Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1862-09-08
Correspondence Of the n. 7. I

changing disposition OF forces during the days
which followed the defeat Of Saturday. Three
corps at least remained at Centreville on Mon
day, and were scattered over the broad slopes
Of the hill on either side Of the road in unmil
itary disorder. They had never been in order
no more had the rest Of the army since the
retreat There was no head to put them III
order There was no order IN any department
Of the service There was not ammunition In
the batteries or in the cartridge boxes OF the
infantry enough for another battle; yet no one
knew where the ammunition trains were to be
found In the first five minutes | met three
ordnance officers riding in search Of these trains
No fault of theirs that the trains could not be
found. They are able officers, but no control
was in their hands-no means Of doing their
duty. Orderlies had Just been sent in all direc-
tons in search Of the Wagons-and it was al
ready 10 O. clock, and battle hourly expected
since daylight
The camps were inextricably entangled not
to my eye OF Judgment only, though | have
seen enough to know something about it, but |
heard General commanding corps d armee
say he did not know, and could not asc ertain,
the relative position of other corps. Another
General, a regular officer of engineers, and ia
NOUS for Typographical clearness and skill, SAID
to me that one glance at the hillside was enough
to show that there was no General at the head
of the army encamped there.
It was no better with the supplies Of food.
The troops were half fed Or irregularly. Regi-
mental wagons were unloaded and ordered to
Alexandria for food and forage. Then the or
der was countermanded and they were re loaded
and ordered to the rear. There was misman-
agerlent everywhere because at headquarters
there was incompetence, confusion, no settled
plans no head.
The army was not so much disheartened as
enTaged-WiIling to fight, but not willing to be
sacridceCI-denouncing, with a unanimity that
had no exception, the incapacity which had
caused their defeat. No one believed that the
combined force of the rebels were in front and
ticerS. the Generals who foughtit, confess with
shame and anger that they were beaten by half
their number The army was not defeated
it's commander was outgeneraled. He neither
knew where his enemy was, nor would suffer
himself to be informed. lie was warned that
the enemy was massing on his Ieft-eyery sol
der knew it, but he disbelieved and denied It !;
sent batteries and troops to the right, to the
centre, to the everywhere but Were they
were vanted-thon III a moment, found him.
self surrounded, enyoloped, crushed and de
1cated.
Gen. Mcdowell was censured not less severe
" than Cen Pope With the latter his advice
was said to have tad an undue controlling in
fuence. 1.-THE only order Pope gave was the
order to retreat Mcdowell fought the bat
tle Pope leaned only on his advice-yielded
him command throughout. It was q blundor
from the beginning It is useless, said an Off
Ger, to fight under Mcdowell. [ shall do my
duty as an officer, but we shall lose every bat
tie where he commands. do not know vhe-
ther have heard tieachery or jnbeci]ity most
1.ac.,,ntl5 :..,1,. II "a ALcLln,.z2l Darha1as nE