Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1862-02-04

:
The official report of Gen. Joseph E. Johnston,
giving clear and detailed account of the ope-
rations Of the forces under his command from
the time he went to Harper's Ferry to the con-
cusion of the great battle of Manassas, has been
published. We have room only for few brief
extracts. In reference to the fight at Falling
Waters, better known as the fight at Hainesville,
in which battalion of Col. Harper's Regiment,
(the 5th) with Pendleton's Battery engaged the
enemy, the report says:
On the End of July, General Patterson again
crossed the Potomac. Col. Jackson, pursuant
to instructions, fell back before him. In retir-
ing he gave him severe lesson in the affair at
Falling Waters. With battalion of the 9th
Virginia Regiment (Harper's) and Pendletons
Battery of Field Artillery, he engaged the enc
my's advance, skilfully taking position where
the smalness of his force was concealed, he en-
| gagged them for considerable time, inflicted
heavy loss and retired when about to be outfauk-
ed, scarcely losing man, but bringing off forty
five prisoners.
In speaking of the gallant manner in which our
troops conducted themselves in the battle of Ma
nassas, Gen. Johnston says:
The admirable character Of our troops is in
contestibly proved by the result of this battle !;
especially when it is remembered that little more
than six thousand men of the army of the Shen-
andoah, with sixteen guns, and less than two
thousand of that of the Potomac, with six guns,
for full five hours successfully resisted thirty
five thousand United States troops, with pow
erful artillery and superior force ofregular cav
airy.
1t will thus be seen that 5000 Southern troops
successfully withstood defeated, and routed 35,-
600 of the enemy. The Importance of the juno
ton of Gen. Johnston's forces with that of Gen.
Beauregard will be appreciated when it is OBJ
served that there were three times as many of
his men engaged as there were Of Beauregard's.
The following will show the respective losses in
these commands-the army of the Potomac being
that of Beauregard, and the army of the Shenan-
doah, that Of Johnston:
The loss Of the army of the Potomac was 1O6
killed, $40 wounded, IL missing. That Of the
army of the Shenandoah was 27O killed, 979
wounded, Is missing.
Total killed 37S
Total wounded 1,489
Il Total missing 30
That of the enemy could not be ascertained.-
1t must have been between 1000 and 5,000.-
Twenty eight pieces of artillery, about 5000
muskets, and nearly SOC, 900 cartridges garri-
son flag and 10 colors were captured on the field
or in the pursuit Besides these we captured Ga
artillery horses, with their harness, 26 wagons,
and much camp equipage, clothing, and other
property abandoned in their flight.
1t will be remarked that the three Bri igader- Gen
erals of the Army of the Shenandoah were all
wounded. have already mentioned the wound
ofGeneral Smith. General Jackson, though pain
; fully wounded early in the day, commanded his
brigade to the close of the action. General Bee,
after great exposure at the commencement of the
engagement, was mortally wounded just as our
renforcements were coming up.
Gen. Johnston concludes his report by assign
ing the following satisfactory reasons for not
pushing on to Washington: w tarEe ~
, The apparent firmness of the United States
troops at CentreFille who had not been engaged
which checked our pursuit, the strong forces
| occupying the works near Georgetown, Arlington,
and Alexandria, the certainty. too, that General
Patterson, ifneeded, would reach Washington,
with his army OF thirty thousand men sooner than
we could, and the condition and inadequate
means Of the army in ammunition, provisions,
and transportation, prevented any serious tho'ts
OF advancing against the a.ital- 1t is certain
that the fresh troops. within the works were, in
number, quite sufficient for their defence if not,
Gen. Patterson sermy would certainly reinforce
themsSoon enough