Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-10-08
THE FLYING PAnAPEr.r -

George Wilkes, in his last letter from the
camps on the Potomac, thus speaks Of the arti-
nee OF Gen. Price to cut of Col MulliRan' q
access to the water at the late siege of Lexing-
ton:
"Au Prices efforts, notwithstanding bis
overwhelming force, had failed to occupy the
open space between the entreuehments and the
river; and every time he repeated the attempt
his troops were hurled back, either by down.
right bAyonet charges, or fierce onslaaghts of
the Illinois cavalry, of whom there were seven
hundred in the fort. II seemed, therefore, al
most impossible for the rebel general to carry
his point In this quarter against the devoted
-yalor Of the Federal soldiers. In fact, he had
half dsspaired the chance, when suddenly, an
idea came which instantly dissipated all his
difficulties, and delivered the beseiged hope
lessly into bis hands. Taking possession of
some bales OF hemp, which, uniackily for Lex
ington, lay upon the bank, Price ordered it to
be relied into the river until II was saturated
beyond any chance Of fre. Then bringing 1t
mp in line, he arranged il diagonslly along the
shore, and ordered q portion Of his troops TO
roll 1t before them towards the uninvested Dor
ton Of the works, while others, in strong
force, bent below the level Of the moving psr.
apet and delivered their volleys as they went.
Let sneering Europeans no longer dispute our
capacity for war, for here we have an idea de.
ySloped In the heat Of battle, by Western
General, which excels the best Strategy ever
developed in Lombardy or the Crinea. It was
stroke Of genius. One Of those happy adapta-
tions Of chance means which prove the talent
of the General, and elevate the art Of battle
above the level Of mere downright force. II
sxeels, BY Tar, the fne conception Of Jae kson's
cotton breastworks at New Orleans, for it en-.
gratis upon that srtifee superior idea. Il was
an Gctsvs rather than q passsps stratagem. and
inspired an inert and merely resisting body
with living, moving, and sssaiiing function.
Wehaye heard Of flying artillery and seen its
execution; but, who ever heard before Of fy-
Ing redoubts, which, while they give shelter to
an advancing lins, can successfully withstand
the heaviest canonadsl Poor MuiliRan mus,
have gszed upon this miracle In the method Of
approach, with much the same wonder as the
Scottish king beheld from HE bsttlements the
advance Of Birnsm wood, and his heart musi
have sunk as heavily within him at the sight.
No yalor could withstand the marching bas-
ton. Itwas impregnsble 70 bayonet charges
and inaccessible 20 cavalry, and the force Be-
hind il vas superior 10 bis own"
Elsewhere In the same letter the writer says:
s'Thus far, with superior means and overwhslm-
ing resources in the way Of soldiers, our great
northern section has been outnumbered by the
rebels In every battle field; and We are again
driven to the conclusion that those who man
age our twenty-one millions against the six
millions Of the foe, are inferior to the main
players on the other side. Small consolation
10 Il 70 refer to the dogged courage Of our
troops, or 70 declare with pride that they sac-
cumbed only to vast superiority Of strength.
All soldiers win fght, but the gathering Of
strength sud It's successful combination is the
very intellectuality Of warfare and while we
honor the men who brsvely withstand oppo-
ang odds, what shall be said of the MAJOR
Generals who suffer the msn 70 be thus snysl-
opsd aud outnunbsred." 80 -