The New York herald., 1862-09-08

some Oi tne moro severely WouBued, were by tne
humanity Of Dr. Guild Medical Director Of Genera Lee,
allowed 70 proceed TO Washington cur ambulances,
under the protection OF a flag Of truce.
The last Of the Centre vile wounded reached this
city, accompanied by Drs Detmold Page Clemens Jen-
kns Webster Byrne and others, Of the large sent
10 the re,ef Of wounded by Surgeon General Ham
moDd.
STATEMENT OF MIR. EMERY, or WASH
INGTON.
THE GOVERNMENT CALL FOR HuasEs-THE READY
REsPoNsE-EN ROUTE FOR TIE BATTLE FIELD
OUR ALLEGED VICTORY A SIGNAL DEFEAT-BAD
6ENERALSHIP--M cLELLAN's ENEMIES ACKSOwL-
EDGE HIS SUPERIORITY AND SKILL BATTLE
FIELD-THB ATTENTION OF THE UNION SURGEONS
TO OUR wOUKDED-THE STEADY BRAVERY OF OUR
TROOPS PRovED-BATTLE FIELD DECLARATIONS
OF KElEL soLDIERs-rHE ESTIMATED UNION
LOSSES, ETC.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 5, 1862.
The request OF the Secretary Of War Saturday last,
that The clerks md employees in the several departments
should hasten to the field Of conflict and minister 70 the
sick and wounded, was cheerfuly complied with, and
very many who proHcred their services unable 10
for want Of transportation. Those who went arrived
at Centreve, after vexatious and tedious journey in
long train Of amnuances, about eight O'Clock sabbath
morning Before reaching that place, however, the
cations anything but favorable the despatch
which had been sent by General Popc 10 Wash.
WAS victorious and the rebels flying TO the mountains
Long trains Of government wagons loaded and empty
with portions Of artillery batteries, generally without
their gums and the hurried Of an were any
thins but satisfactory 70 who stood by the Union
But very sew however seemed to understand that was
q retreat 10 other lines, as in the question
"why they were moving backward, ,, overy had his
answer but no one viewed " q before the
enemy. Our disappointment may be imagined when we
found the whole army behind the old ntrenchmeDts st
Centrevie, and glorious victory turned into signal
and disastrous defeat and In many respects Ia Bull run
Of the 2lst july 1861. The enemy had possession Of
the Geld, and II dead and wounded were TO
be cared for must enter tho battle 6e.d under
a flag Of truce This the enemy would not allow
until the next day fMonday). The chagrin Of the
men and officers Of The army, as might be expected
deep, when, they all declared, proper esneraiship
would have saved the what they all claimed to within
hour Of their retiring before the triumphant and
shouting rebels AS tbere all that necessary TO
wait upon and care for the wounded that had been
brought 70 Centrcvie, determined TO spend the
best could with our army, and go TO the battle field
In the morning. Wherever number OF men clrs-
tered together during the day. the Of the defeat
freely and earnestly canvassed and but opinion
prevailed and that the total disqualification and
efficiency of General Mcdowell and that, with any other
general the held the battle would have been De
nuncialons cf his conduct uttered both by men
and officers and is very doubtful whether he viii
DO able during the war to lead even brigade into
the field II said that be would long since have
been dismissed the service for ncompetency but
for political influence Although confess 70 having
lately gone with the multitude 10 the un6tness
Of General Mcclellan a leader Of our army
the eopg manifested by officers and prvates for that
man-tbe alone fitted 10 lead them 10 fnal
quito dsarmed us Of our preudices, and acknowledge
10 deep conviction tha. the administration would run
great hazards in attempting TO supplant him with any
other general Where any other opinion expressed
II was by men lately recruited the service and
whose opinions Of but little moment.
After passing ovor the old Bull run battle ground we
arrived ai the place where surgeons had established
their headquarters, ard where the work Of ampuation
was shortly 10 commence. DR. McFarlane, the Medical
Purveyor Of General Popes stat, his place sur
rounded by large corps Of assistants and would be
unjust not that nearly every them per-
formed their duties promptly and well Drs. Howard
Pare Webster, Kcyes, with few others were especially
asscuous IN their attentions and certainly did mani
fest any OF that inhumany and barbarity which we
have heard of upon such occasions.
battle Geld scene Immediately after a conflict has 40
c,en been described by eye that shall pass
II by with the remark that IL must be be under
stood no language can describe IT, We observed that
the dead contrary ideas OF such sights nearly
invariably occupied but pos;on-upon the back the
face upturned and logs and arms extended Upon that
portion OF the Geld where Mcdowell led his forces INTO
such murderous 1re and lost the day easy 10 see
how steadily the advanced, and how many brave
fe at each Ore from the enemy battery They lay
winrowe and at just such intervals apart as IL re-
qu!red time 10 load and ro. II said by many tha,
Mcdowell mannuvred his troops that afternoon IN an un
accountable manner TO military men, and that he did
not allow our artillery 70 he served with any srt
Of effect upon the cncmys ranks.
Tie enemy did not appear in sight and although some
what curious 10 know what had become OF 30 vast mul
titude IN short time, we no, disposed 70 seek
information al the risk Of safety. Squads OF cavalry
could be riding over the field, pausng occasionally
TO view the dead and and then a company Of ct
zeus prompted BY curiosity, would wander leisurely
about We were not moested In tho discharge OF our
humane duties on the contrary everything in the power
Of the rebels done 70 aid the suffering We saw seve
raj instances Of almost aGccionate attention bestowed
upon some poor sufferer small cracker would be hayed
and the canteen cmptied OF its last drop quench the
thirst Of the dying teDdery would they change the
position Of who had been lying in their gore Tor
CITY or sixty hours. Under such circumstances one
would invcluntarily exclam, In the name OF God and
humanity, wha. is all this blood and sacrifice forfv
officers and conversed freely upon the points In
issue The officers, however differed in this respect
from the prvates they denounced the North, were bit
ter in their denuncia,ons declared that they we're
gong fight until the last had alen and the last
drop Of blood had been shed. number Of intelligent
priva,es, when conversing with them alone, declared
they would much rather under the old Gag than TO
fight another battle. A young man, who was searching
FOR a msslpg brother, said "that hc was born and
lived lbe state that had bogoten the trouble ,south