The Placer herald., 1861-10-19
The Calm Before the Storm.

All the Information derived from the Atlantic
side, indicates the concentrating OF the clouds
OF war, thickly charged with death-,lcaling pow
rrs. The military leaders on both sides, find it
necessary to suppress much lis possible. all in
formation concerning the numbers and the move
ments Of troops. From the South we know lite
rally nothing, except that they are working like
beavers, and tina. the whole country are in arms
All the channels Of information are under the
control OF the President OF that Contederacy.-
1t is believed that some 100000 men are under
arms in til" South; of this number $50. 900 are
upon the line Of The Potomac. The old story
about the army Of the South being ragged, starry
ing. undisripiued, and unarmed boys. has been
proven untrue. We know that they are well
Differed, as general rule and may calculate
that they are well provided with arms an mu-
nitions of war. These troops must be at least
equal in point of discipline to ours for rs gene
raj rule they have been longer in the field. Like
tiger this mighty army lies conched ready for
the spring, in Virginia and Western Tennessee.
that is about all we know of it or its designs
We can learn occasionally from it, TANKS in Mis-
souri, and the lower Potomac perhaps OF picket
guard affair, in Western Virginia; but this is but
insignificant sl'irmshing comp ,rcd to the mighty
struggle that is shortly to shake the earth with
its concentrated thunders
In the North. the silence is equally portcntious.
The military movements Of the Government are
not made so public as before the Bull Run affair,
ard beyond the fact that troops are being enlisted
and hurried to the field, now know COMPARE
lively nothing. until the telegraph startles us
with the account of some engagement either by
sea or land The first we knew of the Hattras
expedition, was the tidngs of its complete sue
cess. We hear of other sei-coast movements but
to what point they are destined, is left to conjcc
tulc. 1t is believed that our army is equally rs
numerous rs that of the South. and considering
facilities, must be equally if not better equip
ped and armed. Much is expected from McClcl-
land, and from every indication that young sol
der is acting up to his part The army OF Wash
ngton, gives every promise Of becoming well
trained disciplined corps.
AS long rs il is safe to do so, it is manifestly
the policy of our leaders to avoid action. until
our bLttaIions can take the field and move either
under fire or retreat with the GOODNESS. me-
chtncal unity, and inhcxbe courage becoming
an army of soldiers. Scarlet and feathers. haunt
an flummery, of holiday parade, must and we be-
lieve il being discarded Nothing but the daring
that knows no alering, will save that army. if
ever it comes in contact with its rival OF Virginia.
McCeland knows this. and is training and nerv-
ing them for that test. Coiled upon the heights,
slnmbering in the valleys resting upon the plains
in and about the Capital, like vast mine of seq
penis. lies AN army OF 100000 men. Will they
wait the tigers spring? or uncoil and sting him
in his lair? That WAS tried once and failed. but
perhaps taken in connection with other and stimuli
taneous movements it light now prove success
full. Who shall cross the Potomac? seems now the
question Mcclellan or Beauregard? The Poto
Mac is the Rubicon of the fortunes Of each; and
like skilful swords-men in deadly duel of cut
and thrust each guarding well himself, watch hes
every motion aud f,int Of his adversary, keeping
his eye firmly fixed the while.
An intercepted dispatch sent ont by General
Washington. purposcly TO fall into the hands of
Cornwalis deceived the latter General. and led
to the surrender of himself and his army at York.
town in the days Of our revolution. and donbt-
less such inesse is understood by modern tact
clans
There is an ominous silence ut this tine
Mighty events are gathering in the soft breath of
the hull In the signing of the coming storm is
also heard the tapping of the Ravin's wing
Death whtts his ssythc for the not distant Car
nival day.