet gallant band marched
slowly down the avenue the melan-
choly contrast suggested by their ap-
pearance upon their return from the
scene Of their gallant but unsuccessful
struggles and that presenter upon
their departure, amid the encouraging
plaudits OF admiring thongs, was III
itse)fa striking commentary upon the
sterner realities of this deplorable
war. Ht 3. yuI 10 go. aa
The Zouaves were quickly followed
by the remnants of other regiments,
which struggled painfully through the
avenue. Numbers of the men were
baretooted, and all of them travel
worn from the rapidity of their retreat
and stained with powder and with
clay. A large proportion of the men
were without knapsacks or arms,
which had been cast along the road in
their flight, and presented in their
sullen and gloomy appearance a spec
taclo which few, if any, could look
upon without some touch Of sadness or
ofpity.
To add to the dejectedness of the
fugitives, the greater number, if not
all of them, had been without food for
nearly thirty hours, and this depriva.
ton, added to the violence of their
exertions upon the battle field, the fa-
tigues OF their retreat of twenty. seven
miles, and the depressing effect Of their
defeat, appeared to have robbed them
ofall personal spirit, and Of all esprit
du corps. But little provision was,
or could under the circumstances,
have been made for the comfort of the
returning soldiers, and in consequence
they were compelled to stand under
arms, and exposed to a pelting rain
storm for four or five hours /; test Of
and discipline which to
the credit of Massachusetts fifth, New
York twenty fifth and twenty ninth,
and the Garibaldi Guard, be it said,
was met with exemplary obedience.
1t is difficult to convey an idea of
the intense excitement which prevail
ed in Washington during the early
hours of yesterday afternoon. De.
spite the gloomy inclemency of the
day the streets were througed with
people whose sad and sullen counte-
nances gave ample evidence of the
general appreciation G the national
disaster. On nearly every corner
groups ofcurious citizens were collect
ed, gathering with eager attention de.
tails of the battle from those whose
mud. stained appearance bespoke them
TO be fugitives from the field. The
lobbies and entrances OF the several
hotels were also closely crowded by
eager seekers after the fullest news
Wounded soldiers were frequently to
be seen creeping along the avenue in
search OF quarters ; and ambulances
bearing wounded officers lent melan-
choly animation TO the scene upon
the street.
The telegraph Offices were crowded
during the forenoon with soldiers and
officers transmitting to loved and ex-
pectant ones, in far distant homes,
CAD tidings Of the safety of those dear
to them, or perhaps OF the fall those
killed.
Enough has been gathered, hcwev-
er, and from reliable sources, to rem
der it certain that the battle was most
bloody, not in it's general results, but
in the character of its individual con-
flicts. In some instances the conflict
is said to have been carried Oh with
haud-to.hand desperation, entrench.
ments being lost and won again at
the point of the bayonet, and in one
instance, at least, at the point Of the
knife. Thus the second Michigan re.
giment are said to have been driven
out Of a small battery which they had