The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1861-08-08

uown exhausted ali aionS pennsylvania
avenue.
On the next day. Monday, July 29,
Washington was in Beauregard's power.
Had he marched straight on the track of
the retreating columns with his 10000
men, while Johnston. with $4,000 more
crossed the Potomac near the Chain Bridge
and advanced towards the city from the
north, Washington would have fallen with
out further blow. The intrenchments
would have afforded but slight obstacles,
although since they have been made i'm
prrgnahe. The huge 49-pounders look
grim and threatening enough, but up to
that time there had been not single gun
ner's gang organized.
In reviewing the facts Of the battle, it is
evident that all the movements on the part
of the Confederates were the results of
science, OF forethougbt, Of deep-laid and
deliberate plans. They retreated from Al
exaudria weeks ago in order TO prepare a
stronger defence. They retreaied from
Fairfax in order to lead us into this snare
OF masked batteries. The movements on
our part appear to have been the result Of
accident. There was no welI-digested
plan for the reduction of Manassas The
very object in view, the capture of hidden
batteries the existence Of which was
known, but Of the number and strength of
which we were ignOrant). WAS undertaken
with a vastly inadequate force. The diff
ferent regiments acted on their own hook
and not in concert. The 70 regiments of
which the army is composed were all hud-
died together, and not formed into briyades
and divisions until few days before the
battle.
The results of the battle are more and
greater than at first appear. Not only is
the loss of life frightlul,- our killed in
battle are known 10 amount to 5000, our
wounded, who will die aud have died Of
! their wounds. and those who will recover
after amputation, amount to fully 5000
more, but. besides that, the res iments
engaged were the best-disciplined and
most effective in the army and with few
exceptions they are utterly broken up and
disorganized. The splendid Rhode Island
! Regiments, although they lost their superb
battery of artillery. and many of their Of
ticers. Will, through the energies Of Gen.
Burnsides and Gov. Sprague. seconded by
the heroic valor Of their officers and men,
soon again h&ve their ranks filed up, and
be ready 20 take the field. So will The
Michigan Regiments, whose gallant CON
due, on the field deserves the highest
praise. Sc will some other regiments.
But. for every regiment that will so act,
there are two whose ranks it will be impus
sibe ever &c fill up again. 1t is the in.
tention Of the War Department to quietly
dlsband these regiments. and to incorpo
rate those OF the men who are willing To
serve into others. This Is, after all, the
wisest plan.
One OF the greatest results Of this bat
tie Is TO be looked for across the ocean.
MIR. Russell, the correspondent of the Lon.
don Times, who not only Witnessed the
battle, but who also was participant in
all the horrors of the retreat, has sen, an
account of the battle. truthful no doubt,
by the steamer that sailed on Wednesday
or Thursday. to his paper. Ii will be re
corded In all the journals of Europe tha,
the Grand Army of the United States,
under the immediate supervision of Lieut.
General Scott, and after months of prepa-
ration. has been defeated with terrible loss
within twenty miles Of the national capital.
and compelled to make a disgracefu re.
treat 10 within the entertainments of the
city. write tins in a spot where have
no access to books, but il | remember
Alright, 1t IS all acknow lodged principle of
international law lat The defeat Of ma
tlonal army within twenty We miles of the
national capital is equivalent to the success
of the cause for which the victorious army
Is battling. If this be SO. England and
france will no longer hesitate to do what
they have long been DESTROYS of doing,
namely to knowledge the independence
of the Southern Coniederacy. They have
only been waiting for a pretexI; and here
II Is. On one point. at least. there can be
no doubt. The moral effect Of the defeat.
in Europe. will be most disastrous to us.
In regard To the alleged atrocities of the
southern troops toward the wounded. there
Is not one word of truth in them. Ali such
stories have been manufactured in order
TO fan the flame Of haired toward the South
and toward southerners hare the most
Pos'toe testimony, from many officers and
scores Of men who were I'm The whole affair
and saw i all. that no such thing took
place. Indeed. since the battle. and since
flag Of truce has been sent out for our
dead and wounded. it has been ascerla,ned.
officially. that the latter were most careful
y and lenderly cared for, and the former
buried by The foe, where they fell with The
honors of war
The conduct Of many of the officers.
since the baltic, shows Of what stuff thew
are made. Instead of BE- ing in the camps
restoring confidence to their men. and re-
storing them. too. TO their former Stale OF
efficiency. they were, until yesterday.
loIhging about the hotels of Washin yton.
while their men were wandering, uncared
for, about the streets. Yesterday. howev
er. ore of Gen. SCOTS aids went around
taking down their names. aud, since then,
they have returned 10 their duty.
A word is due TO Col. Miles. who has
been placed under arrest since The bat,le.
1t was he and his brigade. including
Green's and Hunts batteries and artillery.
who kept the enemy in check when they
were ma luo then, 0ro01 ,,,n,-,,ooy o..