Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1861-10-31
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The people of the loyal States, and
their have representative in the field, DO
not ask or expect an instant victory over
the army of rebels, but they do sigh and
famish for few crumbs Of comfort to
strengthen and inspirit them while getting
ready 10 fight the grand battle that shall
break the backbone of this rebellion. The
people of the North are not unduly impa-
ttiept for the avalanche of victory that
shall bury treason, but they are restive un-
der the disastrous slides and flakings-off
that continually come down to dampen
the ardor of our troops, weaken our cause
with foreign nations, ana bring death and
desolation to so many households. How
easy, comparatively, it is TO give up friend
il be falls in leading victorious charge!
How hard to give him up when his fall is
but the signal for an unglorious retreat!
It is true that wonders have been per-
formed since the Inauguration of the Pres
ident, in the collection of men and means,
but the constant succession of what may
be called minor defeats, has aggregated
dark cloud Of distrust and doubt and fear
that settles ike midnight over the land.
We hear one day of our bIockading feet
at the mouth of the Mississippi, guarding
effectually the delta of the Father Waters
the next day brings fash over the wires
telling US that in one night that feet has
been scattered by the Turtle and fire
ships of the rebels. We hear the rebel
batteries opposite Pickens are at the mer-
cy of the Fort, and the next fash brings
the startling intelligence that the regiment
Of Zouaves just outside have been surprised
BY the rebels and driven into the Fort for
safety. We read the elaborate account of
the grand reviews at and near Washington
of our army, such as the New World never
before saw and such as the Old Werld but
once ever looked upon, and now comes
the news that eighteen hundred of our best
troops on the Upper Potomac have been
fesried over, fifty at time, into the enc
mics face, led into an ambush, where, TO
save for moment wavering column, the
gailani Baker offers up his life and the brave
band, driven into the Poiomac's food. one
third drowned, one-third shot in the river,
and heremnant struggling into camp, naked
bleeding and disheartened.
'sAhl but says the enthusiast, Have we
not blockedcd the Atlantic and Gulf ports?
Have we not recaptured Hatterasa Yes,
we have, and we turn TO read that at this
very moment the Capitol oe our country
cannot be reached by water, that the army
animals are on short allowance of hay and
grain. and that wagon train is organizing
10 wheel supplies from Baltimore to Wash
ington. We have established blockade
Of the outside ports, while the rebels have
blockaded the Potomac. In truth must
our loyal men say, with sigh, all these
thinss are against us.
We believe the great blow will finally
fall upon this rebellion with crushing
weight. But in the meantime our men
need the inspiration that skirmish victo-
ries only can give; that insulated deeds of
heroism only can beget. So we hear one
day that we occupy Leesburg and the next
that our troobs are withdrawn to the. Ma
ryland side of The Potomac; to hear one
day That Fairfax has been evacuated by
the rebels, and the next day, that, reas>u-
red BY the Edwards Ferry defeat 10 Fed
eraI arms, the enemy has re-occup,ed Fair
fax; to know that Bulls Run was a great
blunder and yet see that blunder carefully
covered up; to shudder over the worst
crime yet committed during this campaign
at balls Bluff-the facts of which several
days after are dragged to light against all
at headquarters to subdue them
and then read that it is proclaimed from
these headquarters that nobody is to blame,
these things must sow dstrust, and it
cnnnot be but that a tremor will seize the
Union loving people ofthe whole North.
But the order of nature is changed, and
instead Of looking for light to break in the
East we turn for The coming dawn to the
West. All the fighting that has been
done with any good result, has been al
the West. Our handful of troops in Wes-
tern Virginia, compelled by the nature of
Ihe country 10 feed upon the hardest fare,
to lie in the cold and wet, TO 60 with
ragged clothes and soleless shoes, bave
beat back the rebels beyond tie mountains.
From Kentucky como the shouts of the
victory of tbs Indiana and Ohio troops as
lhe rebel Zollicoffer takes the back track
for the Cumberland Gap, and from Mis-
the command of the persecu-
ted Fremont-rolls Eastward the ralying
cry of"Fremont and the Union" and the
blood Eouuds of Price and McCulloch
break theretreat. . @ 81 -
Yet, indeed, the country may ask, What
has the army on the Potomac done9-
What have The brave boys at the West
though weak in numbers-uot done?-
Cleveland Herald.
Battle at Camp Wildcat.
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