The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-08-20

mr.. Russel's Account to the London Times
4 Cowardly R0ut and Causeless Panic
Scenes In Washington Alter the Retreat,
&C., &C., &c.
WASHINGTON, July %, 1861.
SCHNEs BY THE wAY-RoAR CANNoNADE FIRST HEARD



sit down To give accouDt-not OF the action yester
day, but Of what with my eyes, hitherto not
often deceived and of what heard with my cars,
which in this country much 10 be trusted Let
me- however, express opinion US TO the affair Of yes
terday In the first place, the repulse of the ederasts
decided as was might have had serious cects chdt
beyond The fdiiuyeacca politically Of great
consequence than in niury sesse-Jaa for the
diSgracsftt conduct Of the ty0oys.
The retreat their lines at Centrevlle seems TO
have ended in cowardly route-a miserable, cause
loss panic Such scandaous behaviour on the part of
soldiers should have considered impossible with
some experience Of camps and armies have
in alarms among camp followers seen the like Of it. How
Tar the dsoganzaon Of the troops extended know not
but was complete ia the instance Of more than one
regiment.
Washington this morning is crowded with soldiers
without officers, who have fled from Centrevle, and
with "three months men, who going home the
face of the enemy the expiration OF their term of enlist
ment The streets, in spite Of the rain crowded
by people with anxious faces, and groups of waver
ing politicians assembled at The corners, in the
hotel passages and the bars If in tho present state OF
the troops the confederates a march
the Potomac above Washington, turning the works at
Arlington the capital gh fall their hands. Delay
may pldce that erea ont Of the range Of probability.
REcurERArlyE ENERGY NoRTII--ARRoGANCE OF THE
NEW YORK JOURNALS TOWARDS FOREIGN NATIONS
The North will doubt, recover the shock. Hitherto
she has only said, go and fight for the Union" The
South has exclaimed, "Lot fight for rights The
North must put its best men into the battle she will
inevitably fail before the energy the personal hatred and
the superior fighting powers of her antagonist. In my
letters in my conversation have endeavorcd to show
that the task which the Unionsts have SGT themselves is
Of no ordinary difficulty but in the state of arrogance
and superciious confidence either real affected to
ceal sense of weakness might well have preached
TO the Pyramid OF CheOps.
Indeed, one may form some notion Of the condition Of
the public mind by observing that Journals conducted
avowedly by of dsgracefu personal characteristic
bewhippcd and be kicked and unrecognized parahs of
society in New Yor-are nevertheless in the very midst
If rcpuse and defeat permitted to indulge in ridiculous
rhodomontade towards the nations of Europe, and
move our laughter by mpotently malignant attacks on
sour rotten old monarchy" while the stones of their
bran new republic tumbliDg about their 1t will
be amusing to observe the change Of tone for we can
afford to observe and to be amused at the time
GOING OUT TO GENERAL M'DowELLs ARMY-ExtrEMENr IN
THE CITY AND A WAR AGREEMENT FOR A CONVEYANCE.
On Saturday night resolved to proceed to General
McDowes army, as IT obvious to me that the
pulse Bull and the orders of the General directed
against the excuses of his sodiery indicated de
fscts IN hs drmyo mere seris ho,cecr, than Ihdd rea
son 10 believe eriaed.
How to get out was the difficulty. The rumors of
great disaster and repulse had spread through the city
The livery stable keepers with one exception refused
TO send out horses to the OF action-at least
the exception told me so Senator'S and Congressman
going TO make a day of IL, and all the vehicles
and horses that could be procured in requsition
for the scene of action This curiosity aroused by
the story that Mcdowell had been actually ordered
70 make attack Manassas, and that General
scott had given him till twelve O'Clock to be OF
Beauregard's lines If Gen Scott ordered the attack
all venture to say he was merely the mOhece of the
violent ctrians of the government toho mistake len
sy Of feeling for nit Try strength. The consequences Of
the little srmish at Bull rum ending in the repuise of
the Federasts much exaggerated md their losses
down at any figures fancy Of the individual
item who was speaking suggested ~ you,
SIR tat the troops had 500 killed and wounded Iknew
it." went OF to the headquarters, and there General
Scott aid informed me General MsDowels official re-
port gave six killed and thirty ser en- wounded The
livery keepers stuck to the 500 600 The greater
the number hors dc combat the higher the tariff for the
hire Of Qaadrupeds.
All could do was to get kind dr cabrioet with
seat in front for the driver, to which pole affixed
for two horses, at Derby day price, and strong led
horse which Indian experiences have induced always
to rely upon in the neghborhood Of uncertain fighting
had to enter into agreement with The TO pay
him for horses and buggy if they were captured or
injured by the enemy and though smiled at his pre-
cautions they proved not quite unreasonable. Themastcr
made provision for indemnity in the of injury to
she driver the coored boy who rode the saddeD horse
When spoke with officers at General scottsSaead-
quarters of the expedition, struck they i at at
ell sdnguine about The result Of tie day and of them
said much induced me TO think he would advise
10 remain in the city if he did not take it for granted it
mas part Of my duty 10 80 to the scene Of action
An English gentleman who accompanied me was
strongly dssuaded from gong by colonel of cavalry ON
one can tell what NAY happen" But my friend got his
pass from General Scott, who was taking the whole
affair of Bul run ana the pressure Of ire
WITH perfect calm, aud wesarcd on Sunday morning
not so early as we ought, PERHAPS, which of
my fault--for Centrevie, distant ateut twenty Eve
miles southwest of Washington
purposed starting in the beautiful moonlight so a. 20
arrive at McDowells camp in the early lawn, but the
aids could would give tho couptcrsgn over
the Long Bridge and without it go ccad
iii after five O'Clock in the morning. When Mcdowell
away he took many Of the troops about Airing
ton that the camps and for rather denudcd OF
do not gSa, as may be deserved, the Damea of reg
mens unlea in special casearst because they possess
read these letters; and secondly, becase there
ceedngly complex syriem--st least foreialcr-of
nomenclature n the forces, and NAV make a
mistake between a regiment OF volunteers and %
regiment of State militia Of tbe same numbcr or
even Of regulars in the lower figures The soldiers eung
ing about the forts and the ng Bridge across The
Potomac exceedingly uneIlpt oanng'' set of
fellows, who handled their 1reocke Ike pchforks asd
spades, and doubt Of those Sho or tried 70
road papers could understand thp they certainly
did not speak English The Americans possess excellent
working materials, however, and have had occasion re-
peatedy TO remark the ,rapidity and skin with which
they construct earthworks. AT the Virginia side Of the
Long Bridge there is now very strong tee de pant sup
ported by the regular redouft the hill the road
These works did 10. appear 10 no strongly held hut k
possible were in the tents near at hand, deserted
though they seemed and a. all events reinorcements
could be speedily poured in if necessary.
Tho long and weary way was vaijed by different pick
s along the road aud by the examination OF our papers
and passes a. different POINTS But tie country looked
vacant IN spite of crops Of Indian corn for the houses
were shut up and the few Indigenous people whom
mel looked most blacky under their brows at the sup
pscd nooLtlonets This portion If Virginia IL well wood
ca ana uhduatlng IN heavy regular Of field and
ircst; nut the roads are deeply and filed with loose
STONES very dsagfeaabie to ride drive over. The
houses are Of wood, with the usual negro hus ad ching
them aud the specimens of the r.ce which say were
vel dressed apd not III lcokpg