Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-09-04
The Situation at 1 P. NJ. on sunday--Order
brought out Of ChaOs--Our Generals in
Good Spirits--Aeccnnts OF SHlurday's Bat
tIe--The Delay Of FrnukIin's Division.
rcnrrns-.,-,.a.rnn n V n,riI,,,ro
WASHINGTON, Aug. 3I-IO P. N

Correspondence n. Y. Tubune.l
WASHINGTON, Aug. s1-lOP. N.
A gentleman whose official position gave
him the entree to Gen. Pope's headquarters
and who talked freely with him and with
a number Of generals and others prominent
officers, and who observed with cool civil
ian eyes, left CentreVille about one Oclook
to-day, and arrived here this evening. He
supplies the latest authentic account Of
I the situation.
When hearrived at the nights of Centre
vile, at about half past six this morning,
things appeared to his unpractised eye to
be in no little confusion Men roaming
about singly and in squads-guns il mo-
4 ton toward this and that point. But in
| the course of two or three hours he per
ceived order coming out of apparent chaos
The men who had been seeking their regi-
msnts had found them, and the regiments
were marching and counter-marching.-
All the artillery, the supervision of which
was entrusted to Cen Mcdowell, had found
its place. All seemed ready to meet an at
tack, and strong picket guards had been
sent out to look for the enemy, the order to
one being to push on to Manassas.
The only officers who had much to say
about decentralization, or panic, or disorgan-
izatiOn, were those whose personal appear
ance indicated that they spoke from expe-
rience. In Gen. Pope's headquarters,
which were established in house on the
street Of Centreville, all was cool and Sc
rene. There, with the commanding gener-
al, were Mcdowell, Reno and Reynolds,
with other officers of high rank. All were
in good spirits, and sent the most cheerful
messages to the Secretary of War. They
regarded their position as impregnable;
were disposed, indeed, toinvite attack; and
were not apprehensiye of any fanking
movement by the enemy.
Gen. Reno said that the real cause of cur
defeat was rant Of supplies. The horses had
hardly anything to eat for from three to yfve
days, and the men had fared little better His
words were borne out by the voracity with
which staff officers, who usually have the
best opportunities to secure what is TO be
had, devoured their breakfast to-day.
In spite of this, however, in spite of all
drawbacks, Gen. Reno and all the officers
with whom my informant talked agreed |
that column Of ten thousand fresh troops
10ould have changed The fortunes Of the day.
Where is Franklinj' Where is Sum
ner ?" was the question. The answer l |
have given you in a previous letter.
Franklin's officers said they were ready TO |
march on Tuesday, and we're expecting the
order On Wednesday they were allowed |
a days leave. On Thursday and Friday |
they were kept in camp, momentarily ex- !
pecting an order That il came and kept /
coming from Gen. Halleck, and was coun-
termanded by Gen. Mcclellan, you al
ready know
Before my informant left herds of cattle, /
and provisions for man and beast, were /
arriving at Centreville in great abund-
ance, and the soldiers were eagerly break
ing their long fast.
Although the officers at headquarters did |
not seem to be disposed to admit it in so
many words, the inevitable inference from
what they said was, that we were defeated !
on Saturday. Friday closed with a vic
tory; we were driving the enemy back /
when night came on. But in the morn /
ing, as was soon made evident, he was |
stronger A force, estimated at 10000 i
strong, had marched to his relief through /
Thoroughfare Gap. Our line of battle was
formed about six miles from CenterYille, |
and not far from the old Bull Run battle !
field. Gen. Mcdowell was on the left, Gen. |
Fitz John Porter in the centre, and Gen.
Reno on the right. The left fronted a
heavy piece of woods, in which there was
little show of force, while opposite the cen
ter and right, the signs were that the enc |
my had massed his troops. Our forces
were disposed upon the supposition that
this was the case. But it was discovered
soon after the battle begun that the real
strength of the rebel army was on our
left. Gen. Lee, who was in command of
the whole rebel army, had massed his
troops on our left, and poured in a terrible
nre, which caused Gen. McDowelrs corps
to waver and fall back. The battle ragged
all day, but the enemy proved too strong
for US, and toward night our forces fell
back to Centerville, leaving the killed and
most Of the more seriously wounded in the
hands of the enemy. The retrograde move
ment was executed in good order.