Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-07-20

| Field, &c, &c.
Especial Correspondence OF The Star
| CENrREvrLLE, FAIRFAX Co. Va July 1912 m.
II now seems to be understood that General
| Nc Dowel does not propose to renew the action
| Of Yesterday at any time to-day. Numerous bat
| teries, the positions Of which were previously
unknown TO our guides are said to have been dis
| covered, which makes a deal Of cautious recon.
noiterng necessary ere It will he prudent for this
army to resume the march forward
BeHdes, our progress so far has been an exceed
| inglV luxurious one, and the men are very gen.
| orally quite tagged out with fatigue These are
| excellent reasons why General Mcdowell should
resist the many appeals said to have been made to
m last night by mex perenced officers, TO be up
aud at the enemy's Bull Run batteries by crack Of
day this morning
The fight Of yesterday 10 Of course the subject
| OF much criticism here; well II may be, for
| from beginning to end 1t was marked by circum-
stances that little credit those plicated
in them
The first was the fact that the battle ras fought
Gen. Med well, bear, freely disclaims that the
at;le was hs That is that 1t was fough by h's
order, or with his knowledge or bis consent II
so, II is deeply to be regretted that he was not,
when the battle began, where by raising his
finger he could have checked the headstrong pro-
grrss OF whoever broug ht on the collision.
Gen. Tylsr's command was the column speci-
! ally engaged. That is, Col Richardson's hrigads
Of that column. II Gen. Tyler did not improvise
the fight, Col. RICHARDSON was, perhaps, in some
respects response bic for It; thong why Sen Tyler
lid not prevent IL until ascertaining whether II
had Gen. McDowell's sanction, fs a question
which not a few prudent men around rue are
skiing TO day. AS IT Is likely that the history of
he d bit will he duly ven Hated by Official en-
rry sooner or later, II will be SD 'wn precisely
whose battle IL really was, on our side.
Another Point much commented on 10 the be-
havior OF The 18TH regiment Of New York volun-
ePrs-the OnOndaga salt boilers regiment-not
be 18th regiment of New York State Militia
Bnttsrfeld's) SO long encamped In franklin
quare I'm vour city The latter Is better known
. the public as being Of the very best regf-
nents engaged In the war This regiments loss
vas really uncomfortable; nevertheless it was
AIKEN with regular stampede and fed most
'hamefulIy All around me 1t is said that It's
Ulcers are almost alone to blame, having set
heir men the disgraceful example, Herculean
forts were made TO rally II on the field by
theirs, bat with their officers In the advance
the u ht, OF course the men could not be
stopped.
who rurnor says did not stop until two good
niles from the field of action, where he found
Ihelter behind pile Of rocks write of this
tory that he may promptly through a court of
inquiry disprOve its allegation, II 1t be untrue
bus calling his attention to Il He can easily
prove its fasehood Ho,o II IL be false; whereas II
waiting week or a month until the i'm preston
gets fixed IN the public mind through hundred
letters Tor the press, sx6oneration by court Of
inquiry will do his military fame little or no
good AS for the men Of his egiment, believe
they would have stood their ground as well as
the gallant Wisconsin, Michigan and Maine men
who Were under more gall NJ fire from first to
iast-yet dinched not-but for the alleged bad
behavior Of their officers
am happy to be able to write you that Gen.
Mcdowell has sum marily stopped such proceed
ings as characterized the conduct Of rowdies in
the New York (Brooklyn) Fourteenth at Fairfax
Court House entering houses aud robbing them)
and acts OF incendlarism such as occurred in tina,
particular neighborhoOd and at Germantown
That is, he has caused his whole army to know
that death-by shoOting-in two hours, is here.
after to be the portion Of whoever ofsnds IA any
such manner Such offend rs are always real cow.
ards, though they may wear uaiforms So, as
they know well that Gen. Med will keep his
promise m.de to them to the letter we shall hear
no more OF the preparation of such outrag ca any,
where between this and Richmond
Now, again with reference to yesterday,s battle.
twas well known in the army that the enemy's
Bull nwOrks were his strongest on this Iine and
that to take them by iul Ia front must uec.ssar
ly be work costing severely In sacrifice Of life
and loss Of time almost precious as human life
With us j"' now. 1t was further Judged by not a
few that C Junction could have been turned on
the han without there be NJ necessity of COM
Ing with any troops within cannon shot OF these
ugly Bull Run batteries. As they are an advanced
position OF the enemy's main position at Manassas
Junction, (three and u half miles off, IL the latter
De nanked and thus rendered untenable, of cou,.s
they (the Bull Run batteries) must necessarily Inc
| abandoned by the enemy. am not able TO saw
whether the Re sibisty Of turning the Junction is
/ correct Time will shortly tell, however: and 10
30, whoever is respons BILE for getting into ye.,r
days skirmish, will enjoy Ihs credit or discredit
| oft.
fouwill doubtless hear all sorts of exapperatfd
stories about our loss in this engagement They
i originate, for the most part with the pon-com-
odtane who are just now hanging around tbi.
army They are Of various degrses-some OF them
aspiring to notorietv. They See a single wounded
| or killed man carried to the rear by crowd ,nd
write him down dozen, IL not rfty, of course
The true number, as ascertained ofncialIy only an
honr ago, after dIlgent inquiry, is either 81 or %
| killed and wounded together. There IL uncer
tainty as to one man. or these, the killed in the
i nght,with the wounded since dead, make onlys
il