Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1861-08-15
Washington City,
August Z, 1861. !

EDITOR, HERALD Since the smoke OF
the battle field has cleared away and we
have had time to gather up into camp the
scattered fragments of our army, so as to be
able to ascertain approximately the extent of
our repulse at Bull Run, we are glad to be
able to say that the disaster is far from being
so great as was at first anticipated. 1t IS
true that the result of that most unfortunate
engagement is indeed sad one, but our loss
is not so great by more than one half as at
first reported, and our troops are not so dis
heartened as 1t was feared they would be-
Indeed, | have conversed with none who
were IN the engagement who do not feel a
burning desire to return and ayenCe the saw
age atrocities perpetrated by the rebel army
on our wounded soldiers on that field of car
mage. 1t is almost impossible to believe that
such brutal deeds as bayoneting and cutting
the threats Of our soldiers as they lay wound
ed on the field, Smelling and setting fire to
hospitals filled with the wounded and dying,
all Of which were witnessed there, could pos
sibly be perpetrated by any people claiming
the slightest tnge OF civilization. One would
rather suppose that we are either in the mid
die Of the dark ages or cOntending with a
nation Of Sepoys.
The causes, or what are said to be the
ca ses, Of our defeat on that fatal dav have
been pretty freely discussed pro and con,
and | am sorry 10 say, nos always in the best
of temper. Some have -iyen way to fits OF
49,, III a; - t1,;,,77-r- ,-l;Ilo ,i177. t.,,a
permitted themselves to be carried beyond
the bound. Of reason and good SENSE by in
tense rage. Neither state Of mind is the
proper one in this struggle Tor freedom. tor
neither can win battle.
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60. l'''N' o'''>' ~ -, VI -''D'-'
lam ''eul,e99' ueSPa"' anu useless Te2re''
"ouIU IL Ho' W more uile4F' more dl3Hihed
anu more pa'ilouo lor al 10 cooperate III Wy
Gi"u@l[ retrieving reo1A' winch - PeFiec'-
/! Teu'e'do'e'
HAS mere ever 1eeH III 1D9 'ho2' He'0'e
age VI 'he past, " - 'ne'9 d. present III me
"oI4u' an arm! tha' can enter upon cam
pdiSu WI ID 'he GeI'dln'! oI never eAPefiehC-
lnS me s'i-"'S9t 1'ie"' d" ePne1iel d
triumph -dileu T.! me sects7loils's III no
wise deSlf0! OF "edAeA9 me hoElhefh cause
MS GanSp i lo-Gay "Ha' II was Yesterday
anu 'he "149"t u ''e 'dl'4u '9n1U uCes Ao-
TRANSFER IRA 'He ii54' ~ 'H' 9I''1 ot me '4c'oE
We are engaged III contest Tor the main
taiLaAce Of Tue Tree INSTITUTIONS "e41eaiAeu
Us BY cur fathers, nay, the very existence OF
the most benevolent and humane govern
ment on earth. and shall we ike towards Law
down our arms and confess to the world, that
after more that eighty years of uneNampled
prosperity under such i government. IT is A
i"l'oFe or Sna'l we ruin our cause " 9i5teE
Col forbid il. The North should derive
kuowled.e tor the future from the severe les
son it has lust received.
The general stampede. which in the space
of a few moments converted quasi-victory
i"'o q ieLeaI Is MOI iof'uiions IneIdent. II
Is true the nation pF'de and self love Is S.
'ereIy wounded, anu we need to apply balm
L" heal 1t up but 1t need Hoi De done IN 50
unSkHhqI a manner better lFanhIy az
knowledge the u1ln' Illuminating as II Is than
TO attempt any apo-o9y Tor our defeat,
can conceive o. nothing very astonishing
!