The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1861-08-01
KenOsha, Thursday, Aug. |, 1861,
The Great Rattle and Defeat.

The Grent Battle and Defeat.
Since the smoke of the Battle at Bulls Run
has cleared away, and we get more authentic
accounts of the fight and its disasters, we are
enabled to judge more accurately of its effects
and bearings upon the fortunes of the war in
W hich we have been involved by the wicked
ness of our Southern brethren. There is no
Disgusting the fact that the defeat and disasters
of that day were not exaggerated Or overdrawn
by the first dispatches from the field of battle.
The number killed and wounded is not as large
as first represented, but the disruption and de-
moralization of the army is even greater than
was believed possible. 1t seems almost impos-
sible that one repulse involving the loss of only
400 or 500 men, could so completely cripple so
large an army, and derange the whole plan of
campaign: The men could easily be replaced,
but not so easily the neral status of the army.
1t would seem from present appearances that
the early summers work in Virginia is to be
done over again, under circumstances of far
greater difficulty than were encountered in the
first doing. According TO latest accounts Gen.
Patterson's division of the army, under Gen.
Banks, has recrossed to this side of the Poto-
ma c, and Gen. McClellan's victorious army is
threatened by large forces under Gen. Johnston
and Gen. Lee Under present circumstances,
it seems probable that this force under Gen. Ro.
sencrans will not risk battle against such odds,
but will retire, leaving Western Virginia once
more at the mercy of the Secessionists.
These are the discouraging features of the
present aspect of affairs. But if anybody sup
poses they will have any effect upon the final
result, of this struggle, they are greatly mista-
KEN They may cause delay and have the eff
feet to make us more careful and less pre- Stunning
upon the inefficiency fthe rebel force, but a
dozen such defeats would have no influence to-
words inducing the people of this Union to con-
sent to its disruption and the overthrow of their
Government, with all its grand and glorious in
stitutions of Freedom. Let not the rebels and
traitors lay to their souls the hattering JUNCTION
that they are any nearer the contamination of
their nefarious designs, than they were before
their dear bought victory. There is moral force
in the hearts of 20 millions of freemen that will
survive the shock of a hundred defeats, and at
the last rise superior to all opposition.
The experience which we have purchased,
though rather dearly, will nevertheless be
worth more than the cost, in the campaign be-
fore us. It has done more to teach us the
strength of the enemy we have to contend with
than all the observations we have been able to
make. 1t has taught lis that our enemies, by
accustoming themselves to treason and rebellion
have become entirely demoralized and so steep.
ed in crime that they have lost all idea of right
aud wrong. Mercy, in their deranged minds,
means a cruelty and barbarity that would shock
a savage. In their vitiated moral natures, righ
has come to mean treason, rebellion, theft, rob
bry, murder, or any other crime, if only com
mitted against men loyal to the Government
founded by Washington and his Revolutiona ry
compatriots; while aorOng only means loyalty to
the Union and submission to the laws of The
country. When we are once taught that WI
are contending with such moral Ishmaeites, w,
shall not feel that repugnance in visiting retrib
utive punishment that we hitherto have felt
We shall no longer feel that are contendint
with brethren, but with real enemies, who mus
be conqu cred with the strong arm and the SURF
means that would be brought against foreign
foe. No Briton or hired Hessian in the Revo
lutionary war ever exhibited moIe enmity o.
more cruel hate towards Amer leans or American
institutions, than is now daily exhibited by the
minions Of Southern Slaveocracy.
There is no fear in the loyal Northern mint
as to the final result of this struggle We mai
be told that over and over, again we cannot CON
quer the South-that we cannot subjugate the
people of the seeded States We have never
proposed any subjugation of the South. W.
have simply proposed to vindjcate the suprema
cy ofthe Government over all its territory
while we leave the people of Southern State.
just as free as they ever have been, i'll the en-
| joyment of their own Institutions and with thC
same control of their internal policy and rela
tons that the Constitution has always guaran
teed to them. The extent of subjugation now
will depend very much upon the extent to which
this rebellion is persisted in. 1t may be that
the interests of the whole country will demand
that the stain of slavery be removed entirely
from the body corporate. FIVE judge that in
stitution by the demoralizing effect it has hat
upon the once loyal men of the South it would
seem that self preservation could demand moth
ing less at this crisis, than that the cause OF
such Generalization should be destroyed, utter
y and completely. The Union must be pre-
served-the Government sustained and vindi
cated-Slavery or no slavery. This is selflm
posed obligation-the self administered oatf
OF every true patriot. No number of defeats nc
series of dis asters to our arms can relieve us
rom that obligation or absolve us from that
{ ath.