Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-09-08
Special Correspondence Of the Chicago Times.
From washington.

The Recent Battles-Immense Losses Sustained
by Sigel and MeDOroeii-JunctiOn Of The Rebel
Forces upon the Banks of Bull Run-A
Gloomy Sunday at the CapitaI-Our Army at
CenterriHs aaosltiRg the Approach Of the Enc
Myrtle Governor Of NeU Jersey Refuses to
AliO,o Citizen ofthat State to be Dragged of
by Letter de Caehet, &c, &c, &c.
WASHINGTON, september l.
The excitement that has had possession of
Washington for the last three days is unparal-
elIed, save, perhaps, in the single exception
afforded by the time when our army, BY order
of General Greeley, made'its 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.
supposed TO be a mere mid by small force
OF guerrillas, more anxious for plumber than
to effect serious result; hence people mere
" wondered at the daring impudence Of the
rebels, and allowed the matter to have no undue
weight.
The next day a 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
expected to hear that the road was open, the In
formation came that our 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 not mere squad of
reckless plunderers, but the veterans of jackson
in force t-
Ascertaining this, Mcdowell and Sigel we're
sent in behind the enemy to cut off his only
means of exit, which through the Bull
Run Mountains, by Thoroughfare Gap All day
Friday, from daylight till dark. the battle ragged
with terrific fury, with a general advantage on
the part of our forces. but not TO an extent that
forced the capitulation Of the enemy or drive
him from the field. Eight thousand of our gal
liant fellows were placed. hors de combat, and it
is fair presumption that the enemy's loss was
at least no less.
Saturday morning, Heintzelman's corps daTmee
moved upon the enemy from Centrevllle; Fitz
John Porter and other columns also went into
action, and all that day the battle ragged with
fury unequalled. During the day, Longstreet,
with immense reserves, swept down from White
Plains through Thoroughiare upon Sisel 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 clasped hands upon the banks of
classic Bull Run.
At this point our information becomes misty
and undecided That Sige lost four batteries;
that Mcdowell lost heavily in cannon and prison
ers; and shat the loss Of both in killed and
wounded was immense, is about all that we know
TO 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 we're strain
ing to Get a glimpse Of what it bad hidden.
During the night heavy rain set in, and, when
Sunday morning came, il seemed il nature.
draped in deepest mourning, was weeping over
the bloody events OF the past two days.
Yesterday exciting. feversh day. In
spite of clouds and rain, people thronged the
streets all day to learn something OF matters
from the beIligerents Through the streets am
balances were tearing hither and thither at gal
Top, 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
muffied thunder, filed necessarily along in the
direction of Long Bridge, evidently bound for the
field of battle
Toward noon long lines Of ambulances began