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be [[underlined]] commander in chief [[underlined]] in reality as well as in name or he must resign. The members of congress who were so eager for the battle and went to see what they were pleased to call the Southern races are said to have caused the panic by their [[precipitous?]] flight. Reports are so contradicted it is impossible to know the number of the killed & wounded.

29th    Yesterday a poor man came to Father to know if he could obtain permission to visit the battle field he wished to look for the body of his son. He [[heard?]] of [[him?]] through a companion by whose side he was shot down & who procured him medical assistance but the bullets were falling thick & fast the [[?]] left the poor wounded boy & his friend was obliged to flee for his life. The unhappy father was [[overcome?]] with grief we could hear his groans from one end of the house to the other.

Father saw a son of Gen Meigs who gave him the best description of the battle he had yet received. He is a West Point Cadet at home for the holidays He came to his Father on ^the Saturday before the battle & told him that he could not remain quiet while so many brave men were fighting for their country perhaps he might not be of any use but he [[wished?]] to do what little good was in his power & requested permission to join the army in Virginia. He 
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told his Mother of his intentions only an hour before he started. saying he thought it was his duty to go & she must not forbid him. He distinguished himself most nobly displaying the coolness [[intrepidity?]] & skill of an ^[[experienced?]] [[strikeout]] old [[\stikeout]] general. Once ^[[t?]] a while [[ha?]] to a [[shot?]] he rode forward alone to find out whether an advancing body of men belonged to the Federal or confederate forces with only a pistol in his belt. Once as an experienced officer was leading his men into the [[middle?]] of a [[force?]] [[?]] in order to get them [[his?]] [[s?]] [[spread?]] before them he waved his sword & [[called?]] out at the top of his voice [[strikethrough]] rode [[\strikethrough] "Men will you [[have?]] you [[hau?]] or [[your?]] lives & ordering a retreat [[saved?]] a gallant company. Gen. Scott is justly proud of his young country man.

Much is said of the ferocity of the Southerners at the battle but the feeling of animosity seems to be equally deep on both sides. One of our friend who had been upon the field told us he saw two wounded men a federal & a unionist lying side by side attempt to bayonet each other too weak for such and effort they sank back exhausted & dying.  

Aug 17th    The city has been very quiet for the last two weeks. Most of the soldiers are encamped beyond the limits of the city and are not allowed to leave their quarters Even the officers are arrested if they appear in the 
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