iS THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC. emotions. Sad scenes, fiom which the pen of the writer, like the eve of the spectator, hastens to turn away ! Towards noon the tiring gradually slackened and ceased. The enemy was retreating, but the federals were in no condition to pursue him. We did not then know how severe a loss the confederates had suffered, in the person of their leader, Johnston, grievously wounded. It was mainly to his absence that we must attribute the disconnected character of the attack made upon the federals in the morning. When the firing ceased at noon, the confederates, we were told, (for amid those immSse forests we heard nothing and must divine every thing,) were in a state of inextricable confusion. What might not have happened, if at this moment the 35,000 fresh troops on the other bank of the Chickahominy could have appeared upon the flank of this disordered army, after passing the bridges in safety! Such is the story of this singular battle, which, complicated as it was by incidents beyond human control, may yet, I think, be taken as a fair type of American battles.* The conflict had been sanguinary, since the Northern army had lost 5,000, and the Southern at least 8,000 men. lint the results to either party were negative. ThcMtonfederates, much superior in numbers, had made a vigorous attack, had driven back their adversaries about a mile, had captured several cannon and had su^ied then * , satisfied with earning thus the right to sing the song of victory. • I cannot refrain from mentioning here a most characteristic incident: newspaper wndtiTM wit- trying the latest New York papers on the battle-field during the battle, and they tuimd buyers. The federals had had the defensive battle which they desired, had repulsed the enemy, taken a General and many prisoners; but arrested by natural obstacles which perhaps were not wholly insurmountable, they had gained nothing by their sue-
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