The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-06-20


We are on the threshold ri Important Fl
badly IF decisive events. The armies "i ID
Two .a,,i,us are in immediate contact VIZ
oaoh other in full force. The enemy are pu't
fnv their lines into our territory, and eur o"
ynen are eager for combat. The next "c'k
4,,,oiyh, will witness q series Of engagement
which will 20 far to indicate the issue oi IL
WAT The enemy may outuumber Us iargei! T.
and the problem to be solved is, whether tn
South will make up in proves what II lhcks T.
numbers.
So far, the enemy has bad every adFantas'
over US in has facilities Ter collecting Ht!h''>
He was much nearer the present seat oi th'
war. HIS large cities enabled him to recfu'
troops moro rapidly, and his railroads aoh "a
tsp.iye chipping to concentrate them IN /.
readily In their present encampments. ii
had the military organization OF the 'hlo
States all ready to hi. hands ne had an arm
and navy .mplete ut all ints. lie hsa al
old established government machinery III ia
on.rstjop. and vast resources ut commahc
maritime. financial political and military
Ine = Qltl, on NbS tNh'lA' - h"S
20 organize IRON revolution 6ho haa LIE"
.;oy,rumont to erect aud 7" tarnlah ana equ'i
IN it. luminous departments and thou@a'-'-
uerp.exinx details. She had no Navy. chs
had no \rmy Sue had 10 srt diligently L
vrk IN preparing her deteucos before yet iit
clvll organization, which was t" call ofin''
into the field and 10 direct their operations
WAR itself completed and in action. Sue bat
to collect arms, to establish III O;duauce Bu
r.su To organize Commissariat, and I" c1r
alta an entire staff. She had to collect large
forces from an extensive and sParsoly poiu-
lated Territory She had to transport then
vast distances e. such points as the ehem'
him.olf thre atened. and not such as she sh"uid
s.leot As the battle ground. 10 fact, she ha
70 meet the enemy rsore than half way
While she was engaged in the important w"rt
Of organization, tho enemy was devoting hi,
whole attention to the creation and tranfp''.
tation of armies. The enemy thus game
time uts,n her-time which, it must be con
fos.ef. he has very poorly improved
For a, yet he has, with all his advantages
ACCOMPLISHED nothing. Except in re'not
portion. of our territory, LIKE North
western Virginia he ha. nowhere pene
grated into the interior Of our country. I'll
hangs timiIly and doubtfuIly upon our Dor
siers. He ha. been there many weeks, ldi
and inert, while we have been bringing forwar
from gres' distances our troops. His recon
noi.ances have been disastrous. They nav
been more; they have been disgracetul.
p.i,fa. Court-House and Great Bethel, at th
Hight mile Bridge, on the Hampshire road. b
has been whipped beyond the p'wer OF h
mendacious writers to conceal. This Is II
prominent fact of his invasion go tar, that
ha, nowhere marched forth from his hn
with bold step and offered us battle upt
equal terms.
On our side, We have never failed to encounu
him on almost any terms he would off'r, or
Whip him when it has come to light. " nav
so fay, not provoked important engagement
rreserrina TO await the collection OF iarg
for,e. and solioitous to drill our men we'll b
fore leading them into action. Wa have pr
farred, in the face of large odds, and for I
AJAX. Of discipline and reinforcements. to stan
on the defensive.
Ba, We arc now Just beginning to be read
aud the impetuositv of our men can no lo1
gar be restrained with prudence. The Nor
isuarching down upon our lines with gre
force, RELYING upon his numbers, and hopi'
thus to win ground by striking us with q
NAV. II il now 10 be seen what reception
will meet With In attempting this sert of Ia
tics upon our brave troops. We Of the Sou
have no doubt. We arc as impatient OF
tidings of battle a. we are confident OF the
sue.
The moment, however. If very serio
f,w dsv- II is 10 be decided whether t
p,uthsrn or tho Northern soldier is the bras
and better warrior. It ia TO he decided ~hei
er the prestige Of tho Union ard the Sta
and Stripes is a stronger inspiration than |
Lore Of Liberty and Of our invaded col
try. Europe is to know whether the Sou
can maintain her character as n bel.ger
power, and whether her independence IA pl
babe es ,nt. The North il In know whett
che aou'h Is the feeble ard helpless country
has been nr.ugat % think. The qnestion
eohques, j, nt' involved no pow on "a
Can suhiUs the south. The gu .ii7n IL NJ ,
equality s.a political power ani as mar,
c"pbstaua
Caases Of F,rr vt ser.
The att~u,ion Of scientific man has beea