The Great battle at Stone
Bridge.
the Presidents official Dispatch.
The city was intensely excited yesterday, and a deep anxiety to learn further particulars of the battle fought on Sunday last, near Manassas Junction, was visible on every countenance.
About midday it was uncertained that the President had officially communicated the news of the victory to the War Department, and the following was posted on the bulletin boards: ‘
"President Davis has sent an official dispatch this morning to the Secretary of War, announcing the complete and decisive victory on yesterday.
The enemy, after a contest often hours, broke and fled precipitately in the direction of Leesburg and Centreville, and were pursued by our Cavalry and Light Infantry until night put an end to the pursuit.
The enemy left on the field of battle large stores of ammunition and quantities of arms, besides vast piles of their slain.
Everywhere, in the direction of their fight, dead bodies, and those of their wounded, were scattered.
The neighboring farm houses on the roadside were crowed with their wounded. ’
"President Davis has sent an official dispatch this morning to the Secretary of War, announcing the complete and decisive victory on yesterday.
The enemy, after a contest of ten house, broke and fled precipitately in the direction of Leesburg and Centreville, and were pursued by our Cavalry and Light Infantry until night put an end to the pursuit.
The enemy left on the field of battle large stores of ammunition and quantities of arms, besides vast piles of their slain.
Everywhere, in the direction of their flight, dead bodies, and those of their wounded, were scattered.
The neighboring farm houses on the roadside were crowded with their wounded. "Our force immediately engaged in the fight was 15,000--that of the enemy estimated at 35,000.
This was the left wing where the battle raged for the most part.
‘"The enemy lost in the battle several batteries of field artillery and one regimental stand of colors."’
The President's dispatch to Adjutant General Cooper, was read to Congress yesterday morning.
It is as follows:
Night has closed on a hard fought field. Our forces have won a glorious victory. The enemy was routed and fled precipitately, abandoning a very large amount of arms, munitions, knapsacks and baggage. The ground was strewn with those for miles, and the farm houses and grounds around were filled with his wounded. The pursuit was continued along several routes towards Leesburg and Centreville until darkness covered the fugitives. We have captured several field batteries and regimental standards, and one United States flag. Many prisoners have been taken, Too high praise can not be bestowed, whether for the skill of the principal officers, or for the gallantry of all the troops. The battle was warmly fought on our left, several miles from our field works — our force engaged there not exceeding fifteen thousand, that of the enemy estimated at thirty-five thousand.
Jeff. Davis.
This clear and comprehensive language of President Davis, who has gene to take the field in person, conveys all that we had learned up to last evening at six o'clock, of our glorious victory. There are many who will mourn the loss of sons and brothers, yet we have the satisfaction of knowing that the steps of the invader turned back and fled over a pathway of blood. It was reported that a later dispatch had been received from the same source, announcing that the pursuit of the flying enemy was renewed yesterday morning, by the reserve force at Manassas, but we cannot vouch for its correctness.
This clear and comprehensive language of President Davis, who has gene to take the field in person, conveys all that we had learned up to last evening at six o'clock, of our glorious victory. There are many who will mourn the loss of sons and brothers, yet we have the satisfaction of knowing that the steps of the invader turned back and fled over a pathway of blood. It was reported that a later dispatch had been received from the same source, announcing that the pursuit of the flying enemy was renewed yesterday morning, by the reserve force at Manassas, but we cannot vouch for its correctness.
