The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-10-02
:. s!lrimunn Dispatrb.
WEDNESDAY, MORNING ocr : 1851

orR GKS.RAts-If ever an army and a
people had reason to repose the most entire
and perfect confidence in their military leaders,
: it is the Southern army and the Southern PEG.
pie. Generals JOHNSTON, BFAuREeARD, and
SMITH, at the head of the army Of the Poto-
mac, are soldiers who would grace any mill
- ary service in the world They have shown
10, only their skill aud their courage, bnt
their patriotic devotion 10 the canae by tolls
aud services which can never be repaid, Their
soldiers have the utmost confidence, ~ well
they may, in their capacity and valor and il
would be sad day for the Confederacy were
that confidence 10 be diminished by unjust
criticism. The men who have fought our
battles know better how to appreciate orr
Generals than peaceful citizens who have
never smelt gunpowder.
Such men rs Johnston, BkAuRrGARD.
SMITH, and others who might lee named on
the Potomac; such Generals rs LEE and Lon.
ING in Western Virginia such master oi Ais
profession rs Gen ALBERT :. JOHNSTON,
such accomplished soldiers ~ strategists Us
Generals HARpEE, MA0RUD DIR, McCCLLoch,
PRick, uILL, Polk, and others are not To be
Tie South has shown lis good SENSE IN calling
to the control OF it's forces educated military
men. and has been fortunate IN securing hVt
only soldiers, but men OF sense ana character,
OF dignity, self-rsspect, and conscience WHO
appreciate the responsibility OF their positions,
ami have AS much to lose by disaster ~ any
one else III the Southern Coniederacy; probt',
bl, more Having selected our agents, let lis
exercise some fiaith in tLo,n, and not initiate
the facility of the Northern rabbie, IN making
anu uninsAiny Generals, and IN crlticising things
which we do hot understand
We do no, claim for the Generals, or for any
officials, civil or military, Ill the land, the credit
of the powerful military from, which che South
now presents 10 her enemies. That is eyi-
IDENTIFY the achievement OF the Southern 1,eODic
We have more respect for the ptivase soidiers
in the ranks of the Southern army, than for
any officials III the world. We believe
that, with even ordinary generalship, they will
wnip the invaders, though three times their
numbers. To our military leaders, however
belongs the credit of organizing, Combining
and disc pining armies, a.ld of leading TIC az
TO victory after victory, and such victories as
this continent never witnessed before. Suppose
the North had gained such victory at Bj;i!
Run was gained by the South, would VT
ever have heard an end 10 the glolifcaton of
Gen, ScoTrl Would they have m,.iaiuc1
and gruub led, even if he had been unable to
make any forward movement the "On 70
Washington demand is one which can only
be raised by those who are entirely ignorant
of the loss Of life which such IA taking of the
bull by the horns would cost Our pallan,
soldiers can take Arlington Heights, no doubt
but at cos. of human life that no advantages
to be gained by ii would compensate. There
are other ways of accomplishing the great
object of the war than by butting the head of
the army against heavy ramparts, which, after
all, do not protect vital point. Let us have
faith III the Generals, as well as the men who
have gained so many magnificent victories. Ii
they We're mere civilians. mere politicians mere
demagogues, who might as we'll he at the head
of a lying in hospital as of an army, we should
have some reason for apprehension. But they
are real Generals; they know a good deal
more of their vocation than outsiders can pos
sibly do, and there are very few outsiders who
have as much personal t<serest in success and
victory as the men who lead our armies