Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1861-08-03
The Great Battlefront OF the Enemy.

The Great BauIe.shOut % tnc Enemys
We publish today some extracts from Northern
Republican papers, in which it is admitted that the
forces of Lincoln were overwhelmingly defeated and
routed at Manassas Ne shall publish in our next
a number Of similar extracts, not having room for
them to-day.
The secret of our success was not 50 much in the
position occupied by our forces as ia their good
shooting and indomitable pluck. Mt. Russell, of
the London TinseS who was present at the battle
says "that history records 40 such defeat for the
past centary-no rout utter and cooaplete that
of the federal forces" He says 1.-THE fighting of
the Southern men was magnificent They fred
with the precision of veterans They would fall to
permit their artillery to fire. and then rising, dis
charge their muskets aud charge bayonetS in splen-
did order. Some of The evoiutons were superb,
and performed with rapidity, coolaess and discip
line" This is high praise from disinte7eSted
writer who has much Of the finest armies of
Europe, and who is a most accomplished describer
of battles and military movements. The vOISRteeTs
of the South have met ard vaRSuished the we'll
drilled troops Of the North, ~ho had the best bat
teries of artillery, and large bodies Of regulars
around which to rally We had no regulars, and
were Is Ol fOftdbtcST
actcr as the infantry and cavalry whica supported
them.
The panic Of the federal troops was complete.
The great body Of them, ia Washington and Alex
andria is said to be totally deasoralized; and it is
stated that many regiments have gone heme siace
the battle as have been mustered into service. The
CONSERVATION which prevailed in Washington soon
after the battle, is not greatly diminished. There
be doubt that If forces coaid have pressed
after the flying fagitives, the City itself would
have been taken. correspondent Of the New York
Trib1Re, giving an account Of the rout says:
1.-The extent OF the disorder was uaimibei Re-
gulars and volunteers shared it alike A mere frac-
ton Of our artillery was saved. Whole batteries
were left upon the field and the cutting OF of others
ordered when the guns had already been brought
two miles or more from the battle ground and we're
as safe as they would be in New York at this mo-
nIent perfect frenzy was upon almost every man.
Some cried piteeusiy to be lifted behind those who
rode on horses, ana others sought to Chamber into
wagons the occupants resisting them with bay
onets All sense of manhood seemed to be forgot
ten.
Drivers Of heavy wagons dashed down the steep
road reckless of the lives they endangered on the
. way. Even the sentiment of shame had gone
Some of the better tried TO withstand the rush.
and cried out against the flying troops calling them
towards, poltroons, brutes," and reving them for
so degrading themselves, especially when enemy
was near. Insensibe to the epithets the runaways
only looked relieved and sought renewed assurance
that their imagined pursuers were not upon them
Every impeachment to fight was cast aside. All was
lost to that American army, even its hoRor.
The agony of this overwhelming disgrace can
never be expressed in words understood by those
who only hear the tale repeated. | believe there
were men upon that field who turned their faces to
the enemy, and marched to certain death, lest they
should share the infamy which their fellows had in
rited and embraced. The suffering of hundred
deaths would have been nothing compared with
the torture under which the few brave soldiers
~rthed who were swept along by that maniac hur-
ricane o! terror.
Apart from the panic, we lost the battle in per-
iectly Legitimate way. In numbers and in tactics
the enemy proved themselves our superiors"
The above is frank confession from most bitter
enemy. 1t tells in few words the defeat and dis
grace of the "grand army" of the North
What next? The Lincoln government will rally,
but the battle of Manassa rendered Southern indie
pendence fixed inevitable fact The enemy will
be defeated hereafter as heretofore, on every field
Southern men, trained to arms and accustomed to
riding, are absolutely invncible, especially when
fighting for their homes and affairs. Immortal honor
to thesbrave men who fought at Great Bethel, at
Bull Run, and at Manassa. Other battles may be
necessary before an honorable peace is secured but
the great conflicts referred to have already estab-
lshed the editice of Southern independence on the
most solid foundations
We received some days ago, the address to
the naonla IF fha Sfata NV tba