Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1861-08-08
From the New York Herald, 2Sd ult
Startling News from Washington-PrOmislng VlctO-
~ Turned into a Disastrous Defeat.

/ From the Nes7 York Herald, 2sd ult.
Startling News from MISUNDERSTANDING VIctO-
I ny Turned into a Disastrous Defeat.
Our rejocings the promising victory at Bull Run
were premature. That promising victory was turned
into disastrous defeat The details so far as received
before readers and do not to dwell upon
them We have no explanations to make of the panic
which seized upon our retreatng troops except this
that expecting nothing but victory they were wholly
unprepared, morally, sraegcaly and from experience
for the duties of retreat. The best disciplined armies
under great reverse however, have frequently fallen
prey to such pancs In this soldiers have been
taught useful lesson, but expense of life and in
the materials of which is very heavy. Now the
first duty is instant action in all the loyal States for the
rescue of Washington.
This damaging reverse may be readily accounted for
First administration appears to have been strange
y ignorant ncreduous concerning the forces posi-
tions and deences of the enemy at Manassas functions
secondly, General Patterson could and should have de-
tanned and cut up the rebel Johnston with his twenty
thousand men in the valley of Virginia instead of per-
mitting him to slip off and join the army of Bea1re-
gard In failing to push forward and bring the retreat
ing Johnston to battle, Patterson turned over to
Beauregard twenty thousand men, and Mcdowell prac-
ticaly lost the services of twenty-five thousand With
regard to the ignorance of the administration of the
strength of the enemy, it would appear from
reports to be largely attributable to the confidence of
General Scott in the superior strength of his forces
Our opinion is that noisy and fanatical anG
foolish politicians forced Gen. Scott into this thing
against his superior judgment. Whatever may be the
truth in this respect it is manifest that the Secre
ary of War and the whole Cabinet have been unequal
to the exgeneies of the crisis and far behind the spirit
and liberal patriotism of the loyal States.
Wenow perceive what the Cabinet should have known
in advance that in making this late march upon Ma
Junction should have had reserves distributed
in strong positions along the route from Oentrevie to
the redoubts of the Potomac River of fifty or sixty
thousand men, instead of reserved force of twenty
thousand stretched along line of ten miles from Ar
lington Heights to Alexandria. We know too, that
even month ago we might have had in front of Wash
ngton one hundred and fifty thousand instead of
fifty thousand. But the Secretary of War has refused
services Of nutry, cavalry and artillery regiments and
companies exceeding perhaps, ahunded thousand men,
mporng to be accepted into the armies of the Union
The whole responsibility in the end falls upon the
President of the United States He cannot fail to
comprehend the dangers and duties OF his critical posi-
tlon. Washington is in great peril If occupied by the
enemy it will require vast outlay of money, and
men to recover it but if held Dy forces for only
few days it may be saved from the desecration of re-
volutonary coup detGt. The salvation of Washington
now becomes the paramount duty of the Administration
the loyal States and the loyal cities and Eeope of the
Union. Let US hope that those fortifcaton on the
South bank of the Potomac wisely constructed, under
the direction of Gen. Scott against the possible contn
gencies of reverse may prove sufficient to hold the
enemy in check until overwhelming Union force
be thrown into Washington Let hope that Gen.
Dix will be able to keep Baltimore and Maryland quiet
Lne cOlumQ FatterSOn, unQer
Cen Banks, will be competent to guard the upper Po-
tomac until Gen. Mcclellan can come to his support
The danger which now menaces Washington is posi-
tive and formidable and eli the troops from all quarters
that be spared for the capital OF our country should
be sent forward at The army too should Instant
be supplied with educated officers to the fullest posi-
BILE extent, and Mr.. Lincoln should lose no more time
IN Strengthening the weak places of his Cabinet We
bad hoped that this would be finished in a short
triumphal Union campaign. We were mistaken.
But we have been misled by the misplaced conf
dence of our government in the strength of its
army, and by the fatal deusion of the army itself
in regard to the retreatng straagems of the enemy.
The war now ceases to be an uninterrupted onward
march of our forces Southwark The Government, in
single day. and at the capital of the nation, is thrown
upon the defensive and under circumstances demanding
the most prompt and generous efforts to strengthen
orces at that point Every other question, all other is
sues, and all other business among all parties and all
classes OF our loyal people, should be made subord-
nate to the paramount object of securing Washington.
The loyal States, within three days. may dispatch
ty thousand men to that point; and if succeed in
holding the capital for twenty days may have by that
time army of two hundred thousand men entrenched
around it.
Action, action action Let our Governor and State
and City authorities, and the State and City auhori-
ties OF every loyal State come at to the rescue
and move forward their reinforcements without waiting
| for instructions IRON Washington