[draft excerpts:] "... last Sunday - at or near [Manassas] was fought the greatest battle that has ever been fought on this continent. It was the army of the North against the army of the South - on the open field after mature preparations with as usual the odds in numbers greatly against us, after a fight of about fifteen hours according to the best accounts, the enemy was routed and fled precipitately in two different directions closely & hotly pursued by our Cavalry and some infantry - But as Pres. Davis said in his dispatches to Richmond it was a glorious but dear bought victory as we had many noble and brave men killed and wounded - among the former were Col. Bartow of Ga. and Col. Fisher of the 6th N. Carolina Regt. The latest reports make our loss about four hundred killed and twelve hundred wounded - other reports say between 15 & 25 hundred. The loss of the Federals in killed and wounded is said to have been immense. They were strewn along the roads for miles and all the houses on the road side were filled with wounded.... Their loss is set down according to some accounts at from eight to fifteen thousand, but it is impossible to tell yet with any thing like accuracy the number.... The great feat of the day was the taking of the celebrated Sherman battery at the point of the bayonet, which was at once turned upon the enemy - The credit of this was said to be due the Hampton Legion and one of the Virginia Regiments... The consequences of the battle will be incalculable, in the beautiful language of the Richmond Examiner, " it will shake the Northern Union in every bone and the echo will reverberate around the globe." It secures the Independence of the Southern Confederacy. I believe God is on our side.... The news of the battle of Bull Run fought on Thursday before, had dispelled the shade thrown over us by the reports from Northwestern Va - of the reverses of our arms under Gen Garnett and the death of that brave officer, and elevated the spirits of the soldiers generally to a high degree, but the news of this battle has produced a perfect blaze of enthusiasm, has animated and encouraged to the highest pitch every soldier, and every citizen that has a spark of patriotism, or interest in the success of our cause - If they still persist in waging the unnatural and unholy war I trust the god of hosts and of battles, will crown our arms with victory upon every field...."