The New York herald., 1862-02-06

reconnoissances OF the enemys positions asssted b.
Captains Goee and Chichester They also carried orderS
Captain Whitshsads troops 10 take pcsseson Of Fars
Court House, Colonel Terry, with his unerring rife
severed he ballard and thus lowered the federal fe
found still floating from tho supao Of the Court House
there He also secured large federal garrison flag.
designed sad to be unfursd over our tntreachmenB
In connection with the unfortunate casualties of IL
dsythat the miscarriage Of the orders BY cou
rier 10 Generals Holmes and Ewell attack the enemy
"anx aaS reverse at Cenreyle through which the
more decisive-I regard 1t in place say divsioaA
organization with officers in command Of divisions with
appropriate rank as In European services would greatly
reduce tho risk OF such mshaps, and would advantage
ously simplify the communications Of general in CON
mand Of field with his troops
While gorons for our people and Of crushing ofeot
upon the morale of hitherto confident and
ing adversary tho events Of the bats OF Ma
nassas the field only won by stout fighting and a.
before stated with much loss as is precisely exhibited
in the papers herewith, marked F and II, and being
lists of the killed and wounded. The killed outright
numbered 269, the wounded l,483-makng aggregate
Of ,852.
The actual loss Of the enemy will never be known:
may only be conjectured Their abandoned dead e
they were buried by our people whore they fell,
fortunately not enumerated; but many parts of
the field wore thick with their corpses, as but few
battle fields have ever been The official reports OF the
enemy are studiously silent this point, but stN
afford US data for approximate estimate Left almost
the respect tho losses of Hunters and Helm
Zelman's diysions-frst, longest and most hotly en-
gaged-ws arc informed that SRerman,s briradeTyer,s
diyision-suered in killed., wounded missing COO
that about eighteen per cent OF the brigade. regiment
Of Franklins brigade-Gorman's-Lst twenty ono per
cont Grins (battery) loss Uas thirty cent, ana
that Of Keye's brigade which handled by it's COM
nnder to be exposed to only occasional voeys from
repeated references in the reports Of the recent
commanders, TO the 'murder0us" FIRE to which they
were habitually exposed-the "pis.ol range" voleys
ana CALLING muskety of which thoy speak courging
their ranks. and warranted in placing entire
loss OF the federalsts forty hundred in killed.
wounded and prisoners. To this may be legitimatey
added casualty of the BATTLE tho thousands OF ugi.
tves from the field who have reoned their regt-
ments and who are as much lost TO the servoe
as IL slain or disabled by wounds. These may DO IN
cnded under the head OF missng," because IN every
instance Of such report took many prisoners Of those
brigades or regiments as are reported "missing."
list appended exhibits some 400 Of their wounded
and others who fell into hands and Rich
Dor of prisoners including wounded who did not die mag
be set down at not loss than 600 Besides these,
siderable number who could not be removed from 10
field died at several farm houses and field hospitals within
ten days following the battle
To seve the future historian OF this will note tho
fact that among the captured federaiss officers and
men Of fortys regiments Of volunteers, besides
from some nne different regiments OF regular troops,
dstaohments Of which were. engaged. From thor
official reports, learn Of q regiment Of
lun,eers engaged, six regiments Of Niles d.
vision. and the five regiments Of Runyon's
Brigade from which we have neither sound wounded
prisoners. Making all allowances for mistakes, we are
warranted in saying that the federal army consisted Of
rS,e
of regular infantry four Of Marines nine Of regular
cavalry twelve batteries hundred and nineteen
list s
aggregate 81 4O and average 964 each from order of
the enemy's commander, however, dated July 10, we
learn that one hundred mon from each regiment were
ordered to reman in charge Of respective csmps-some
allowance must further be made for the sick and Details
which would reduce the average eight huudred-add.
ing the regular cavalry infantry and artillery present.
an estimate Of their force may be made
paper appended, marked "L" exhibits, iu part, the
and Ind
eight field pieces Of the best character OF arm with
hundred rounds Of ammunition for each gum thirty
artillery horses, completely equipped, Ave hundred thou
sand of small ammunition, four thousand vo hun.
muskos some nine reg,menta and garrison flags with
large number OF pistols, knapsacks swords, canteens.
blankets, large store Of and ntrsnching toois,
wagons, ambulances horses, camp and garrison eQui.
page, hospital stores and some subsistence.
Added to these results may rightly be noticed here
that by this battle an invading army supsrbly equipped,
within twenty miles Of their base Of operations has been
converted into one virtually beseged and exclusively
occupied for months in the construction OF supendOus
series Of fortcaons for the protection Of its
pitai.
beg to call attention to the reports Of the several sub.
ordinate commanders for reference to the signal parts
played by individuals of their respective commands.
Contradictory Statements found in these reports should
not impossible is TO reconcile the nasrations Of BY
standers participants the nconsiderablo
affair much less the shifting thrilling scenes Of battle
field.
Accompanying maps showing tho positions Of The
armies the morning OF tho 2lst july and OF three
several stages Of the battle also OF the line Of Bull
north of Blsckburns Ford These maps, from actual
surveys made by Captain D. B. Harrison assisted by Mr.
John Grant, drawn by tho latter with doll
cacy worthy OF high commentator. sa
In conclusion is proper and doubtless expected that
through this report my countrymen should be made ad
quainted with some Of the suncent causes tnat pre-
vented the advance OF forces and prolonged vigorous
pursuit of the enemy to and beyond the Potomac. The
War Department has been fully advised long since
OF all OF those causes, some OF which only are
proper TO be here communicated An army which had
fought like that day against uncommon odds
july sun, most Of tho time without water and with
out food except hastily suatched meal at dawn,
not in condition for the toll Of eager, effective pursuit.
Of an enemy Immediately after the battle.
On the following day an unusually heavy and unintef
mittng fall of rain interviewed to obstruct advance
with reasonable prospect Of fruitful results Added 70
this, the want OF cavalry force OF sufficient numbers
made an Efficient pursuit military inposslbility.
Your obedent servant,
G. I. BEAUREGARD,
General Commanding.
To General s. COOPER, Adutan and Inspector General.
Richmond, Va
r. II. Chiffon, Adjutaps.