Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-08-25

Long Bridge in time to pass over without the
conutersign-
II wa= about this time | met cart by the
roadside surrouni.-d nv a group of soldiers.
some Of whom had so" on their caps. The
owner. as to.k him to be. was in great dis
tress and cried out as passed. .'CaE you tell
ME, sir, where the Sixty ninth areg These
neu say they are cut to pieces Il can't
tell yoa.'' Pm ia charge of the m ills. sir.
aud l will deliver fh.fm If die for II. You
are a gentleman, and l can depend on your
word Is IL safe for me tn go oD?' Not
knowing the extent of the debacle. assured
him it was and asked the men of the regi-
nient how they bsppened- to be there. .'Sbure,
the Colonel himself told us to go off every
man on his own hook. and iy for our lives.
replied one of them. The mail agent, who told
me he was an Euglisbman. started the cart
again. sincerely hope no bad result to him
self or his charg followed my advice
reached Fairfax Court Huuse; the people,
black and white, with anxious faces. were at
tue doors. and thr infantry were under arms.
l was b-siegtd with questions though huu-
dreds OF iugitives bad passed before me.
" asbingtou was still eighteen miles away.
The road was rough and uncertain, aud
again my poor steed was underway; but it
was no as trying to outstrip the ruaaways-
Ooce or twice | i'm iginpd heard guns in the
rear, but L could not be sure of il in conse-
qaence OF the roar of the flight behind me.
1t was most surprising to see how far the foot
soldiers had coutrived to get on in the add
vance.
Alter sunset the moon rose, and among
Other acquaintances. logged alongside an OF
hcer who was in charge of Col. Hunter, the
commander OF brigade, believe. who was
shot through the neck and was inside a cart
escorted by few troopers. This officer was
as L understand, the Major or second in com
mand of Col Hunters regiment, yet he had
considered 1t right to take charge OF his chief.
and to leave his battalion. He said they had
driven back the enemy with ease, but had not
been supported, aud blamed-as bad officers
and good ones will do-the conduct OF the
General $50 mean fight | never saw.
Now, what is to be thought of an officer-gal
1ant he may be as steel-who says, as heard
Mis- gentleman say 10 picket, who asked
we've been licked into cooked hat; Knocked
20 -" This was his cry to teams,erS, es-
eorts. conveys, the officers and men on guard
and detachm mt, while |. ignorant of tile dis
aster behind, tried To mollify the effect of the
Rows by adding, ''Oh, its drawn battle.
The troops are re-occupying the position from
which they started in the morning" Perhaps
be- knew the troops b tier than l did.
Sst.As approached Washington, having left
the Colonel and his escort at some seven
miles on the south side of the Long Bridget
found the grand guards. pi ;kets, posts, aud
individual sentries burning for news. aud
the word used to pass along. "What does
that man say, Jack ?'' "Begorra. be tells
me we're not al at ali-on' y reIreating To
the ould lines for the convaniency of fighting
tomorrow again. Oh, that's illigant!' On
getting to the tete de pOnt, however. the coum-
tersgn was demanded; OF course i had not
got 1t. But the officer passed me through on
the production of Gen. Scott's safeguard.
The lights OF the city were in sight aud re-
Hected on the waters of the Potomac, just
glistened by the clouded moon, shone the
gay lamps of the White House, where the
President was probably entertaining some
friends. In silence | passed over the Long
Bridge. Some few hours later it quivered
ander the steps of rabble of unarmed men.
At the Wash ngton end regiment with piled
Of ms We're waiting to cross over into Virginia,
singing and cheering. Before the morning
shey received orders, believe, to assist liz
keeping Maryland quiet. For the hundredth
time repeated the Cautious account, which,
to the best of my knowledge. was true.
There were men, women and soldiers to hear
1t.
The clock had just struck ii p NJ, as 1
passed Wizards. The pavement in front of
the hail was crowded. The rumors of the
defeat had come in. but few of the many who
had been fed upon lies and the reports of
complete victory which prevailed could cred
it the intelligence. Seven hours had not
elapsed before the streets told the story. The
Grand Army of the North" as ii was call
ed, had representatives in every thorough
fare, without arms. orders or officers, stand
ing out in the drenchiug rain. When all
these most unaccountable phenomena were
| was fast asleep, but could scarce
credit my informant this morning when he
told me that the FedtraIists, utterly routed had
faiIen back on arlington 10 defend the Crpddl
.Voiag Hsariy .Ji0s 6ItterseS Of drtztie1y, s 090
nsgskets, an immense quantity of stores and bag
7a9s. and their ,couaded and PRISONERS IN the hind
Of The enemy.
) Lei the American journals tell the story
their own way. have told mine as know il.
Iti had raiHed incrssanilyand heavilysince ear
~ morning, and the country must be unfit for
Operations; otherwise. if Mr.. Davis desired to
press his advantage he might now be very
clole to Arlington Heights. He has already
proved that he has fair right to be eonsid-
cred the head of ''beIlgerent po,cer." Bat
though the North may reel under the shock,
innOt think it will make her desiSt from
the struggle, unless it be speedily followed
by blows more deadly even than the repulse
from Manassas. There is much talk now (of
masked batteries" of courSe) of outfianking
and cavalry, and such matters. The truth
seems to be that the men were overworked,
kept out for twelve or fourteen hours i'm the
sun exposed to long lire, badly officer
ed, and of deficient regimentaI organization.
Then came a most difficult operation-to
withdraw this army, constituted, out of
action 10 face ot an energetic enemy, who
had repulsed il. The retirement of the bag
gage, which was without adequate guards
aud was in the hands of ignorant drivers
was misunderstood and created alarm, aud
tnat alarm became panic, which became
Irautic on the appearance of the enemy and
On the opening of their guns on the runaways
But the North will be all the more eager to
retrieve this disaster, although il may divert
her from the scheme, which has been suggested
~ her, of Furnishing England little longer
The eXultation OF the South can only be
understood by those who may see it, and if
The Federal Government pers=yeres in its de-
sign to make union by force, it may pre-
pare for struggle the result of which will
cave the Union very little to fight for |
pity the public across the waller, but they
must be the victims of hallucinations and
myths it is out of Empower to dispei or rectify
ust now. Having told SO long story, can
scarcely expect yeur readers to have patience,
md go back upon the usual diary of events !; |
,ut the records, such as they are, of this ex-
raordinary repulse must co nmand attention.
It is impossible to exaggerate their impor-
ance. No man can predict the results or
pretend to guess at them.
The London Press on the Battle OF
Manassas Plains.
The London Times of Monday, August 5,
ays:
The army of the Tinted States xyh;oh hos