New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-07-30

hours, scarcely caught giiilpse OF tie Keepers,
and that at rmes ii seemed as If the woods and
bushes for many acres around vomded smoke
and flames which filed the air with show
ers Of deadly missiles; and yet, scarcely a
man could be seen Surely such mode
Of warfare was adapted TO put tho nerve
aud courage of our soldiers TO the seyerest trial.
And right gloriolsly did they stand the test
IIy what, means the enemy were able to keep
up so iucessant q roar Of mu6ketry and artillery
through 50 many hours, and thus crush out our
troops by mere dint Of physical endurance Is
now beginning to bo understood, as we get gin-
merings Of the strength Of the Secession forces.
In addition to the masses under Beouregard at
Manassas, Johnston, on tho very eve oil the
battle, and, indeed, while it was going on, pre-
cpitated his column Of $4,000 wellapp0lnted
troops, flauked with cavalry aud sustained by 80
powerful cannon, upon our right wing, where
Hunters division was making the principal attack
upon the batteries. This accession enabled the
rebels, at brief Intervals. to withdraw exhausted
regiments ard supply fresb ones, on every part
of tie field. Against such masses, hurled one
after another upou our wehy and decimated
baltalions. no measure Of vsor and patriotism
could be expected to bear up.
in addition to the Eve slX or seven hours OF
Feycrc fighting TO which portions of our troops
were subiccted-and of all labor ever performed
by man that Oh the battlefield 10 the most eN-
baustinc-they performed marches and endured
rriyations ON that fatal day such "a md lew
parallels in ans struggle on this side ct fbe At
laot,c. Our columns left the neighborLOod oi
Ceutcrville at about O'Clock on Sunday morn
ing. OF course they had slept scarcely wink
that night. A portion Of them tten marched 10y
Il wide dctour TO tie right, and, having crossed
the Run, filed short to the lca and came down
its southcrly back in order to tHkc TIE battcres
m the rear. THIS column marched ~ miles
before they reached tito field, aud maiDly under
a hot virginia sun. in the swCtcriug month ct
July encumbcrcd by weapons, aminunl'lVn
knapsacks and haycrsacks, and with not mouth
iul to cat except what crackers aud bacon they
could snatch while vending lheir way hlo' <
dusty and scorcbing rodfs and paths. 1t Is
needless TO say that they were tired out ere they
fred tho first shot. Though the other columns
were not compelled to make so long and weary
n march ere reaching the scene OF carnage, they
Travelled some miles. under a bstering shy, bo-
fore they arrived at their respective destinations
Then followed the bloody cNigeucies Of the
heady fight. from and 10 O'Clock on
ward 10 and - tue bruht OF the
battle falling upon the columns who Lad marched
te iarthe,t to reach tho chief thoater Of the STRIFE
And after long aud trying hours of conflict with
.npcrior number. of concealed foes, and Just as
Victory seemed about to perch on our standards, M
iurxpIicabe aud irresistible panic swept our tired
columns pcll-mcll FROM the heldi and ihc 'ep men
who had fought The hardest, and marched the
futhrst, and endured The m"st, ~ II driven by the
Girc.. never rested aud many Of thcn never tested
food on water tin they reached their original
intrcnclmcuts, twenty eight miles a"ay on The
hanks of the Potomac. From = a. m. on SUNDAY
lin 9. 10 and ~ M on Monday-thirty -four hour
the, had been on foot marching mud counter
marching. facing the camon's mouth, charging ~
concealed bntcrirs hungry, ioot-sorc. crushed ia
shirt. and leaving. alas behind them many Of
their comradc. stark in death o. Nctcrisg in their
core How INV se then, il il TO permit the
unhappy catastrophe I" produce IN our minds any
feeling OF despair. History Is fall of such instances
Of unreasonable panic, even aO"ng veteran troops
as well q. raw and uudi-cipGucd lcyies, md We
lnnv arcad, begin 10 forget that ours have shared
this not uncommon loi while We may remember
more and more with gratitude their c"n,unmnie
bravery, aud renew thcrolrom with q stronger faith
than ever our hopes for brilliont future. The
victory, in the best sense. is, after ali, with as