The Portland daily press., 1862-09-08

The weather is delightful, and on the street
things wear more lively phase
Washington seems to be full of reports de-
rogatory to the efficiency and loyalty of Gen.
Mcdowell. This appears not only from the
newspaper accounts, but from private advices
Measures should be taken to investigate them,
In order that the General may be indicated if
they are false, or removed from his command
If they are sustained. The Washington Re-
publican says:
"The clamor against Gen. Mcdowell in the
army is said to be universal, some charging
him with mismanagement merely, while Others
denounce him as a traitor. 1t is plain that,
whether the charges are true or false he can
no longer be useful as a commander He is
distrusted by his troops, and to degree which
will prevent their fighting successfully under
him. Ii he Is unjustly accused, it is a griev-
Gus misfortune for him. He must, in that case,
look to the future for his vindication. But in
the meantime there is a clear necessity that
he should be Withdrawn from any command"
The Washington Republican, in recording
the doings of a party of clerks and citizens
and who went out 10 the battlefield to remove
the sick and wounded, says:
"The field, over an extent of about five
miles in length, by three in width, was found
completely strewn with our dead and wound
ed, in all forms and conditions. One space, of
many acres in extent, was found very thickly
strewn-sone lying IN masses, and others scat
tered about. The dead were usually stripped
of all their military trappings, and, in most in
stances of coats, pants, and shoes, many being
fonnd without any clothing, except shirts and
stockings. One wounded man said he saw his
companion stripped while he was kicking in
his dying struggles.
About twenty surgeons were with the party,
and they commenced the work of gathering
the sufferers together in an orchard, where the
operation OF amputation was performed, if nee
essary
The great want was food for the sufferers
Some of the wounded had not tasted food for
four days, and they were completely exhaust
ed; and some died of hunger. in addition to
wounds, and loss of blood. 1t is represented
as being horrible to witness the agonies of
these men, and to be unable TO give them food.
About four hundred men were saved by these
noble laborers, and sent to the railroad station,
thence to Alexandria.
Our informant says that some eight or ten
of our citizens are still on the field, while the
Others were compelled to leave on account of
hunger.
He says that about sixty of the Washington
party of Government clerks, &c. were un-
doubtedly captured by the enemy on Monday
morning. They started little ahead of the
party, and swung off towards Gen. Banks
corps, where il is supposed they were taken
by division Of the enemy, who were engaged
in harassing Banks on his retreat from Warren
ton"
Annexed are some miscellaneous reports
from Washington:
Gen. HeintzelmaS advises that when the
~ iS na.la hat tt,a 1. all 81
privilege Of joining the old regiments, and all
who do SO to receive the bounties. He thinks
they can fill up the old regiments in that man
ner. The Secretary Of War has decided not
to fill up the old regiments with drafted men,
unless they volunteer to go in them.
number of officers were arrested yester-
day for being absent from their commands
without leave, and will be stricken from the
rolls. Fully one thousand commissioned Off
icers promenade the avenues and throng the
hotels Of Washington.
Over a thousand sick and wounded soldiers
are sent to Portsmouth Grove X. /.
stand of rebel colors was captured by the
Brooklyn Fourteenth Regiment.
Our loss in artillery, it is estimated, will be
more than thirty pieces. No batteries were
taken from the rebels.
1t is now thought that our entire loss the
last two weeks will not exceed 5000. viz: 6O00
killed and wounded, and 2000 prisoners and
that the whole rebel loss is not over 10000.
All wounded who were brought to Wash
ington have been paroed by the rebels to not
fight until regularly exchanged. They have
kept list of them.
About eleven hundred prisoners who were
taken by the rebels returned last night. These
men assisted in burying our dead. The reb-
els took everything off but their shirts.
Several hundred South Carolina and Louisa
ma prisoners were brought in Wednesday, hav-
ing been taken yesterday and the day before.
They say they had nothing to eat for three
days.