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Almost every man we talked with belonged to a different regiment from the last. They were chiefly from Rhode Island, Connecticut, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin-I did not see any soldiers from MaineNew Hampshire, Vermont, New York, or Pennsylvania; but of course I speak only of our part of the road. Their accounts seemed to harmonize, especially in two points, namely, that our men held their ground sturdily until three o'clock; and whenever they came in actual contact with the rebels, they drove them back; and secondly, that many of our officers were grossly inefficient, and some evidently showed the white feather. Orders seemed to be scarce; "the men fought on their own hook." Several, however, spoke of the gallant young Governor Sprague, of Rhode Island, and said he behaved heroically. "It was the movement of a Rhode Island battery from the range of shells, to a new position, yet in perfect order, which started at least a part of the false panic and cry of Retreat.' The Fire Zouaves had made some terrific charges; but as they would rush headlong on one masked battery, and capture it, they were decimated by another battery concealed in the rear. Late in the day, these sturdy fellows received a charge of the famous Black Horse Cavalry of Virginia, who were sent reeling back with half their saddles vacant. The greatest mistake on our side was want of cavalry; the next was, making us fight on empty stomachs, tired out, and without any water to taste except mud-puddles. As it was, the rebels were beaten and were falling back, when that panic was started at the last moment." Such, almost literally, were the words of these men from different parts of the field, and before they could have compared notes among themselves. Toward daybreak, we came up with a drove of forty cattle, belonging to the army, which had been driven back with the returning wagons all the way; and we took some extra exercise, chasing a bullock or two, straying off into the woods. I think we saved our Uncle Samuel one stout animal, and fairly earned a beefsteak, which is hereby freely waived in behalf of privates A and B, who are probably as hungry as

we.

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parently, was saying: "Has the world ever seen a
worse whipping!" Pleasant, this. Their prefer
ences, at least, were not very doubtful. Strangely
deluded people!
Rain commenced
just as we reached the seven o'clock (the first) boat
for Washington. So we were not only among the
last from the regulated panic, but were with the first
soldiers who reached Washington by this route.
(The Arlington and Long Bridge road diverges some
miles from Alexandria. Of the current that way—
this side of Fairfax-we could not testify; but this
is the nearest way.)

We had thus walked between thirty-five and forty miles in the course of twenty-one hours; and Mr. T seemed to feel so. In the boat I conversed with a New York gentleman and his wife, who had been on the field near the battle, all day. His later expectations were connected with an involuntary trip to Richmond; but Madame didn't feel the least apprehension. Is female courage founded most on calm wisdom and steady nerve, or on a more limited appreciation of all the points of "the situation"? Shall we say, "Where ignorance is bliss, 'tis folly to be wise"?

Two omnibuses at the Washington dock were quickly filled with fugitive soldiers from the boat, some of them slightly disabled. On the top of one of them we rumbled up the avenue, and were soon enveloped in the eager circles at Willard's on that dismal morning; for a steady rain, as well as the news, was dampening the ardor of the excited people. The early stampeders had made the most of their sudden flight, and exaggerating tale-bearers and worse rumor-mongers had done their utmost. Here an idea that had more than once been suggested by what I had heard and seen, was greatly strengthened; namely, that the panic had been deliberately started, or at least accelerated by secessionists on the ground, among the Washington visitors. This may be wholly absurd and untrue; but how easily such a thing could have been done!

My loyal Washington friend's suggestion of the good moral effect which our Seventh Regiment would produce by their return to the capital while people's minds were thus disturbed, was duly noted. As the cars were to leave at two, and our flags now waved over both wings of the noble Capitol, I had the curiosity to "take a turn" in the Senate, where gallant Andy Johnson had promised to speak on the bill approving the doings of the President. About thirty Senators were present, looking as calm as if the battle of New Orleans had been the last on the continent. The scene here was a notable after

