The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1861-07-24

"A wen as civilians, vary in their estimate Of
killed from 300 to 5000. The facts cannot
yet he asccrtained. -
The Hcrald's correspondent says: when
I left the field Of battle saw the rebels fly.
ing in vast numbers. The utmost 'cnthusi.
asm prevails throughout ous. ranks. JEFF.
Davis is understood to be at Manassas juno.
lion. Col. Cowden's Massachusetts, lstreg.
iment were fired upon by rebel pickets sew.
cral times as they slept in the road on their
arms
WASHINGTON, July 2l-Midnight.-Thc
Times correspondent says the battle has been
one of the severest ever fought on this cont.
nent. Up to2 o'clock, our troops had driv-
en- the snesay Assistance Of nearly Q miles.
As the enemy fell back from one position. II
was only to another equally strong, and at
every point fresh reinforcements poured in
almost without limit as. to number. There
can be no doubt that their force Was at least
double ours.
The Fire Zouaves we're terribly cut up
while drawn up to make an attack, they
were assaed by concealed battery with
strong support on their flank, and were
forced to break. It is said that both Col
Frankom ard Lieut.. Col 10 GROCER are kill
ed, but it may not prove true, the latter at al
events was severely wounded. Col. Hanlel
was wounded in the throat
Col Slocum of the I'd R. l., and Capt
Dennis Of the 1st, reported killed. Gov
Spraguc had his horse shot under him. Ma
jor BALKAN Of the r. 7. was severely wound
ed in the hand and thigh by cannon ball
(Signcd,) H. j. RAYMOND.
WASHINGTON, July 22.-After the latest
information was received from Centerville a,
$50 last night, a series Of events took place
in the intensest degree disastrous. Many
confused statements are prevalent. enough
though is known to warrant the statemen,
that we have suffered in degree which has
cast q gloom over the remnants Of the army
and excited the deepest melancholy thsougi
Washington, The carnage was tremendous
" heavy on both Sides and on our is repre-
scented as frightful. We were advancing
and taking their masked batteries gradually
but surely, and bv driving the enemy TO-
wards Manassas Junction, when the enemy
seemed to have been reinforced bv Gen
Johnston, who it ia understo ID took com
mand. and Immediately commenced driving
us back. when panic among our troops sud
denly occurred, and regular stampede took
place.
1t is thought that General Mcdowell un
dertook h make stand at or about Center
vile, but the panic was 70 fearful that the
whole army became demoralized, and i. was
impossible to check them either at Center
vile or at Fairfax c. H. Gen. Mcdowell
intended to make another stand at Fairfax
C. H.. but our forces being in fall retreat
could not accomplish the object beyond Fair.
| fax Court House. The retreat was kent IN.
til the men reached their regular encamp.
ments, portion of whom returned to them,
hut still larger portion coming inside the
entertainments. A large number Of the troops
in their retreat fell on the wayside from ex-
hausticn, and scattered along the route. All
the way from Fairfax c. II. the road from
: Bulls Run was screwed with knapsaeks.
arms, and some of our troops deliberately
throwing away their guns and nppurtenances,
the better to facilitate their travel.
Gen. Mcdowell was in the rear of the re.
treat, excrting himself to rally his men, but
only with partial effect. The latter part Of
the army, it is said, made their retreat in
good order
His orders on the field did not at all times
reach those for whom they were intended.
1t is supposed the force sent out against
our troops consisted, according to q prison
er's statement, of about 1000 men. incli.
ding a large number Of cavalry. He further
says that owing to reinforcements from Rich.
mond, Strasburg and other points. the enc
my's effective force was $1,000 men.
| According TO the statement of two of the
Fire Zouaves, they have only about 200 men
left from the slaughter. while the Goth and
and other regiments frightfully suffered in
killed and wounded. The number canno,
now be known. Sherman's, Carlsle's, Grif
Ans, and the West Point Batteries were ia.
ken by the enemy, and the 9th Regiments
40 pound ri6ed cannon. 1t is supposed all
the provision. train belonging to the u. S.
was saved. A large drove Of cattle were
saved by being driven back. l5
It is supposed here to day that Gen. Mans.
field will take command of the Notifications
On the other side Of the river, which are able
it ISL said by military engineers, to hold them
against any force the enemy may bring
against them. L"rge rfed cannon and NOR.
tars are being rapidly sent over and mounted
An officer just from Virginia (0:30) re.
ports that the road from Centreyille to the
Potomac is strewed with straggiers.
The troops are resuming the occupation
of the Notifications and entertainments on
the line of the Potomac.
Col. HcintIelman was also wounded In the
wrist. In addition to those reported yester
day, it is said that Col Wilcox, the gallant
Commander Of . Brigade, was killed !; also
Captain AcCook, brother of Col. McCook,
Of Ohio. The city this morning is in the
most intense excitement. Wagons are con.
tinually arriving, bringing the dead and
wounded. Feeling is awfully distressing
Both telegraph and steamboat communca.
ton with Alexandra is suspended to-day Ia
the public. The greatest alarm prevails
throughout the city.
The following is an account of the begin.
ming of the panic. which resulted 80 disas-
trOusly to our troops:
/ All our military operations went swimming.
", and Col. Alexander was about erecting q
p0ntOon across Bull Run, when terrific
CONSERVATION broke out among the team.
sters, who had incautiously advanced ;mme.
dia.ely after the body Of the army and lined
the Warrenton railroad. Their consterna.
was shared in by numerous civilians who
| uara On thu oroupd ool Sxoo 80. IT, 4.