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


now instead Of prauciug steeds and regiments drawn
up in foc, nothing could be through the entire
valley but Longing surrounding steam kettles,
whcee odor aud whose fncss brought back the picture
OF the wedding Of Camach0. II was in the midst Of
this vast picnic and these savoy eteams that the Secre
ary Of War paid a visit to The scene, aud impaired,
by the mere fact Of bis presence additional assur-
auce that we would no, move that day. When he lcit
II in tie afternoon there were come who believed we
were On the brink Of action; but the majority were of
the opinion that the general advance would not DO
made till daybroak Monday morning This was the
prevailing notion in the California camp Whose head
quarers had hale adopted in view of the impending
departure of tie Seventy-frsD, and, must confess 1t
was partly mine. l had, however at the same time,
an idea that might, perhaps, wait till Gen. Patter-
son could descend from IIarpers Ferry and cooperate
upon our right.
The night wore quietly away with the exception Of
a slight alarm At the distant cosge where slept and
which though more than a mile from our lines, had
chosen for the convenience Of making mp my letters
At two hours past midnight, three or four voeys Of
musketry from grove by startled mcrwake
and as | rose upon my arm could hear the squad Of
Germans who were picketed beneath the porch eau
tousy cock their muskels in expectation Of an attack
But the firing soon ceased and daybrcak revealed the
fact that it proceeded fom newly.ariyed regiments
which had settled themselves bard by, who bad been
merely expeling stale charges from their pieces N anti
cipalion of important work.
GIN. McDOWEIL'S PLAN.
Meanwhile, and Nil the following day, the abest
engineers Of Gen. MeDowes stalrLad been recon
motoring for miles around and the fruit oftheir abors
was report that the enemys position could rot he
turned to tie lcfl Tor southwark, by reason OF the
rougLness Of The roads that il was not advisable to
renew the attack Of the 18th on the battery Of Bull
Run, but that the road to the rglt, through Centre
Vile was practicable avenue 10 another crossing and
which was undeiended, and to which artillery could
easily he drawn This was called the Nanenton
road aud at some distance down. it bad the further
advantage Of path divergng from it TO the north
ward 10y which circuit could be made to The rear OF
certain heavy batteries which the course of tie main
road itself woud enable 10 strike in front. IL was
therefore decided by Gen. Mcdowell to sCrd merely
one brigade 70 BulrRuu to hold that battery in check,
aud to make bis grand attack by the Waueuton road,
relying upon the column that YVES TO pass of into
northward path 10 turn the encmys position and
throw II into confusion while asilcd by us uTon It's
face. This seemed to be very proper and consistent
plan. Undoubtedly the theory of II was good plan
tas a theory and il might have been practically
cctf bad IL bat fuod the proportions Of The enemy.
Unfortunately, however Gen. Mcdowell rad not
taken tho u measure Of his foe ard the ciic, which
he had decided upon instead Of reaching the base Of
the Rebels principal position, merely plunged against
the side Of his triangle whep he was most iearigy IA
strength and where the most desperate vaor could but
serve 10 feed lis guns. Th' Confederate, lie might
have asgcraiuod numbered without Johnston and Bis
forces a; least 10000 men; aud lie now pro.osed 70
fling against this compact mass rcporngin iuuglos be-
hind batteries Of the Loavi,H uu- souc FIX ree,,n
brigade, to explore the a'yEah Of that terrible posi-
ton, and seek, ~ impetus alone, TO bnt hole
through o. end hold on O. tlc lower cud.
IL must be s.aied ~ thi time tlat While Gen. Nc
Dowell WINS forming his calculations on the babe Of
his eugncers report be was aware that Gen. Patier-
son was bu, ~ miles 70 lis ngl ,slihe FedciI aFly
of nearly 5000 men, who w6re then employed IN
watching an cluol rebel force unecr Gen. Johnston,
with tic view of preventing hin from def.cnline %
Manaafa. lie knew, also that while Johnston, from
having railway track behind him, could ra.h il4ru.
s.s with bis column ia two days paisr1n COLD 10.
follow. over Distracted roads aad broken brdgct IN
le., than Eve. Under these crcuu tlnccs, l. would
seem thai the cowrronet mil'arypfuden would have
supecscd tuGt Gen. Mcdowell should have pausrd ~
least 70 know whether Johnston had abandoned the
negilbolLood Of Winchester, ard whether. therefore,
Il was not absolutely necessary TO tie sqiy Of he
Federal forces 70 SOY nothing Of hope Of victory, that
10 should inrcnch Limsef ct Ccntrcyi'c, and wait Cor
patteron's arrival But Il afTcan that Gen. McDow.
eli considered the prestige Of lie Federal cause nd BIS
own good luck as equal TO all the odds whc treason
could accumulate aud accordingly 10 decided to stake
The fortunes Of the Republic against tho reJ1s in gen-
ersl battle rs lie Stood 4 strong evidence patriotic
rclfrclancc but not an ahdndan' proof of Judgment.
The army, however, did not question tie determine
ton oftfeir General bn., with tho who'esome vanity
Of yaor each soldier felt the happiness Of expectation,
and sloIt the soundcr for hc prospects OF the MORROW.
POSITION OF TIE REBELS.
On their part the Rebels lay on that brilliant moon
Hight evening EMBODIED in vast strength tbcir posion
being that Of Triangle with Tie point toward US, and
branching upward to Manassas, with All open base OF
several miles. The point or open Of this triangle,
about a mile round, was most heavily protected at
Boil Run where the direct road to Manassas crossed
the Ocoquan. All up its branching sides, however,
batteries faced outward in deep rows, their pondeIols
iron tusLs, concealed by Artificial masks wherever
natural groves did not volunteer screen. stronger
fed position could hardly be imagined. Defended as
il was by 70 900 men, be increased to llOOO IN tie
morning, it would scarcely suffer in comparison OF
strength with Soferino or sevasoVo; and doubt IT
thcre is any French or Russian engineer who would
have undertaken TO assail it, except by regular ap-
proaches aud several respectful days OF distant compli-
mcnt with heavy shot and she'll Brigadier-ten.
Irwin Mcdowell, however was going at it with few
32-pounders and 10 field batteries NEARLY all OF them
light, backed by some five or Elk brigades, whom,
mentally he gave the credit of believing to be equal to
;,o.n,, Had our noon IL lows Int know IN. depth