Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1861-07-23
The News in Iho City.

This city was excited TO an alarming de-
gree yesterday by the important news ffofn
the seat of war. The knowledge that the
two opposing armies were within lighting |
distance on Saturday night and the general |
impression that there would be q battle on
Sunday, created the greatest possible eager
ness to procure the morning papers OF yester-
day. Our full special dispatches iRladditiOn
10 the dispatches to the Associated Press,
gave clear idea Of the fierce battle that had
been raging the day before at Bulls Run,
and thence to Manassas. 1t was seen that
the issue of FIRE and sword had conf
meneed in all its fury and power, and it was
believed that the battle would not be given
Ger until the enemy were routed from their
stronghold at Manassas. "a
Each hour Of waiting was therefore an age
of anxious suspense. Cleveland's first offer
ing to the wal was known to be in the sd-
vance army, and vague rumors spread
through the streets that the Giays had been
in the van of the attack and had been cut to
pieces, and the fathers, mothers, and families
of the brave boys composing that company
were in q suspense which could hardly brook
delay in knowing the Iull truth. The morn
ing's dispatches confirmed those Of the night
before, and while they proclaimed our army
victorious they reported desperate fighting
and terrible loss of life. But better so, if by
one fierce, determined, well fought battle, We
could drive back the bossttul rebels and es-
tablish the supremacy of the government
and thus with the sorrow tor the slain, there
was rejoicing-hearty rejoicing that at last
the rebels were to be thoroughly crushed
under the Overwhelming force of loyal arms
which know no fear in the defence Of the
Stars and Stripes In spite Of all the horrors
of war, and of the fact that near and dear
friends were upon the field of danger, the
city-as well as the whole loyal cOuntry+
was illed with exultation at the glorious
success which our army was achieving, when
| like thunderbolt from out clear sky, came
the astounding news that onr army was in
full retreat toward Washington, their ranks
broken, their strength departed, their cOur-
age gone, their artillery in the hands Of the
enemy, and the whole federal army g COM
pletely panic-stricken rout. The news passed
from mouth to mouth with wondering COM
ments. The newspaper offices were thronged
in the hope that some later dispatch might
prove the report to be false, but no such re-
port came. The revulsiOn Of feeling was
such as almost to preclude speech-the COM
munity was almost struck dumb with aston
ishmeni and chagrin. A regular retreat
would have been bard thing to bear, but q
panic was terrible. Never was our city more
thoroughly startled to its very core than
during yesterday and last night. There may
have been few in this city of Ohio who Sc
cretly rejoiced at the reported repulse Of the
Union troops, but if so they prudently kept
their own counsel. 1t would have gone
hard with any man who openly glOried in
the reports, for upon every face there was
stern determination that this repulse must
be avenged, aud that speedily. f.If a5I.