Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1861-08-07


We publish to-day some extracts from Northern
Republican papers, in which it is admitted that the
forces of Lincoln were overwhelmingly defeated and
routed at Manassa We shall publish in our next
number Of similar extracts, not having room for
them day.
The secret of our success was not so much in the
position occupied by our forces as in their good
shooting and ndomitabe pluck Mr.. Russell, OF
the London Times, who present at the battle,
says "that history records no such defeat for the
past century-no rout so utter and complete that
Of the federal forces" He says the fighting. of
the Southern men was magnificent They fired
with the precision of veterans. They would fall to
permit their artillery to fire, and then rising, dis
charge their muskets and charge bayonets in splen-
did order. Some of the evolutions were superb,
and performed with rapidty, GOODNESS and discip-
line" This is high praise from a disinterested
writer who has seen much of the finest armies Of
Europe and who is most accomplished describer
of battles and military movements. The counters
of the South have met and vanquished the we'll
drilled troops of the North, who had the best bat
teres of artillery, and large bodies of regulars
dTOunu WHICH ~ we Hau Ho TeSuiaiS, dtiu
all our batteries as much Of the volunteer char
actcr as the infantry and cavalry which supported
them.
The panic Of the federal troops was complete
The great body of them, in Washington and Alex
andria, is said to be totally demoralized; and it is
stated that many regiments have gone home since
the battle as have been mustered into service. The
c,1al -, NVoch ufoDc
after the battle, is not greatly diminished. There
can be no doubt that il forces could have pressed
on after the flying fugitives, the City itself would
have been taken. A correspondent of the New York
Tribune, giving an account of the rout, says:
1.-THE extent of the disorder was unlimited. Re.
gulars and volunteers shared it alike. mere frac
ton of our artillery was saved Whole batteries
were left upon tine field and the cutting off of others
was ordered when the guns had already been brought
two miles or more from the battle ground, antiwere
as safe as they would be in New York at this mo-
ment A perfect frenzy was upon almost every man.
Some cried piteously to be lifted behind those who
rode on horses, ano 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 steer
road reckless of the lives they endangered on the
way. Even the sentiment of shame had gope.-
Some of the better men tried to Withstand the rush
and cried out against the flying troops calling then
towards, potroons brutes, and reviling them FOL
SO degrading themselves, especially when no enemy
was near Insensibe to the epithets, the runawayi
only looked relieved, and sought renewed assurance
that their imagined pursuers were not upon them
Every impedment to fight was cast aside. All wa
lost to that American army, even its honor.
The agony of this overwhelming disgrace car
never be expressed in Words or understood by thos
who only hear the tale repeated. | believe ther
were men upon that field who turned their faces t
the enemy and marched to certain death, lest the.
should share the nfamy which their fellows had in
vted and embraced The suffering Of hundre
deaths would have been as nothing compared witt
the torture under which the few brave soldier
wrthed who were swept along 5y that maniac hul
rlcane 0! terror
Apart from the panic, we lost the battle in pei
iecly legitimate way. In numbers and IN tactic
tne enemy proved themselves our superiors."
The above is frank confession from most bite
enemy 1t tells in few words the defeat and di
grace of the "grand army" Of the North. -
What next? The Lincoln government will rail-,
out the battle of Manassa rendered Southern ind
pendence fixed, inevitable fact The enemy wi
be defeated hereafter as heretofore. on every fell
Southern men, trained to arms and accustomed
riding, are absolutely invincble, especially whe
hghting for their homes and affairs. Immortal hon
to the brave men who fought at Great Bethel,
Dull Run, and at Manassa. Other battles may
necessary before an honorable peace is secured b
'ne great conflicts referred to have already esta
isned the edi6ce of Southern Independence on Il
most solid foundations
80 We received some days ago, the address
Tue people of the State, by the committee appoint
oy the Convention of teachers, &C., inthis city.
great length obiges us to defer its publication to
mere convenient season." &
IHE LEGISLATURE. 1T will be recolIected that Il