The weekly Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1860-1863, 1861-07-25

ETWs Clip the following from the
Cincinnati Commercial:
The Grand Army of the United States'
advancing from Washington. commanded
by General MCDOWELL, has suffered de-
feat and, what is worse. panic. The
dispatches which We receive, conveying
this disastrous intelligence. are Of course
somewhat confused, in some respects con-
SradicrOry but it is clear that our great
army has been repulsed in the assault up
on the fortified entrenchment of the enc,
my at Manassas Junction, and that after
suffering heavy losses, portion OF it be
came pauio-stricken, and fell back in dis
order upon the base Of operations south Of
the Potomac. Some OF the best regiments
have been terribly cut up, portion Of
our splendid artillery, and doubtless ma
nv prisoners, and valuable military stores,
have fallen into the hands Of the enemy.
II would be IN ungracious task to dwell
upon the causes Of this most serious calam.
ity. 1t will, however, we think, be agreed,
that mistake was committed in under.
estimating and underv aluing the forces
under Bsauregard-and that it was grave
error 10 push or the attack upon formi-
dable line Of fortications in difficult coun'
try. with troops who had little experience
when it was apparent that the enemy had
q force numerically superior. To be
sure there was the most unbounded con.
6dence 10 The fighting qualities Of the
troops, and we are not prepared TO say
that this was 10 any degree unfOunded.-
As for the panic, it is fact. ofwbich his
tory affords numerous examples, that the
best troops. the most thoroughly oiscip.
lined, and who have been seasoned in
many campsigns. arc subjac, to paDics
Even the victorious, perfectly disciplined
and appointed French army. was seized
with panic the day after Solfelino, by
the appearance on the flank Of a squadron
Of Austrian cavalry that bad lost their
way. The grand army Of Napoleon might
have been routed If the Anstrians had
been aware Of their oppo rtunily. At Sol
ferlno. as at Balls Run. the panic began
with the teamsters aud the hangers on oil
the army, and was communicated to the
soldier. ...s r.s
General Beaur1gard being. so far as ap
pears. unmolested in any serious degreo
by ,Le Divisions Under Bu'ler aud Pstter-
son at Fortress Monroe and Harper's Fer
ry. concentrated his whole force at Man
assss. thus securing the preponderaucs
at that point. THIS he was enabled to do
by the Virginia rail aud other roads, and
pertaps by want of eNtorprising energy
on the part OF our officers.
The time has come when each loyal ci
tizen must stand unreservedly by the Go
yernment. We shall be c.llod upon tc
make great sacrifices, and we must make
them as becomes our u anhood. We are
poor indeed in spirit if we do not stan
10 our arms by the old flag now. To fal
ter is to surrender all that we hold deal
as citizens and as men. The sharp ct tria
that can prove nation is upon US. w
must rise to the level Of this great emer
gcDcy, or we shall sink to q condition o
serfdom. All that We have and are is 10
Volved in the oontest-proper.y, oharac
ter. life--all the Fl uils Of the prosperou
and happy past, all the hopes that max
life endurable. The great misfortune Q
the rebel success is that it will make til
war more pro,racted aad desolalire
Peace is not tolerable or possible, un il
can be made by the re.establshmen il
every conner ol the lard, Of Legitimate au
thorily. Whoever would stop short @
this consummation. be IL ever 30 costI
either fails to comprehend the CriOis. or /
uniaithful to his own rights and the obi
CATIONS of citizt n--und in either case il
unworthy the enjoyment Of the blessing
OF the inheritance which our wise an.
brave fathers Transmitted to US, and whcl
is n'w impcriIed, The errors and mis-
fortunes Of The past. though great. are
not appalling, We are still masters of The
situation, and tho future is ours.