The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1861-08-06
4 VIEW OF AFFAIRS AFTER THE
RATTT,E


Private intelligence from Washington altogether
discredits the idea that any portion OF the Federal
forces have been able to make stand at Cenreylle
or at any point beyond Fairfax G. Ii. The best
opinion seems to be that except stragSlers who
have been unable to make good their escape, and
are hiding in the woods to avoid capture, there
no Federal troops outside Of the Alexandria lines
which are not extended more than four or five
miles from that city. Most of the reg iments are
within the entertainments Arlington Heights
The condition of those who remain in Washington
is deplorabe In the extraordinary OF them hat
less cOatless shOeless and in some instances with
out pantaoons-mostly unarmed, having flung
away everything in their fig outstanding, limping,
lying sitting upon the corners of streets, or the
stoops Of houses, and appealing to the charity of
passers-by for means to buy food and tobacco
Much blame is attached to their officers for not
making greater efforts collect these disorganized
wrecks Of the "Grand Army but the difficulty
in many cases is that the officers themselves are
among the missing.
Army officers Of capacity and intelligence do not
hesitate to pronounce the present army demoralized
beyond the possibility of successful reorganization
and express the conviction that the attempt to
supply its place with another, will prove utter
failure The rank and file Of the army. they
say, will be worse than that of the old one which
comprised near all the uniformed volunteer corps
of the Northern cities, and consequently of
the best material SO far as intelligence and some
previous knOwledg oftactcS went, that the country
could atfnrd-and as for the officers they ask, how
does the Government expect TO find better! 10
fill the regiments with tie class Of in
capables, who received commissions before, is to
incur the certainty Of similar defeat, while, if Gov
ernment proposes to appoint none but educated
military men to positions in its new army, it will
have to wait for few years until West Point can
furnish them; for at present, there is not sufll
cicnt number of such in the country to officer
properly army Of 100, 600 men. The old army
but l2,GO0 or $4,000 strong, and many Of its
best officers arc now in the Confederate ranks
those who were tried in the late battle were the
best that Government had to oppose to these
and the result is Such, at least, is the talk
in military circles.
\ very bitter feeling against the SccessioniSts
is said to exist at present in Washington, which
has been infamed by the lying accounts which
have been disseminated in regard to barbarties
alleged to have been committed by theContcdeIate
troops TO such extent has this feeling arisen,
especially among the Federal soldiers, that appre-
tensions were felt that the few Confederate pris
who in the city would be masSacrcd.
\ violent assault was yesterday made by a mob
upon party Of four prisoners, who were brought
into the city under escort OF soldiers, and after
hearing before Cen Mansfield, were being taken
to the old Capitol building, which is now used as
guard-house The crowd threatened to hang
them aud attempted to take them from the hands
of the soldiers. "ln front Of Wizards says this
mornings Republican, ''the excitement was very
great; one gentleman O. pushed his way through
the crowd and dealt one fthe prisoners powerful
blow, nearly knocking him down; at other places
on the route there great trouble in getting
them through the crowd" In like manner DIR.
Belt, citizen of Prince Georges county, Md,
who arrested for utterng 'seditious language"
only escaped being lynched by the mob through
the active interference Of some L. S. cavalry,
WHO charged upon the crowd with drawn sabres.