Breckinridge sat at his desk, reading in a morn

As day dawned, we came up with a female equestrian, probably a nurse, who walked her horse leisurely by the wagons. Soon we observed camps near the road, over which waved the Stars and Stripes; the ramparts of Fort Ellsworth on a hill commanding the road into Alexandria, were occupied by men, busy apparently in placing their guns in range; and at the outer picket near the town, another platoon from the garrison were arguing the point" with_fugitive soldiers who were asking ad-piece to the drama of yesterday. mittance. Even at this time only the wagons and the disabled men seemed to be allowed to passing paper the news of our disaster. Could one misable-bodied soldiers were very properly stopped outside. Our pass was promptly honored as usual. At the first chance for a cup of coffee-a decent negro family in a barnish-looking house, where cakes were spread to tempt stray pennies from soldierboys and others-we had a nice hot breakfast, with out a single allusion to the event of the day. As we walked down the long dull streets of Alexandria, still almost vacant and cheerless, we began to see the people, male and female, looking out with expressions, as I imagined, of no very great grief at the news of the morning. Probably they had heard the worst story of the loyal side; and not a few appeared to be actually rejoicing. As we passed a group of four, a man, of some position ap

take which was he? or misinterpret his expression of entire satisfaction with what he is reading? Is he naturally so cool and so dignified, and self-complacent, or does he affect a calmness and assume a virtue, though he has it not? Is he disloyal or really patriotic under difficulties?

What, of all things on this day, is under discussion? The Bill forbidding the return of fugitive slaves by our troops to disloyal owners.

"What!" said Senator Wilson; "shall we take these men who have been used to dig intrenchments for masked batteries, behind which their traitorous masters are posted to murder our true loyal defenders-shall we force these poor men back to those traitorous masters, to be used behind

check has taught us invaluable lessons, which we could not have learned from victory, while the dauntless daring displayed by our volunteers is full of promise for the future. Not to mention the intrepid bearing of other regiments, who can doubt our future, when he recalls the brilliant charges of the New York Sixty-ninth, and of the Minnesota First, and of the Fire Zouaves? Leonidas himself, while surveying the Persian host, that, like a troubled sea, swept onward to the pass where he stood, would have been proud of the leadership of such men. We shall rapidly recover from this discomfiture, which, after all, will serve only to nerve to yet more extraordinary exertions the nineteen millions of people who have sworn that this Republic shall not perish; and perish it will not, perish it cannot, while this oath remains. When we look away to that scene of carnage, all strewed with the bodies of patriotic men who courted death for themselves, that their country might live, and then look upon the homes which their fall has rendered desolate forever, we realize-what, I think, the popular heart, in its forbearance, has never completely comprehended-the unspeakable and hellish atrocity of this rebellion. It is a perfect saturnalia of demoniac passion. From the reddened waters of Bull Run, and from the gory field of Manassas, there is now going up an appeal to God, and to millions of exasperated men, against those fiends in human shape, who, drunken with the orgies of an infernal ambition, are filling to its brim the cup of a nation's sorrows. Woe, woe, I say, to these traitors, when this appeal shall be answered!

that Sloan's regiment, the Fourth, were cut to pieces; that Hampton's Legion, coming to the rescue, and the Louisiana battalion, were annihilated; that Gen. Bee and Col. Hampton were mortally wounded, and Col. Ben. Johnson killed; and that the Confederate forces were outflanked and routed, and the day lost. This was the unvarying tenor of the words that greeted us from the wounded and dying, and the fugitives who met us during the last mile of our approach to the field of battle. To the sharp cry of the officers of the Second regiment, On, men, on! these fellows are whipped, and think everybody else is!" the troops responded nobly, and closing up their columns, marched rapidly and boldly forward.

