Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-09-10

rnIiI~urr
from Washington.
Tranquility at The Capifal-Th< History Of The
late Battles yet 10 be Wrffea-Her The West
era Troops bsasred--Grs Charges syainsf
Gen. MeDoreil-Tke Battles on Saturday and
MOHSsy-Nseessify Of National Uprising 10
repsi Tsrasisn-Osr Wounded Soldiers.
wAsHsxeroS. September 4.
There is just nov cessation Of the tension OF
public anticipation. and to-day the city OF Wash
ingtou is as unconcerned If the enemy had re
taken himself 10 the shores Of the Gulf. The
theatres are crowded 70 suffocation each night,
and the humor Of the los comedian is a. broad
anc as well received, and the audience as free
from apprehension and as jolly. as it the tide of
loyalty had just overfioved forever the rebel
capital For week there was a feverish anxiety
of painful CHI racter: people suspended every
thing, almost TO their very breath, to inform
themselves Of the progress Of events. But
the worst is known, and although our proud ar
mics lie foiled and shattered, around their forti
ications a reaction has taken place, and people
are as cheerful and careless as in the palmiest
hours Of our national glory This seeming
anomaly is not unnatural result; the human
mind is strongly elastic, and. when forced in one
direction. will, sooner or later recoil to the oppo
site extreme.
Perhaps, also, il is felt that our affairs have
reached and passed their crisis. and that the
ton. however weak and sick. is convalescing.
The history of the fighting before W Washington
has, IN spite of the column after column which
has been given in the daily press, yet to be writ
ten. ! doubt that it ever will be fully, for now
at least, there is no pen hardy enough to apply
itself to the task. The man who should dare To
tell the whole truth-who should give details OF
the openly charged treachery, of whispered in
efficiency Of rumored cowardice, of the whole
sale slaughter-would be regarded as an insane
alarrnist, and, in addition, would probably, at
the requisiton of some Star Chamber. find him
self inspecting the doings of mankind from be
hind the CRATES of prison.
The full and truthful history of events for the
last fortnight would fill US with mingled feelings
of establishment, pride and indignation. Never
since the war begun has there been a greater dis
play of all that is painful in human nature. and,
at the same time of those alities that make one
blush 10 own himself kindred to man.
Among the former let me instance Kings d.
vision, composed largely of Western troops
among whom were the %. 9th and 7th Wiscon-
sin. Before going into battle they drew ninety
two hundred rations; and upon coming out,
twenty three hundred. They struggled against
the most fearful odds for nearly an entire day,
and only a. last doggedly consented to move
from the field when satisfied that the only altern-
alive To retreat was complete humiliation.
The Michigan 81 was under fire just one third
of an hour. Thev entered the tempest of death
two hundred and fifty strong; they emerged from
it with aded powder blackeHed remnant of one
hundred and ten The 7th Wisconsin lost nearly
two hundred; the ID, about two hundred and
fifty
The Indiana and Ohio regiments generally
came out OF the conflict with more than doubly
decimated ranks In fact, Western yalor was
everywhere conspicuous. the long lists of kill
ell and wounded will abundantly demonstrate.
While speaking of Wisconsin regiments, il
may be opportune to mention Gen Mcdowell. in
whose division they so well fought. Charges of
the gravest nature are made against him by not
merely all his men. but by officers high in COM
mand and intelligence. liz does not matter wheth.
these charges be true not, for so long as his
soldiers believe him traitor and believe that he
Intentionally sacrifices them SO long will they be
demoralized and inefficient. Much blame is at
tached TO Mcdowell for not holding the enemy
in check at Thoroughiare Gap Ii is everywh0e
believed that a single regiment could hold the
pass in question against ten thousand men. Now
IL is not generally known, but il is nevertheless
true, that, within distance OF four miles from
White Plains (where Longstreet massed his force
before falling upon McDowell), there are no less
than five gaps through the Bull Run Mountains,
each OF which affords as easy passage for troops
as that afforded by the one especially defended
by Mcdowell. And the truth il. that, instead
OF forcing their way through Thoroughfare Gap,
whence Lee and Longstreet divided their forces,
sent forward small column, to employ the Fed
erals, and then pushing through the other passes,
they massed tier forces at point few miles
northwest of Mcdowell, and swept down upon
him with irresistible fury and overwhelming num-
bers These are the facts in the case but are
carefully concealed. either through ignorance or
design. from the public.
Stories of the most absurd and ridiculous char
acter are everywhere current relative to the same
commander. One Is, that he wears peculiar
kind of a hat, which he has been seen To wave
toward the enemy during the progress OF battle.
and which is said To embody system of precon-
certed signals with the enemy to preserve him
from their fire Mcdowell NAV be unfortunate:
he is certainly unpopular with his men to an ex-
tent that renders has removal a matter OF expe-
diency; but that he is traitor | do not for a
single moment admit Treason doesn't run in
the Mcdowell blood: for his brother, now in
command of troops at the West. is as gallant a
soldier aud true a patriot drew sword
in defense of his country.
Saturday the grand struggle of the week.
Each previous day had been marked by some
conflict. which grew hercer and heavier as the
week rolled on, until Saturday. when the com
i Dneu forces OF Dotn the immense armies hurled
themselves upon each other with desperation
/ Whether we were outnumbered out eenerale Ell
may perhaps, never be told suffice il that. after
one OF the blooGlest battles in the history of the
war. the result was conceded to be adverse Ia the
side OF loyalty. Both sides were too exhausted
/ to renew the conflict on Sunday,--the rebels to
pursue Monday came and
rising from their rest of twentyfour hours, the
rebels were again in motion. moving around our
/ right flank They essayed again movement
/ that they have so often repeated during The war
/ but this time unsuccessfully. Our wesried troops
gathered their energies for another effort, swept
the attacking column from the field and then the
whole army fell back under the secure protection
of the guns of the Notifications.
/ | do not write these things to create alarm OF
CONSERVATION, but rather that northern people
may understand our true position, and be prepared
to act accordingly We have always hitherto
moderated the task before Us ; have never
been sufficiently in earnest; We have never vel
put in operation but fraction of the tremendous
energies in possession.
Perhaps il will awake the masses when they
/ learn that TO day our armies are precisely where
they were one year ago; that We are Just as neal
! Richmond. but not step nearer and that now
/ as then the rebel columns menace the Nationa
- Il