Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-09-05


Gloomy Sunday at the Csp'fsi-Oar Army at
CenteyriHe sros.fing Ire approach Of the Enc
my-7ze Governor Of Ner Jersey Refuses 70
Aaon Caissn Of that State to be Dragged Of
By Letter de Caehet. dc, dc, DC.
WASHINGTON, September L.
The excitement that has had possession OF
Washington for the last three days il unparal-
elled, save. perhaps, iH the single exception
afforded by the tine when our army, by order
Of General Greeley. made It's first advance upon
Richmond.
First, on Tuesday, came the news of the dash
of Lees cavalry upon the railroad between here
and the Rappahannock. This, however. was
supposed TO be a mere raid by small force
of guerrifias more anxious for plumber than
TO effect a serious result; hence people mere
ly wondered al the daring impotence of the
rebels, and allow Ell the matter 70 have no undue
weight.
The next day force Of Federals went up to
repair the track and drive off the small band of
marauders and people awaited confidently the
success of the enterprise. About the time We
expected TO hear that the road was open, the in
formation came that troops. in attempting to
drive the enemy off, had met with heavy losses
and Indifferent success; opening our eyes TO the
fact that the raid was not mere squad OF
reckless pIunderers, but the veterans of jackson
in force
Ascertaining this, Mcdowell and Sigel we're
sent in behind the enemy to cut OFF his only
means Of exit, which was through the Bull
Run Mountains. by Thoroughfare Gap. All day
Friday, from daylight till dark, the battle ragged
with terrific fury, with general advantage on
the part OF our forces. but not TO an extent that
forced the capitulstion of the enemy or drive
him from the field. Eight thousand of our gal
liant fellows were placed. hOrs de CONDUIT, and it
is a fair presumption that the enemy's loss was
at least less.
Saturday morning, Heintzelman's corps dGrmee
moved upon the enemy from CentrevIlle; Fitz
John Porter and other columns also went into
action, and all that day the battle ragged with a
fury unequalled. During the day, L0ngstreet,
with immense reserves, swept down from w hite
Plains through Thoroughfare upon Sigel and
Mcdowell, who separated him from jackson,
and, by the mere weight of numbers, rolled them
away from before him, and, ere night. the two
rebel armies had casped hands upon the banks of
classic Bull Run.
At this point our information becomes misty
and undecided. That Sigel lost four batteries;
that Mcdowell lost heavily in cannon and prison
ers; and that the loss of both in killed and
wounded was immense. is about all that we know
to a certainty.
At the night of Saturday the curtain fell upon
the bloody tragedy and shut out its scenes from
the anxious eyes at Washington that were strain
ing to get glimpse of what it had hidden.
During the night heavy rain set in, and, when
Sunday morning came, it seemed as IT nature,
draped in deepest mourning, was weeping over
the bloody events of the past two days.
Yesterday was an exciting. ieyerish day. In
spite of clouds and rain, people thronged the
streets all day to learn something of matters
from the belliserents. Through the streets am
balances were tearing hither and thther at gal
lop, and regiment after regiment, in grim silence
and in quick time, went through the avenue to-
wards the scene of conflicts. Mud stained order
lies tore through, every instant, at fierce gallop;
long trains OF supply wagons. with noise like
mufied thunder, filed necessarily along in the
direction of Long Bridge. evidently bound for the
field of battle.
Toward noon long lines of ambulances began
to make their appearance, passing carefully along
filled with the bruised and shattered victims OF
the fight, hacks began to come in, and, stopping
before some hotel, revealed as their contents
pald blood stained officers, whom kindly hands
bore tenderlv TO their rooms; weary mud stained
soldier occasionally made his appearance on the
street, and was instantly surrounded by crowds,
who heard his story that all OF bis regiment were
cut to pieces save him" and forgot his cowardice
in listening to his details of the conflict; well
founded rumors tn It eur forces had fallen back
on Centervile, leaving many of gallant
wounded in the possession OF the enemy, began
to be current; and when, in addition to all these
circumstances. there came up in the afternoon
the roar of artillery in the direction of Center
vile, the excitement reached hight painful in
its gloom and intensity.
| went to the telegraph office, and there found
crowd of reporters exchanging their experiences
in suppressed voices and with anxious faces,-tht
enemy massed before Us in force, knowing that
now is their last opportunity; our own column:
scattered, with no more reiniorcements available
aud worn down with two days fighting,--this was
about all the comfort TO be obtained here: and
finding that the authorities would allow nothing
to be telegraphed, / went home, half convinced
that the morrow would witness our complete an
initiation.
Thus passed Sunday goomier day than
hope ever to see again
To day nothing has been heard from the field
Our latest intelligence assures US that, having
fallen back, our army is resting its center upor
Centervile. and awaiting the approach of tn,
enemy Speculation TO results is useess-w,
can only hope for the best. Our army has beer
heavily reinforced since Saturday. but to a grea
extent with inexperienced troops.
Mcclellan, whose name is "A talisman TO his ar
my, has taken the field. and heads in person th,
few Thousands which the Government has lief
him; Burnside, with his veterans from the South
has wheeled INFO line Fitz John Porter, with hi.
Fighting Division, is there. and will show Oh,
like ours - 10 HOokers guerrllas.
HeIntzeman kearney. Sumner-men who ar,
/ bronzed and hardened by the heat of at least
/ dozen battle feds,-are all in line, awaiting tn
shock of the maddened thousands who have jus
poured through Bull Run mountains. almost an
Initiating Sige and Mcdowell as they came.
Ii the enemy overt ONES the forces that from
him to day. there will scarcely be enough of re
bel "chiyilry left to perpetuate the race 1t vii
be them n tremendous victory whose cost vii
treble its value. There will be no panic, no sec
ond edition of Boil Run; if they win. they vii
gain every inch o: their progress at the poiut o
the bayonet
| would TO God we had here to day fifty thOus
and OF our own W Western troops,-troops like thOs,
who struggled one TO four for six hours al vii
sons Creek who breasted the tempest of dealt
at DOnelson,-who annihilated the horles of civ
i illZed and savage traitors ut Pea Ridge,-who
ever since the war broke out, have 50 fought anC
endured a TO make the name of Western Sol
der and Hero synonymous.
There l. considerable other news that | mean
I To have given you in this letter, but. in face o
the tremendous events staring US in the face JUS
over the Potomac. ordinary matters sink into ute
insignihcance / will only allude TO the fact tha
Governor Allen, of New Jersey. in refusing {,
allow citizen of his State to be dragged oil b,
ietfre de cachef has established a preceden
which should render him immortal. Ii would b.
we'll II Governors Yates. kirkwoOd. and other: o
our Western rulers would possess themselves o
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