Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (Charles City, Iowa) 1861-1864, 1861-10-24
Charles City, Iowa, October "a, 1861.



1t is said that history never repeats
itself, and we hope not, on one locali
ty at least. If Bull Run is to become
the scene Of another engagement, az
as now seems probable, we believe il
will be as different in result as in
many Of the conditions of the struggle.
II is true, the rebel force is located
about the same as before, and if any
materially changes are made in their
defensive works, they are probably
rather in the nature Of additions than
of alterations. On our side, however,
the very ground is changed. Now.
wherever our columns have advanced,
intrenchments have been thrown up,
till the whole semi-circular area Of
our occupation in front of Washington
is notched with coucentric lines of
defences. This is very different from
the route over which Mcdowell hu--
ried his undisciplined army, taking
four days in the march, and thus noti-
flying the enemy Of all his movements
although the return, for want of any
good holding ground" as the sailors
would say, was accomplished at a
terrific rate of speed. But now our
army moves like ratchet on its
wheel, slowly and by starts but
every step is so much gained, and
there is no going backward, short of
crushing the whole machinery.
The process of renewing the fight
will also be with different tactical OBJ
jects, and under different conditions.
We shall aim to turn the cnemy's
flank as before, but McDowell's plan
was necessarily confined to the ene-
my's left, because he was dcsirous of
cutting of Johnston's approach from
Winchester. But now the enemy's
left, under Smith, is probably as much
a part Of the main force as Banks
Division is Of ours. But if Banks
should cross over the river with a
view to sunder the enemy's line, that
would be only one movement, and
might be combined with fanking
advance on the enemy's right from
the neighborhood of Alexandria. We
know that Gen. Franklin is throwing
up intrenchments and cutting down
trees in that vicinity, at rate which
implies future transactions of no little
Thus it will be seen that the Bull
Run battle Of July 2lst cannot be re-
peated. The enemy may sit in the
same place, waiting for attack, but
the attack will be SO different as to
change the defense and the result.
Gen. McClellan's assailing movements
are not restricted TO one direction,
but are left open to choice and the
dictates Of the emergency. His plan
of attack will not be divulged in ad-
vance, and his situation is such that
his preliminary movements will not
foreshadow his designs. The blow
will 60 before the word. His system
Of entertainments is so vast and COM
plete that his reserves will be avail
able, and panic will be out Of the
question. In the worst event, he
would merely fall back and maintain
the ground now occupied. But he
will not do that. His army is at least
numerically equal to the foe, it is better
and it is far better provided
with h0kvy artillery and every species
Of equipment 1t is the best volun-
tecr army that the modern world has
seen. and it is 6uely officered. 1t
goes in to win. The spirit Of the
enemy is not what it was. They have
that the Northern men will
fight. They have had to give up the
idea Of aggressive action. They are
tortured with the apprehension of as
saults in their rear and on the ex-
posed tanks Of their Southern Confed-
eracy and we predict that before or
by the time the second battle of Bull
Run occurs. this apprehension will
prove terrible reality.