New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-10-28

rolled all who participated in the movements of til;
night. The country seemed Illuminated as If FOR
some gigantic festival The hill-slopes for miles
were covered with blazing piles, which, seen from
distance appeared to unite in ast amphitheater Of
flame On the Virginia shore. the fires were more
scattered and of less magnitude, but the glow Of
those upon our own side was reelected far beyond the
limits Of our recent camps, and faded only among the
thick woods and mountains in which we knew the
enemy lay concealed The long procession moved
slowly and dimly down to the opposite banks, and
stood in regular columns patiently waiting their turn
confused olamor reached us-the echo Of their min
gled voices-which never rose above one duh mono
tone and was never broken by a cry or cheer or
hopeful sound Of any kind. The hours seemed to
pass more heavily with them than with us. Perhaps
their sense OF danger was more acute Ii might
naturally have been 50, for they knew the enemy
near BY, and they saw that the ;houghtlessness Of
their leaders had left them unprovided with sufficient
safeguards in case of sudden attack.
For hours the boats shifted from side to side and
the disembarked groups swelled into full regiments
and marched away. The throng upon the Virginia
shore seemed to decrease 50 slowly, that one won
dercd if all could be brought into security before the
rebels should discover their comparatively unpro-
teced position. Ii was not, however, wholly unpro'
tec,ed, for along the ridges of our hills heavy bat
teries were planted, bearing upon the spots where,
il was sppreheaded, the enemy night disclose them
selves. There Has little confusion among our men,
and excepting by the subdaed murmur oil many
voices, TIE Light FLASHING Of oars or poles IN the
water the Kissing aud cracking OF the ever-rePIeh'
ished ires and the rush Of their flames through Tue
air. tie silence of the night was undisturbed. IL
was very clea, and cold, and many suffered from
the Unusual keenuess Of the wind bu, the CON-
plants which frequently arose were not on tins
score IL was the modification Of the retreat that
seemed 10 enross the entire multitude. never saw
such universal and such undisguised OBJECTION There
was Tut one s,ot 80 lar as observed, within tue
army lines, where anything Ike INCONSISTENCIES
nirtlfulness vas shown, and that was hardly where
one would have expected it. The group OF officers
ut "leadquarters were as lively az If victory
bad lust blessed us. The rudy lire, abont whieh
theystood lighted conferences which already were
10 g,y as 10 need no added lustre II was quie in'
sprng TO hngtr d moment within ttat ron -"
auelce; but few steps further on, and the change
wascomp.ete again. Gloom every where, often woiui
alIdon.
l eft the nyer, laden with our living and VINO
knoys how many OF our dead D, and turned into the
NOR, remote camps, where the debris Of the Fegi-
mems " bicb fought on Monday were gathered. I"e
Goth Massachusetts was now commanded by Cap
tain The line boys soTrowful their Losses,
butin manner irIesolute or dauuted in their pur
pos 10 follow the perilous path again whenever
summoned. ! was deeply impressed by the devotion
snG courage which ,his regiment bad shown during
the conflict, and Of which bad heard in every quar-
ter Its officers came from regions more devoted.
il VS. thought 10 social delights than 70 The rgors
AMI harIshps Of warfare. We all remember how
Tia gay est aad ighiiest young men OF England
tuned out the most heroic Of ali that fought in the
Cimea. Tie case Il not altogether dssimi.T here.
Tieae Harvard boys, many o; whom never had
ere Or q struggle in tie world, from wlom, | AIN
sure, les endurance and possibly lees determination
would have been looked for than from q set Of Off
co.'s more ruggedly composed, were uaexcepiioaably
cusTicuous oF their bravery and daring throughout
the tight Of Monday. They could not think Of sub
ruf.l1It even Nhtb touIttlcn 10 SUNNI T.! Vil'l
ofcers aud even after orders " Surrender had been
p,oclaimed, continued lighting. against hope, with
.ufBcht desperation, until the LAST yestlge Of their
arengih had vanished.
Who was responsible Tor al. Ma, slaughter The
,ues,ion /. evaded here. We know that after Insult
fcient reconnaissance q few men were wanionly
placed a, the mercy Of oyepower;ng Rebel force
and that nearly one.tLird Of them were loet. We
now that our men were cent across the river with
uterly Inadequate means Of transportation al time
when tie weather prevented their prompt reinforce
nent TO a place Of all others ths worst IN which
hey could have been stationed. Everything was
against them. Everything which wise generalslnp
should have provided was dispensed with. 1t seems
% have been another o. those careless experiments
ty which. a, tie caprice of ineonsiderate men, the
hearts OF Thousands are torn, and hundred homes
made wretched LIS eaecls-if 1t should have any
mon the general movements OF the army are, oil
coarse. no. known. But 1t is whispered that the
great advance, which vas projected about this very
time, will be deferred in consequence. sad that the
plnn of the Commander-in-Chief has beon. at least
deranged BY It.