The fast flying cannon shot now cut down several of our number before we got sight of the foe. Presently they became visible, with banners insolently flaunting, and driving before them the remains of our shattered forces. But the Second, undaunted by the sight, deployed column, and, with a shout, charged up the hill at the double quick. The Yankees could not stand the shock, and fell back into a wood on the west of the hill, pouring into us a galling fire. Driven through this wood, they again formed on a brigade of their men in a field beyond, and for half an hour a severe struggle took place between this regiment, with Kemper's battery attached, unsupported, and an immense force of United States troops. poured in a steady and deadly fire upon their ranks. While the battle raged, the Eighth South Carolina regiment came up, and Col. Cash, pointing to the enemy, says, "Col. Kershaw, are those the d-d scoundrels that you wish driven off the field? I'll do Kershaw; form on our left, and do it if you can." In a few moments the Eighth got close up on the left, and poured in a murderous fire, under which the enemy reeled and broke.

We

A MEMBER of the Palmetto Guard writes to the it in five minutes, by God!" "Yes, Colonel," says Charleston Mercury :

MUNCHAUSENIANA.

"STONE BRIDGE, BULL RUN, (No. 82,) July 23, 1861. "Since writing you, we have had a terrible, though glorious fight-this makes the second. The fight commenced on the left flank of our line, and we in the centre (Cash's and Kershaw's regiments) received orders to march. When you were in church, we were in the bloodiest fight recorded that has ever transpired in North America. The day was lost when our two regiments came up. Our troops were falling back, and had retired some distance. Col. Kershaw gave the command Forward!' and after some ten SOUTHERN VIDETTES HUNG.-While our gallant or twelve rounds, away went the Yankees. I under-army were on the march towards Alexandria, and, stand Beauregard said our regiments 'saved the day' -a second battle of Waterloo.

ANOTHER GRAPHIC BATTLE PICTURE. THE SOUTHERN PANIC.-The following is from the battle-field correspondence of the Charleston Mercury :

Suddenly an order comes, borne, I believe, by Gen. McGowan, for the Second and Eighth Palmetto regiments to hasten to the assistance of the left wing. Couriers are despatched to Capt. Perryman, out scouting, and Capt. Rhett, on picket guard, to march across the fields to the left, and join their regiment, the Second, which is on the march, to aid the left wing. This regiment, to which was attached Kemper's battery, followed by the Seventh, Col. Cash, hurried to the scene of action. It was met along the way by numbers of the wounded, dying, and retiring, who declared the day had gone against us;

From the subjoined representations and statements, credited to the Richmond Whig and Enquirer, we are enabled to infer that the veracious Baron Munchausen has been engaged by those enterprising journals as a military reporter during the present war.Nat. Intelligencer.

following up the retreating forces of the Yankees, they found two of our Southern videttes, dead, and suspended by ropes from trees on the roadside. We understand that Gen. Bonham immediately despatched a flag of truce to the authorities at Washington, with a demand for a prompt and immediate statement of all the facts connected with this dastardly outrage.

THE TROPHIES.-In addition to the twenty thousand stand of arms, forty thousand handcuffs, four wagon loads of horsemen's pistols, &c., our gallant and victorious army captured a large number of boxes, &c., belonging to General Scott, and other "grand army" officers, and all marked as destined to "Richmond." Many of the boxes were filled with sauces, sardines, preserved meats, peach preserves, olives, &c. Our army is said to have captured provisions enough to last twelve months. Some of the Yankees say the handcuffs were intended for the negroes which they expected to capture. It is believed, however, that they were intended to be used in manacling the limbs of Southern citizens.

HANDCUFFS FOR THE SOUTH.-The Southern press should keep before the people of the South, and of

the world, the astounding and unparalleled fact, that the army which invaded Virginia brought with them thirty thousand handcuffs, which were taken with the other spoils from the enemy. This surpasses all that we have ever heard of Russian or Austrian despotism. It is almost impossible to realize, that in the United States, boasting itself as the freest and the most civilized of all nations, the most deliberate, inhuman, and atrocious plan should have been formed to degrade and enslave a free people of which there is any record in this or any other age. Who ever heard, even in despotic Europe, of an invading army travelling with thirty thousand handcuffs as a part of its equipments?

road, and from what I could gather my worst fears were confirmed.

