The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1862-09-14

TERMS.
SUNDAY MORNING, SEPT. IA, 1882
Statement Of Mr.. Emery, Of Wash-
ington

Al4b bou'
1l6 GoUCamed Call for Naygss--G G5s Rsq7y
Rsponso--Eiu Route for the Batt1e-eel3-
Or alleged Hotory a Signal Det6at-
Bad Gel1eralsbip--M ne Clsllqn'S Egemics
Aoln0l0ledge MS Superiority and Skill
The Battlefield - Tie Attsafion Of tie
Uittv1 Surgeons TO oltr Wounded - NE
Steady Bravgy Of oar Iroops Proceed
Battlefield Declarations Of tie Rebel Sol
dSers--I The Estimated Jilioa losses, Etc,
WAsHfSdToS, September >, 1862. -
The request Of the Secretary of War, on
Saturday last, that The clerks and en-
ployees in the several departments should
hasten 10 tho field of conflict and minis
ter TO the sick and wounded, was cheer
fully complied with, and very many who
prottered their services were unable 10 90
for want of transportation. Those who
went arrived at Centreyillc after vexa-
tious and tedious journey in a long train
Of ambulances, about s o'clock Sabbath
morning. Before reaching that place,
however, the indications were any thing
but favorable TO the despatch which had
been sent by General Pope TO Washing
ton, on Saturday afternoon, that the
Union army was victorious and the re-
bells flying to the mountains. Long
trains Of government wagons, loaded and
empty, with portions OF artillery batter
les, generally without their guns, and the
hurried movements Of all, were anything
Unsatisfactory TO one who stood by the
Union. Bat very few, however, seemed
TO unders tand thatit was a retreat 10 9th
er lines, as, in answer to the question
why they were moving backward, every
one had his own answer; but no one
viewed il as a retreat before the enemy
Our disappointment may be imagined
when we found the whole army behind
the old intrenchments at Centreville, and
our glorious victory turned into a signal
and disastrous defeat, and in many re-
spects Ia Bull Run of the 2lst July,
1861. The enemy had possession of the
field, and if our dead and wounded were
10 be cared for we must enter the battle
I iietd under a flag OF truce. This the en-
emy would not allow until the next day
(Monday). The chagrin of the men and
officers Of the army, as might be expect
ed, was deep, when, as they declared,
proper generalship would have saved
them what they all claimed to within an
hour of their retiring before the triumph
ant and shouting rebels. AS there were
all that were necessary 10 wait upon and
care for the wounded that had been
brought TO Centrevilte, we determined to
spend the day as best we could with our
/ army, and 60 TO the battlefield in the
morning. Wherever number of men
were clustered together during the day,
the cause of the defeat was freely and
earnestly canyassed and but one opinion
/ prevailed, and that was the total disqual-
! ifieation and ineiliciency of General Me-
| Dowell, and that with any other general
on the field, the battle would have been
won. Denunciations of his conduct were
uttered both by men and officers, and il
is doubtful whether he will be able du-
ring the war 10 lead even q brigade into
! the field Ii was said that he would long
since have been dismissed the service for
incOmpetency but for political influence
Although VIC confess to having lately
gone with the multitude as 10 the unfit
ness Of General Mcclellan as a leader Of
our army, the feeling manifested by OFF,
GERS and priYates for that mantle one
alone fitted TO lead them to final success
quite disarmed as Of our prejudicea
and We acknowledge 10 deep conviction
that the administration would run great
hazards in attempting TO supplant him
with any other general. Where any Other
opinion was expressed, il was by meE
lately recruited into the service, and
whose opinions were but of little moment
After passing over the old Bull Run
battle ground, We arrived at the plac,
where our surgeons had established Their
headquarters, and where the work Of am.
putation was shortly 20 commence. DIR
McFarlane, the Medical Purvcyor o
General Pope's staff, was in his place
surrounded by large corps Of assistants
and il would be unjust not TO state thai
nearly every one Of them performed theil
duties promptly and well. Drs. Howard
Page Webster, Keyes, with few others
were especially assiduous in their atten
tions, and certainly did not manifest any
Of that inhumanity and barbarity whicl
We have heard Of upon such occasions.
A battle field scene Immediately afte
a conflict has so often been described by
] wv NAAANnaAo AAAaN We nANAA pass ~ Nl
with the remark that il must be seen {,
be understood no language can describ,
il. We observed that the dead, contrary
10 our own ideas Of such sights, nearly
invariably occupied but one position
upon the back, the face upturned, and leg
and arms extended. Upon that portion
OF the field where Mcdowell led his force
into such a murderous fire, and lost tn
day, il was easy 10 see how steadily th
men advanced, and how many brave me-
fell at each fire from the enemy's battery
They lay in Winrows, and at just sue
intervals apart as Il itrequired time 10 Loaf
and fire. II was said by many that Nc
DoWell manOuvred his troops that after
noon in an unaccountable manner /
military men, and that he did not allOV
our artillery 10 be served with any soI
Of effect upon the enemy's ranks
The enemy did not appear in sigh
and, although somewhat curious 10 knOy
what had become of 90 vast a multtud
in 30 short a time, we were not dispose
} 10 seek information at the risk Of safety
Squads Of cavalry could be seen ridin
OgeF the field, pausing occasionally I