Miscellaneous Matters.
The Northern papers are filled with facts, rumors, and speculations about the battle.--We make room for the following:
‘
Mr. Russell's opinion.
A special dispatch to the Baltimore Exchange, from
Washington, says that
Mr. Russell, of the London Times, who was present at the battle, states that the loss in killed and wounded of the
Federals must amount to 12,000, and that the loss of the
Confederates will probably reach 4,000.
He states that history records no such defeat for the past century — no rout so utter and complete as that of the
Federal forces.
The fighting of the
Southern men, he say, was magnificent. --They fired with the precision of veterans.--They would fall to permit their artillery to fire, and then rising, discharge their muskets and charge bayonets in splendid order.
Some of the evolutions were superb, and performed with perfect rapidity, coolness, and discipline.
’
more Supplies for the
Confederates.
The National Intelligencer, of Monday week, says:
‘
The steamer
Columbia,
Capt. James Harper, left
Baltimore on Saturday afternoon for
Washington, with a cargo consisting of stores for the army, composed in part of flour, bacon, sugar, coffee, tea, and whiskey.
The steamer was pretty well loaded, and left under the protection of an armed guard, able to resist any attack which the
Confederates might make upon her. It is expected that this steamer will continue in the service of the
Government for the transportation of supplies.
Our own river steamers were yesterday principally engaged in transporting Government munitions of war and supplies from this city to
Alexandria.
There is no relaxation of effort in the way of providing for the army; on the contrary, there is increased activity.--In less than a week we may expect to see in the field a more formidable army than that which has just gone through the fiery ordeal.
’
the Sixty-Ninth.
The Washington Star puts forth the following, among other lamentations:
‘
There were many of the Sixty-Ninth who sustained themselves bravely during the day, and who mourned the loss of their
Lieutenant Colonel,
Haggerty; the
Fire Zouaves, who, according to general testimony, performed prodigies of valor, and who made five distinct charges in the course of the action; a few of the Second Maine Regiment, who distinguished themselves by their dash upon the rebel batteries, and who lost their brave
Colonel,
Kimball; the Sixty-Ninth, who also mourn the lamented
Cameron; the Eighth New York,
Connecticut and Ohio Regiments, &c.
Their passing down towards
Fall's Church was much impeded by barricades of trees, some of them newly felled, and from the freshness of the leaves, late last evening.
Much caution was exercised by the troops in passing these points, for fear of an ambuscade, and
Captain Thomas F. Meagher, who accompanied the Sixty-ninth detachment, caused scouts to be sent out to reconnoitre the neighborhood of these suspicious looking traps.
The probability is, however, that the newly-felled trees were designed only to impede a retreat by the
Federal forces, and were felled by Secessionists residing in those localities.
Captain Meagher, by the way, had a horse shot under him during the engagement.
’
The Returning soldiers.
The First and Second Rhode Island Regiments came in about 10½ o'clock, about one-half of the number being in the line.
Their splendid battery, with the exception of one gun, is utterly destroyed.
The 2d New Hampshire Regiment, which numbered 1,040 men, arrived soon afterwards, bringing in between 600 and 700 men.
The Fire Zouaves which have got here thus far, number 150 men.
The 22d. 30th and 33d New York Regiments received orders to advance over the river, and left camp about 9 o'clock last night.
They returned between 11 and 12, their orders having been countermanded.
During the morning, the soldiers engaged in the battle yesterday were straggling into the city, by way of the
Long Bridge, in squads.
A company of U. S. Marines, numbering about 35 men, came over, reporting the loss in killed, so far as they could learn, of their force, of 45, but many missing.
In all of the marine force which have arrived here thus far, there are about 75 or 100, out of near 400 that went forward.
Stragglers of the First Michigan Regiment continued to arrive in town all the morning.
They make their headquarters at
Woodward's Buildings.
There are in all of those arrived about fifty.
The Second New York Regiment arrived in the city by way of the
Georgetown Aqueduct.
They have lost about 150 men, in killed, wounded and missing.
The regiment is in good condition, and the men in fine spirits.--They led the advance and assisted to protect the retreat, and were desirous of remaining behind with
Gen. McDowell, but were nevertheless ordered to barrack in the city, having lost their camp equipage, which had been sent far forward, to be out of the way of the field manŒuvres.
A ‘"Horrible"’ Lin.
A Northern paper ventilates the following:
‘
Capt. Downey, of the
Fire Zouaves, was wounded on the field of battle, and his body was afterwards found literally cut in pieces.
It was divided into four quarters!
A Zouave, who was taken prisoner with six others, and subsequently effected his escape.
arrived here to-night with a broken handcuff on one wrist.
He reports that he was treated with Indian barbarity by the rebels, and that many prisoners were pinioned to trees, and tormented with bayonets thrown at them.
’
Federal Treatment of prisoners.
While the wounded
Yankees brought to
Richmond are treated with more care than our own brave sufferers, and sympathizing women are permitted (wrongfully) to send delicacies to the occupants of
Harwood's factory, the surviving Fire Zouaves in
Washington demand the sacrifice of the lives of our men who have fallen into Hessian hands.
A Washington letter to the Baltimore Sun says:
‘
About two o'clock this afternoon, a company of six of the
Confederates were brought in as prisoners.
When in the neighborhood of the Treasury Department, they were met by a party of the
Ellsworth Zouaves, who, on Sunday, were decoyed by the Secessionists under full charge of their cavalry and lost so many lives.
The Zouaves, apparently indignant at the presence of the prisoners, at once
demanded the sacrifice of their lives. Other soldiers interfered and used efforts to restrain the violence of their Zouave brethren, whilst the
Government authorities summoned a guard of cavalry, by which the prisoners were conveyed to the old
Capitol building, which is now occupied as a jail.
’
