New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-07-28
THE WAR FOR the UNION.
wrro rs sEsPoNsBBARs

The World, which was one Of the earliest and
Tie most absolute of the journals to raise howl
against YHF TRIBUNE as the cause of the disas-
fer st Bun Run, now puts forth the following as
It's leading article of Saturday We print it as
n part Of the history Of one of the most extraor-
-sfsary decisions ever dishonesty propagated, and
Ssf the moment rendered all but universal:
rs GENERAL PATTERSON TRAITOR
Individual reputation should never be assaied except
for the strongest reasons; but when disastrous MILL
aIy repnse, which the nation WITH shame, mas
been encountered, and network OF mcnlpat1ry CIR
samesapcee surrounds the commander OF an imp 'rnt
division of tho army, whose diatory pnsliiammous'
and altogether nexphcable course cause general dis
uss Of his fidelity IL is alike due to him, to the Gov
ernmert and the nation, that his guilt OF innocence
sAal be established by investigation before a COM
petent military tribunal. Ii Gen. Patterson dnIiig 'ne
hss dcrscefal week of his command, has been "ounS
in obedience to the orders in accordance WIN 'he
shes of the Government that fact ought 10 De pceu
clearly in evidence, in order that hrs reputation may
not suffer unjusly and that the heavy responsibility OF
ehneions escape to Manassas may rest where IT prop
erIy belongs But it, on the other hand, Gen. Pdt,er-
sons unaccountable apathy and naction was in dare
srd of the known orders wishes OF the Government
and the blood OF our soldiers useleSsly she'd al Bull
Run stains his bands he should be made TO suffer the
utmost rigor of condign punishment.
The advance against Manassas, undertaken in the
kce of great disadvantages at best, planned and
exeeuted on the assumption that Patterson would take
sare of Johnston and prevent his reinforcing Beaurc-
gard 10 idle TO say that be could not have done 1t.
He might have fought unsuccessful battle, TO be
ssre bot it his duty TO take that risk Successful
4 = n -. IL ~fNr ,,lpx~-
sent for his troops, and have kept him away from the
principal scene of operations, where his presence
earned the fortune of the day against u.s. Gen. Pat
serson conesses in what puports to be letter OF his
published among oar teegnpbie dispatches yesterday
morning, that could have turned JohnstOns position
"A Winchester and attacked him in the rear but be did
think it prudent to do 50, considering Johnsons
sxpeior strength But be might have retreated before
him till wellselected position gave him such
advantages of ground that he could have blocked or
at least retarded Jobnstons march toward Manassas
he had fought and osta BAT le what would that have
been in comparison with the ingOrious retreat which
bis extraordinary conduct entailed the main body of
the army After the successful skirnish at Bunker
Hal everybody expected that he would pursue his ad
vantage by pushing vigorously and engaging John
ston at Winchester But the next thing we hear Of
him is that he s in full retreat Charestown his
way to Harpers Ferry. Suppose the intrenchments at
Winchester, in the shape of tbe letter "" too
strong for him. his presence in sight of them, daily Of
fe7ing battle would surely have kept Johnston within
them II be did not choose to ggt outside of them. The
main object fdetaining him away from Manassas would
have been accomplished and the fortune Of the day at
Bull Run have been different
We have, thus far, ased our comments Oh facts Of
Rut ofha C,otS
sry to be known TO complete the picture, of charac
ter 30 damaging hat ii Gen. Patterson does not think
it due 10 bis uation to ask for court OF inquiry it
is the clear duty of the Government to order court
martial Gen. Patterson has been recently weakening
the main body of the army near Washington by send
ig urgent requests for IeenfoTeements representing
that they absolutely necessary to enable him
to cope with Johnston. In compliance with these rep
presentations, Of the very best and most efficient
regiments were dispatched to hir9--lke Col Bniter
kels's New-Y.rk I2tb, sor exsmple--s7d ons Of Ii
splshdd Rhode Island batteries. which woulo other
wise have greatly strengt henec Gen. McDowelf army.
Why did be draw away these important corps
~ keep tsen idenessf What is stW torse-on +,
Saturday, The day bsors te great Jotle, Gen. Pat II
&c messenger 10 Wastsasioa 10 Gssare ske !
Gosrrnms4t la, he he'd The most posi- ne er,dsno hat
Johasi0A caS still IN WsncAes,ey. That false mtel-
.Jo6sSton stH WtRcEssoeT. Aint IsIsu
kesDoe conveyed at that late hour, the very beet
service he could have rendered the Rebels if he had
had perfect understanding with them, and bad wished
to aid them. On the next morning tSundayl-wheI
Ae battle had actually commenced and it was too Fate
for knowledge of the retreat of Johnston to be " any
advantage a second messenger reached Washington
from Gen. Patterson saying that he had been mistaken
IN the preceding day, and that Johnssons army had
escaped. We will not undertake to PRONOUNCE Gen.
Psaerscns motives; they are the proper subject of an
investigation by military tribunal. But we do say,
iustbe light of these facts that whatever his motives
may have been, his actual proceedings could not have
been more fer the advantage of the Rebels if he had
been IN league with their leaders, and had delb-
eratey intended to insure the defeat of the National
army.