Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-09-10

killed. There is no doubt of the erection of bat
terry by our forces at this extreme position on our
advanced lines.
The extent of the action and Of the less of the
enemy is variously reported. The enemy were en-
gagged at Halls Hill, which is in advance of Nun
sons Hill, about mile from Arlington Heights
which position had been held by the enemy for
some days, and which they were engaged in fortfy
ing The enemy were repulsed, and Halls Hill is
now occupied by eur forces, under Gen. Longstreet
The occupation of this position by our troops il
positive and is now the extreme point of the ad
vance of our lines
On Wednesday last skirmish of artillery took
place between South Carolins regiment tCol. Jen-
kinsO posted in the vicinity of the Great Falls Of
the Potomac and two Federal regiments on the op
posite side of the river. The enemy were driver
from their position There was no attempt on our
side TO cross the river.
SPIRIT OF THE soLDIERs.
The best spirit prevails in our camps. Not 9
word Of discomfort is heard, or any other anxiety
than that of engaging the eneny9 Ill healthsethe
incubus of inaction. the encroachments of disease
the melancholy sPeetscles of soldiers burials ID
the drear and distant valleys about the camps, are
endured alike, with fortitude, and hghtened by
hopes of better days There seems 80 be but one
general expression of desire for a march upon
its vast store houses of provisions are objects Of
ordinary regard to our army; and we are eonvine-
ed that troops will never fight better than when
the watchword is distinctly passed of forward to
Washington
The disappointment at not following up the vic
tory of the 2lss July is only more extreme in the
camps than it is in Richmond. The lack of means
of transportation is treated as inadequate excuse
for not moving an army twenty miles from its posi-
ton The fact doubtless is, that the extent of the
the Tuesday following. The next general action
will be, if not the works of Washington at least
in such a position as to be followed up This, at
least, is positive and so much your readers may
take as basis of their expectations of the
future.
HEALTH OF TIE CAMPS.
The health of the campo is very bad indeed, but
out of the number Of but very few result ia
tally. The prevalent diseases are measles. humps.
and mild form of typhoid fever, not dangerous,
unless symptoms of pneumonia are superinduced.
The lowness of the country, the great fall of rain
and the corruption of the atmosphere about Ma
nassas, by causes which might certainly be correct
ed in the extreme filth Of the camps, have surroun
ded our brave soldiers with almost every cireum-
stance calculated to excite maarious diseases The
water too, is bad and its supplies scant An arte-
sian well is being bored within few steps of the
railroad station
The hospital accommodations are probably not as
extensive the necessities of the army require and
the transportation of the sick 10 the towns continues
daily. A number of farm houses in the neighbor-
hood of the camps are converted into hospitals
Many of the Sisters of Charity are at Manassas as
nurses, and give beautiful and benevolent aspect
to every Of suffering and sickness accessible
to their walk of charity. Their presence about the
camps in their simple garbs, and with THAR plain
and cheerful looks is Of those specacles Of the
loneliness of the sex more pleasing to a heart of
human sympathies than
GAN the beauty thronsd in Womaahood"
RIDE OVER THE MANASSAS BATTLE FIELD. %
Early yesterday morning. before breakfast, took
rapid ride over the famous battlefield, about six
miles from the Junction. The effect was not appe-
tizing. Believe me, il was terrible. The field of
battle stretched desolate, but not blank, before
the eye. The sky above seemed dead, as it but i'm
perfectly lighted up in the daI K, drzzng rain the
horrors of the scene of death. Most of the Yankee
dead had been merely covered up in shallow trenches
and from these broken mounds black and purified
limbs stretched out to the sight. Here was head
partially uncovered, with the hair dropping of at
the touch of the fnger-there, bunch of CHASTITY
and purified fingers clenched over the shallow
earth of Its grave. The stencil was almost intoer-
able, even 10 the morning air. An army surgeon,
who accompanied US in our visit to The field. says
that on visiting it but day alter the battle he
found the corpses with which it was strewn black
as negroes. His first exclamation being why,
how many negro regiments we have killed.
The field itself shows no signs of the scars Of war
The grass has grown agair. But the torn and man
gled timber in every direction shows the teTribl
effects Of the fire. Even in little trees scsrcey the
Of the arm, five six shots be point
ed out. In one part of the field the eye Of the vsi
is attracted by little pine copse all crushed and
mangled by the fire of artillery. Just on its skirt
Is a collection Of small stones, with a shaft Of
smoothed oak timb7r standing upright among them,
and bearing the name Barlow" IL was here where
the gallant Georgian met his glorious fate. In
another part OF the field, a shaft of cedar marks
the spot where General Bee fell.
SOUVENIRS OF TIE BATTLE.
There is any number of trophies and relics of the
battle to be met with here. from which to choose
We had exhibited TO US as priceless
hoof of the horse shot under General
Beauregsrd in the action. Another curiosity hunt
er had obtained a Minnie ball that had been shot
through the backbone of Yankee, and had been
in Its passage, to a mingled mass of
lead and splntered bone. That we might have no
difficulty in selecting battle relics for friends in
gallant officer offered TO make up box
of them for US, if we should find it convenient to
transport them to the city. If we can manage to
do so, it will be interesting contribution TO the
museum Of warlike curiosities.
The Army of the Potomac.