New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1861-08-27

publish copious extracts from RasselI's letter to
the London Times, descriptive Of the battle and
the Federal rout at Manassas. Very few neH
facts are elected, but still the letter ia perhaps
worth reading: .,..a So. ..-. .... l..
WAsHIsGr0a, July %, 1851.
sit down TO give an Accountant of the actor
yesterday, but Of what saw with my own eyes
hitherto not often deceived and Of what heard
with my own ears which in this country are not sc
much to be trusted. Let me, however, express al
opinion as to the affair of yesterday. In the first
place, the repulse of the Federasts, decided az il
was might have had no serious effects whatever
beyond the mere failure-which politically was Of
greater consequence than it in military sense
but for the disgraeeful conduct Of the trOops.
The retreat on their lines at CentrevilIe seems to
have ended in aeowardy rout--a miserable, cause
less panic. Such scandaous behavior on the part
Of soldiers should have considered impossible, as
with some experience of camps and armies ] have
never, even in alarms among camp followers, seen
the like OF it. How far the disorganization of the
troops extended know not, bnt it was complete
in the instance of more than one regiment
J.. Washington this morning is crowded with SOL
diers without officers, who have fled from Centre
vile, and with " three months men, ;" who are 60
ing home from the face of the enemy on the expra-
ton of their term Of enlistment. The streets, in
spite ct the rain, are crowded by people with
ANXIOUS faces, and groups of waveriDg politicians
are assembled at the corners, 10 the hotel passages
the Confederates were to make a march across the
Potomac above Washington, turning the works at
Arlington, the Capitol might fall into their hands.
Delay may place that event out of the range of
probability. The North will, no doubt, recover
the shock Hitherto she has only said, Go and
fight for the Union" The South has exclaimed,
" Let us fight for our rights.' The North must
put Its best men into the battle or she will newt
ably tall before the energy, the personal hatred,
and the superior fighting powers Of her antagonist,
On Saturday night resolved to proceed to Gen.
McDoweli's army as it was obvious to me that the
repnse at Bull Run and the orders of the General
directed against the excesses of his soldiery indi-
Gated serious defects in his army not more seri-
Gus, however, than had reason to believe existed.
Curiosity was aroused by the story that Mcdowell
had been actually ordered to make an attack on
Manassas, and that Gen. Scott had given him till
II O'Clock to be master of Beauregard's lines. If
Gen. Scott ordered the attack at ALL venture to
say he was merely the mouthpece of the more
violent civilians of the Government, who mistake
intensity of feeling for military strength. The
consequences of the little skirmish at Bull Run,
ending in the repuse of the Federalists, were much
exaggerated, and their losses were put down at
any figures the fancy of the individual item who
was speaking suggested 81 can assure you, sir
that the troops had 1900 killed and wounded
know it." | went off to the headquarters, and
there Gen. Scott's aid informed me Gen. mellow.
ellis official report gave six killed and thiry-seven
wounded.
Fairfax Courthouse and to Centreville beyond it,
the distant sound of cannon reached us. That
must have been about $50 A. N. 1t never ceased
all day, at least whenever the rattle of the gig
ceased, the booming of guns rolled through the
woods on our ears. One man said it began at 2
O'Clock, but the pickets told us it had really be-
come continuous about r or O'clock In few
minutes afterward body of men appeared on the
road, with their backs toward Centreville and their
faces toward Alexandria Their march was SO
disorderly that | could not have believed they
were soldiers in an enemy's country--for Virginia
hereabouts is certainly so-but for their arms and
uniform 1t soon appeared that there was no less
than an entire regiment marching away, singly OF
in small knots of two or three, extending for some
three or four miles along the road. A Babel Of
tongues rose from them, and they were all in good
spirits, but with an air about them could not un-
derstand.
Dismounting at a stream, where group Of
thirsty men mere drinking, and halting in the shade
I asked an officer, Where are your men going
sir? Well. we're going home, sir, reckon
to Pennsylvania 1t was the Fourth Pennsyl
vania Regiment which was on its march, as
learned from the men, g ! suppose there is severe
work going on behind you, judging from the
firing u "Well, reckon, sir, there is" "Were
going home, y he added after pause, during which
it occurred to him, perhaps, that the movement
required explanation, " because the mems time ii
up. We have had three months of this work"
proceeded on my way, Illuminating the feelings
of General who sees half a brigade walk quietly
frame of mind OF the men, who would have shouted
till they were hoarse about their beloved Union
possibly have hunted down any poor creature who
expressed belief that it was not the very quntes
sence OF everything great and good in government
and glorious and omnipotent in arms-coolly turn
ing their backs on it when in its utmost peril be
cause s the letter of their engagement bound then
About IL o'clock we began to enter on the dis
puted territory which had just been abandoned by
the Secessonists to the Federasts in front of Fair
fax Courthouse. 1t is not too much to say that
the works thrown up across the road were shdnlS
and naakeJelieUes and that the Contederates neue,
intended 70 occupy TIE position at du but sought tt
hTc the Felerdlists TO Manassas Gap, aoltere they
1oere prepared TO meet them. OF course the troops
Of the enemy did not wish to be cut off, and they
had to cut down trees to place across the road
and put tieldpeces in their earthworks to com
mand it. On no side could Richmond be so vel
defended. The Confederates had it much at hear
to induce their enemy to come to the stronges
place and attack them, and they succeeded in doint
so. But if the troops behaved as i'll in other place
as they did at Manassas, the Federasts could no
have been successful in any attack whatever
At last Centreyille appeared in sght--a few
houses on our front, beyond which rose ball
hill, the slopes covered with bivouac huts, com
mssariat carts and horses and the top crested aoH
spectators of The flight.
The road on each side was full of traces of Con
federate camp; the houses were now all occupied
body of infantry-two regiments of foreigners
mostly Germans, with d battery of light artillery
Onr buggy was driven up to the top of the hill
On The hill there acre carriages and Uehicles ddac'
up as if ttey acre attending small country race
They ecere Gtte7ca7d engaged IN race of dnotte
Kind. In one was lady with an opera glass; II
and around and on others were legislators and poll
tcians. There were also a few civilians on horse
back, and on the slope Of the hill regiment hat
stacked arms, and was engaged in looking at ant
commenting on the battle below.
The scene was SO peaceful q man might vel
doubt the evidence OF ene's sense that great con
test was being played out below in bloo3shed, O
imagine, rs Mr.. Seward sometimes does, that
WAS detusion when he wakes in the morning an
finds there is civil war upon him.. But the canno
spoke out loudly from the green bushes, and tn
plains below weEe mottled, SO to speak by puff
Of smoke and BY white rings from Bursting shell
and capacious howitzers. 1t was no review tAa
was going on beneath u.s. The shells gave proc
enough of that, though Ehe rush OF the shot coul
not be hearCS at the distance. Clouds Of dust cam
up in regular lines through the tree tops whore il
tantry were acting, aGd now aud then their wavel
ing mists Of light hlae smoke eurled up, and th
splutter ct muslietgy Broke through the boomin
of the guns. With the glass [ could detect nov
in tbs open, but no one could tell to which sid
the baOops who were moving belonged, and coui
only judge from the smoke whether the guns wer
Erred toward or away from the hill. was ev
dent that the dust in the distance right e2
I tended beyond that which rose from the Fedora
! lists.