New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-09-02

Ger brought Oat OF ChaOs-Cur Gscner"
aIs i'm Good spiriss-Accounss Of sntur.
days Rattie-The Delay Of FraRkhn's
Division.
Fsen Our Special Correspo ndent
. WARRINGTON, Aug 3i-1op. m
A gentleman whose official position gave MN 'ne
entrfe to Gen. Pope's headquarters, who 'slkeo
freely with him and with number OF Generals
and other prominent officers and who observed with
cool civilian ewes left Centreville at about O'CLOCK
to-day, and arrived here this evening. lie supplies
the latest authentic account of the situation.
When he arrived at the nights OF Centreviile'a III
about balfp o'clock this morning, Things
appeared TO bis unpractced eye to be ID no NIUE
confusion. Men roaming about sinsly ana IN sq""u'
-cnns in motion toward this and that point. But IN
the course of two or three hours he perceived order
Il coming out of apparent chaos. The men who had
4 hesn seeking their reqiments had found them, and
the regiments were marching and countermarcbi"g'
All the artillery, the supervision OF when was
intrusted TO Gen. Mcdowell, had found i's pace
! All seemed ready TO meet an attack, ana slfohe
pieke, guards had been sent out 10 look Tor INC
enemy, the order 10 one being to push on 70 Mali
assas.
The only officers who bad much TO say about de-
moraliza,ion or panic or Reorganization were those
whose appearance indicated that they spoke from
personal experience. In Gen. Pope's headquarters,
which were established in house on the street OF
Centrevle, all was cool and serene. There, with
tue General Commanding, were Gers. mcdowell
Reno and REYNOLDS, with other officers Of high rank.
MI were in good spirits and sent the most cheeriuI
messages to the Secretary of War. They regarded
their position as impregnabe; were disposed, IN
deed, to invite attack; and were not spprehensive
of any thanking movement by the enemy.
Although the officers at headquarters did not seem
10 be disposed 10 admit II in so many words, the
inevitable inference from what they said was, that
we were defeated on Saturday. Friday closed with
a victory; we were driving the enemy back when
night came on. But in the morning as was coon
made evident, he was stronger. A force est'ihs'ea
at 40 GOO strong had marched 10 his rehei through
Thoroughiure Gap. Our line of battle was iorineu
about six miles from CenireviIlc, and not lar from
the old Bull Run battlefield. Gen. Mcdowell was
on the left Gen. Fiz John Porter in the center ana
Gen. Reno on ,he right. Tie left frontec heavy
piece of woods, in which there was little show OF
force, while opposite the center and right the signs
were, that the enemy had massed his troops' Our
forces were disposed upon the supposilon that lhs WIS
the Gaze But it discovered soon alter the Datue
begun that the real strength of the Rebel army WAS
on our left Gen. Lee, who WAS 10 command OF Tie
whole Rebel army, had massed his troops on our left
and poured in a terrible fire which cauted Cen Nc
Dowell's CORPS 70 wayer and fall back. The battle
ragged all day. but the enemy proved too strong for
us and toward night our forces fell back 10 Centre
VILE, leaving the killed and most Of the more
seriouslv wounded in the hands Of the enemy. That
enemy luckily perhaps, for us, did not pursue our
retiring columns, and made no attempt TO modest
. them. The retrograde movement was, according TO
she generals and o,her officers with whom my
J.. informant talked, executed in good order.
Gen. Reno said that the real Of our defeat
was rant of supplies. The horses had had tardiy
anything 10 eat for from three 10 fire days, and ne
men Ind fared ,tAe better. His words were borne
. out by the voracity with which staff officers, who
. usually have the best opportunities 10 secure what
- il 10 be had devoured their breakfasts to-day. In
tpte of this however, in spite of all drawbacks, 70
some of which it is not yet time 70 allude Gen.
Reno an / all the officers with whom my informant
talked agreed that a coh.mH Of ten honsdnd fresh
trooDs troUld hare clangcd tie fortunes cf The day.
Nv here is Franklin ?" "Where IL Sumner" was
3
previous letter. Frsnklns officers ,aid they were
ready TO march on Tuesday and were expecting tbs
order. On Wednesday they allowed days
leave. On Thursday and Friday they were kept in
camp, momentarily expecting an order That it
came and kept coming from Gen. ilalleck, and WAS
countermauded by Gen. Mcclellan, you already
know.
Before my informant left herds Of cattle and pro-
vile in great abundance, and the soldiers were
. eagerly breaking their long f-s..
1, Up 70 o'clock firing worth speaking Of was
heard at Centrevie, nor after that hour the ride
to AexaUdris.
The number Of prisoners paroled by the enemy
was 60.
The thousand prisoners, Of whose capture Gen.
Pope speaks in bis first dispatch, taken 10
Alexandra to-day, and securely confined there.
Gen. Reno said in conversation to-day that he
never a more daring act iten one performed by
the Rebels On Saturday. OFT % the woods on The
flank Of several Of his batteries swarmed what up.
peared 10 BE sragglers FROM our forces-a few a.
FIRST then and more, until not less than regi
ment or two hsd emerged b. was completely de-
ceived until they were nearly upon his guns, when
be caught eight Of the red Iatch," knew them 10
be Rebels, turned bis artillery in twinklng upon
them, and destroyed almost every man.
| The precise facts about Banks lis troops and his
transportation, it is difficult to arrive at. The gem
tlerpan, whose report have endeaVored TO present
above, heard nothing about him. and made no special
inq airies. II is stated here by those who should
know, and as from The best authority, that Banks -
safe brit that he Obliged 10 destroy all hstraias
of which h. had more than his share mnch unneces