Washington City         D.C.

July 23^d 1861.

 

My dear Col.

                                    I arrived near this scene of action Sunday, only in time to see perhaps the the most perfect rout on record. To give you any adequate idea of what I saw would take more space and time would be necessary than I now have. A few facts are aparent. We are disastrously whipped by an Army larger than our own, perhaps better generaled, behind their own guns and entrenchments. Our Army (or a portion of it) fought even beyond expectation, particularly the regulars. the R.I. 71^st. 79^th. & 69 N.Y. the Ellsworth Zouaves and several other Regts. As you will see by the papers, the battle was completely ours til late, when perhaps we advanced too far, we were outflanked, one of the Regts. gave way, the train took the panic, and in two minutes it had communicated itself to nearly the whole line. Our loss of life in action was great, but / the disaster comes from the rout. It was then we lost nearly all of our Arty, nearly a hundred wagons, ambulances, equipments, grain & stores of all kind in quantities to great to talk about. It is but truth to say, that the majority of our forces ran away and did not stop til the reached this City. The "Bladensburg Races" will never be heard of again. It will be Bulls Run. There was no sufficient avenue of retreat. They were beyond a stream with but one narrow bridge to cross it. The Confederates knowing this, by placing guns so as to play upon a few wagons crossing this, soon blocked it up this so as to make it perfectly impassible. Here came the great calamity. Here nearly all the Arty. had to be abandoned, as the troops were already too much demoralized, to be checked sufficiently long to clear away debris. Here Rickets was lost, and here also Shermans battery was taken and turned upon us.

 

            Even the wagons that started out first, took up so precipitate a retreat, that wagons of all descriptions were piled along the road (the only one, and narrow at that) for miles. Those that were not broken or overturned, were unloaded of every thing, arms, provisions / knapsacks, blankets, boxes barrels and every conceivable thing were piled in the most inconceivable confusion.

 

            The list of killed and wounded will be seen in the papers. It is unaccountable that the Confederates did not send a few troops by rail down the Orange & Alexandria R.R. and cut off our retreat. Had they have done so, a more complete success would never be on record. Neither do I see why he does not purse us.

 

            They are accepting troops in great quantities. I shall be back in a day or two, perfectly content to remain.

 

very Truly

W. B. Hazen

 

To Col. A.H. Bowman

                        U.S.A.

West Point                  N.Y.

 

 

 

P.S.

            Please make my compliments acceptable to the ladies—I hope Miss Henderson will not have left before I reach the Point

              W.B.H.

 

 

[verso]

 

W. B. Hazen

            Washington

                        July 23/61

 

 

W. B Hazen

            Washington

                        July 23/61

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