"A sergeant of his company, who, by the way, had himself received a slight gun-shot wound in the back of the head, told me that he stood close beside him when he fell, and helped to bear him to the hospital, where they were obliged to leave him outside under the shade of a tree. They considered his wound mortal, and as the hospital was afterwards shelled and taken, I think there can be but little doubt of his fate, especially in view of the accounts of the enemy's barbarity to the wounded.

*

"A chaplain of one of the Connecticut regiments YET MORE HORRIBLE.-A letter dated at Richmond told me that he saw one of them go up to one of our on the 2d instant, shows up the diabolical purposes of wounded, and bayonet him, though he pleaded to be the Northern hordes in a yet more repulsive light. spared; and that another gentleman on whom he The letter says:-"Humanity shudders at the foul could rely saw a similar instance of 'southern chivand brutal atrocities already committed on our citi- alry.' zens, and the yet fouler ones contemplated. The "The only other persons missing from story of thirty thousand handcuffs is every word true. that company-half of whom were my school-mates I have a man from Manassas who saw them, and the-are, a young man who was placed to guard my ropes with nooses to hang 'traitors.' Heaven can uncle, and who, when warned to fly, nobly declared never permit such fiends to trample laws, honor, and that he would not abandon a wounded comrade, and virtue in the dust. They can never succeed. Earth thus probably fell into the hands of the enemy; and would be a hell under their control." another, a young man named Lake.

"A lieutenant, reported missing, came in yesterafternoon, much exhausted, having been left behind and obliged to crawl under some blackberry bushes. He heard the Black Horse Cavalry ride by swearing at the Rhode Island thieves.' He slept there all night, walked through the rain to Alexandria, and then, by some official stupidity, was obliged, though drenched to the skin, to remain on the wharf the rest of the day and all of the succeeding night guarding some baggage. He has seen considerable service both in the army and on board a man-of-war, but he says that he never went through as much as he has since Sunday.

THE BOWIE-KNIFE.-Notwithstanding all that has been said of the destructive character of the bowie-day knife, we never conceived that it would be actually used in a great battle, and with such irresistible effect. Who ever before dreamed of a regiment, with nothing but bowie-knives, charging another regiment armed with the best guns and bayonets, and literally cutting them to pieces? The regiment thus assaulted, which had fought bravely enough with bullets, quailed under the operation of this dreadful weapon, and shouted "murder" at the top of their voices. The cold steel, especially in the shape of an Arkansas tooth-pick, is an auxiliary which every Southern soldier should cherish.

WON'T GIVE UP.-The Richmond Enquirer states, on what it deems the most reliable authority, that when the news of the capture of Sherman's battery reached Washington, Gen. Scott privately ordered six cannon to be taken from the Navy Yard and sent to Washington, with the announcement that it was Sherman's battery returned from the field safe. [It is well known here that not a gun of this celebrated battery was lost.]

BARBARITIES OF THE ENEMY.

แ

Among the wounded I found one young fellow who had received a ball through the hip, which was extracted on the other side, and yet he had walked the whole distance in and sat outside the hospital barracks coolly smoking his pipe.

"There were instances of individual bravery in this battle not exceeded at Thermopyla or Marathon. When our volunteers left Bristol, one mother, a Mrs. Pierce, who had two sons among them, said she only wished she had more to send. She afterwards wrote a very pathetic letter which was read to the whole company in the Town Hall

The following interesting statements are taken on the morning of their departure. One of her from a private letter, dated at

sons met with an accident while they were encamped at Providence, and was obliged to return home. The other son was in the battle on Sunday. As the regiment stood on the hill, exposed to a galling fire, the color-sergeant, towards whom, of course, most of the shots were directed, rather flinched, and stepped behind a tree. Young Pierce seized the standard, rushed in advance, and waved it defiantly at the enemy. He came off unscathed.*

-Evening Post.

INCIDENTS OF THE BATTLE.

From the positions of our forces, it will be perceived, that after our repulse on the afternoon of Sunday, if we had had five fresh regiments in addition to Col. Blenker's brigade, which, however, did not reach the field of battle in time to afford any relief, and an additional force of five or ten * H. H. Tilley, Navy Department, to G. P. Putnam.