Year: 1861

people are amused by the changes among the


military commanders and by threats and prom
quarrel is adjusted. 1t is 30 generally asserted


that Gen. Scott did not approve the advance,


for which his plans were not matured land it


is so probable, too,) that it may believed by
| those who have not the greatest faith in the


frmness Of his character, and who think he


might be induced to give orders for the execu-


ton of ill-conceived and hasty projects, or, at


all events, to precipitate operations without


the necessary conditions of success. It is cer-


tain the country was becoming fretful and i'm.
| patient, and that men like Mr.. Wilson, chair
| man Of the military committee of the Senate,
| were loud in their complaints Of the delays and


inactivity of the army and of its chief, and of


the prstensions of the regular officers.


REGULARS AND VOLUNTEERS.


The schism which must always exist between
| professionals and quacks, between regular SOL
| diers and volunteers, has been greatly widened
/ by the action on Sunday. The volunteers in
| dulge in severe reflections on the generalship
| Of the commander; the regulars speak with
contemptuous bitterness of the ineficiency and
| cowsrdice of the volunteer officers. The former
talk learnedly of the art of war, and the cruel
ty of being led like sheep to the slaughter. The
| latter, without detracting from the courage of
| the men, inveigh against those who directed
their regiments on the field; and the volunteer
privates are glad to add their testimony against
| many of the officers, whose pride in uniforms


and gold lace did not permit them to soil them
| in the smoke Of gunpowder.


There are various statements in reference to
| the conduct of the regular cavalry and infan-
try. The regular officers admit that at one
| time the cavalry gave way, but they did not
| break or fly; they were rallied, drew up in line
again, and showed front to the enemy The
regular officers declare that it was the infantry
which saved the retreat, covering it steadily


in conjunction with the Germans; and the
losses of the United States marines argue that
they had a large share of the enemy's fire.
The artillery who lost their guns speak, as
artillery will do under the circumstances, of
the infantry which deserted them and the
general officers, who must after all be the best
judges, bear strong testimony to the good SER
vices and general steadiness of the regulars
engaged in the action.


is so?


When the statements in the American papers
are compared with the facts l am aware it will
be necessary to rely little on character" in


asking faith for what report. There was not
bayonet charge made by the Federalist in
| fantry during the day; there was not a charge
Of any kind made by the Confederate cavalry
upon any regiment of their enemy until the


latter broke. There was not a hand to- hand


encounter between any regiments. There was


not single "battery charged or taken by the


Federalists There were no masked batteries
Iuc iOTmor. 1n6re was no an0lnl-
latlon OF rebel horse by Zouayes Fire or other
A volley fred by one battalion emptied three
saddles among body of horse who appeared


at some distance, and the infantry which per-
formed the execution then retired. There


were no desperate struggles except by those


who wanted to get away. The whole matter
In plain English amounts to this


The Federalists advanced slowly, but stead
lily, under the fire of their artillery, driving
the enemy, who rarely showed out of cover, in
line before them, and gradually forced them


back on the right and center for a mile and a
half towards Manassas. As the enemy fell


back they used their artillery also, and there
was good deal of pounding at long ranges
with light field guns, and some heavier rifed
ordnance, the line on both sides being rarely
within five hundred yards of each other On
one occasion the regiments On the right were
received by musketry FIRE from the enemy,


which induced them to fall back, but they


were rallied and led forward toward the front


The Confederates again gave way, and the


Federalists advanced once more Again the


line Of the enemy appeared in front, and de.


liyered FIRE.


The Zouayes, as they are called, and the


Eleventh New York, which were on the flank,


fell into confusion not to be rallied and event


ually retired from the field in disorder, to use


the mildsst term, with contagious effect on


their comrades and with the loss of the guns


they were supporting. Nothing would, or


could, or did stop them. In vain they were
reminded of their oaths to "avenge Ellis.
worth's death" Their flag was displayed to
the winds, it had lost its attractions. They
ran in all in all directions with a speed which
their fortune favored. al tell the tale as il
was told to me" by one who had more to do
with them, and had better opportunity of wit
Messing their conduct than / had for as have
already stated in a previous letter, was late
| on the ground, and had not been able to see
much ere the retreat was ordered.


Though / was well mounted, and had left


washington with the intention of returning
early that night, found fugitives had pre-
| ceded me in masses all the way, and when 1
crossed the Long Bridge at IL o'clock, 1 was
| told that the city was full of those who had


returned from the fight. But if the miserable
rout and panic have produced such deplorable
results to their cause, they have still much to
| be thankful for. Had the Confederates been
| aware OF their success, and followed up their
| advantage early on Monday morning, there


was no reason on earth why they should not
have either got into Washington or compelled
the whole Of the Federalist army that kent
together and could not escape, as it was all on
one road, to surrender themselves prisoners,


with all they possessed.


GENERAL M'DowELL.


General Mcdowell was sitting with some
officers before his tent under the trees which
shaded the place from the sun. He is man


in the prime Of life, some forty and odd years


of age, very powerfully built, with kindly,


honest, soldierly expression in face and man.
| ners, and it was pleasant to see that though


he was not proud Of being whipped" there
was no detection other than that a man should
feel who has been beaten by his enemy, but


who knows he has done his duty. Originally


he had proposed q series of operations differ
ent from those which were actually adopted,


and bis dispositions for the advance OF his


columns after the scheme of attack was de-
cided upon were careful and elaborate. But
he miscalculated somewhat the powers of reg


ular troops. All his subsequent operations


were vitiated by the impossibiity Of gaining


the points fixed on for the first days march,


and General Tyler, who engaged somewhat too


seriously with the enemy on the left at Bull


Run on the Thursday before the battle in
making what was mere rsc0NnotsSouce put


them on the alert and fastened up Johnston
The General was kind enough to 20 over the
plans of the attack with me, and to aeauaint


me with the disposition he had made for carry
| ing out the orders he had received to make it.


and to my posr judgment they very judicious


and clear. With the maps laid out on the table
before his tent he traced the movements of tk q