Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1861-10-23
"on to washington -

; M.
an article from the pen of George Fitzhugh, ESQ.,,
which contains food for reflection for those who are
urging an immediate movement on Washington.
We also publish, from one of the Columbia rs. C)
papers, the following extract from staff officer Of
the army Of the Potomac from which it will be seen
that Gen. beauregard contradicts the rumor that he
had applied to President Davis for permission to ad
vance on the enemy:
My note has been detained, and in the meantime
have seen an article in the Mercury, of September
2S. headed Justice to our Generals on the Poto.
mac Gen Beauregard called my attention to it,
and authorized me to deny uneouivocally the asser.
tlon that ne had applied to President Davis for leave
to ADVANCE on the enemy and that it had been re.
fused. have the means of knowing, and have
good reason TO believe, that Gems. Johnston Beau
regard and Smith are in full accord with the Pres
ident who is now here as to the policy Of the exist
ing operations Of the army"
Our readers will bear in mind that the Federa,s
have been worsted in every conflict which has taken
place; that the predictions of our enemies, that
they would overrun and subjugate the South in the
course Of three months have not been verified. but
that on the contrary, we have them on the defen.
sive, with their capital besieged and the Potomac
olockaded; and that we are occupying portions of
two States, Kentucky and Missouri, which still re.
main in the old Union, and have vanauished them
thus far in every battle which has taken place on
this, as they claim, their own ground. In addition
to this, time is working for US and against them
1t costs them as much to remain on the defensive
where we have them as it would to advance. Mean
while the new Republic is growing and attracting
the attention Of the world. Our capital, Richmond
is not only secure but unthreatened We are in
creasng-they are decreasing. There can be no
doubt Of this. We participate in the general and
natural wish to see Washington taken and the des-
potic government dispersed. But this is great un-
dertaking. Our military operations are under the
direction of brave, skilful and sagacious men. We
have the fullest confidence in Davis, Beauregard,
and johnson. They understand their duties, and
they are discharging them. When they say advance,
the advance will be made, and our brave troops will
march to certain victory. While ready and anxious
for action, let wait and watch for the selected
hour. Our independence is only matter of time,
for it is as fixed as fate at period in the future.
Its achievement may require more hard fighting
than was done at Bull Run and Manassas, and thou
sands more of bravest and best may be slain in
battle; but rest assured that our leaders in this
great struggle will accomplish the result in the best
way for our armies and for the country. A Manas-
sas correspondent of the Atlanta Commonwealth
says:
"The army of the Potomac, under command Of
Gen. Johnston is composed Of two Divisions the
first commanded by Gen. Beauregard the second oy
| Gen. Smith. Each Division is composed of Brig
AIDES, consisting of or Regiments of infantry,
with proportonable parts of cavalry and artillery.
There is no want of confidence in general officers
hcre-the army is prepared to obey all orders, with
out questioning them and to fight with the same
vaor as heretofore When the hosts are again
marshalled in battle array-when the drum again
calls us onward-and the roar Of the death-deallng
artillery again salutes the nations ear, you may
! look for conflict, compared with which Manassas
is but blood.css victory. Both armies will fight
with desperation; and in the next encounter many
noble forms will be Frustrated, many gallant hearts
will be hushed No one who mixes with the army
can doubt the result. The enthusiasm which a just
cause engenders renders us invncibe by any power
that can be brought against us''-the whole army
feels that we must conquer, or else we are race OF
slaves more object than those who wear the Moslem
chains"