Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1861-07-30
The Great disaster.

Al '"'' "eeA paper we gave 0rlet &C
count of the battle near Manas sas OH Sun.
day the 2lst inst, but the particulars, more
in detail, will be found in the Siqnal of to
day.
1t is not necessary to inform our readers
that our army met with terrible defeat on
the day mentioned. They have been al
ready appriscd Of the appalling fact
They have learned that the rebels repulsed
with great slaughter, the best and largest
army ever before collected in one body on
this continent. They have heard that our
troops were marched against the enemy !;
and though they fought like tigers, were
driven from the field and forced to fee for
their lives to their entertainments near
Washington.
All these painful and unwelcome facts
have come to us over the wires from the
theatre of action. Within twenty miles Of
our national capital we have met with a
most disastrous defeat. Our army. com
posed Of the best fighting material of the
North, have been completely overwhelmed
and utterly cut to Pieces. Indeed it will
require weeks to collect the remnants o.
the regiments engaged in the fight, and to
place them on a war footing again.
All must admit that the repulse of our
forces, is calamity of no ordinary magni
tude. The blood of some of the best men
of America has crimsOned Virginia soil.
A wall of woe has gone up to Heaven from
the dying thousands that will echo as long
as our nation furnishes part of the world's
history.
We must confess We were entirely unrre.
pared for the terrible result. We did no,
believe our Government would hazard a
battle until victory would be certain to
perch upon the stars and stripes. But
great is our disappointment. The radical
Republican members of Congress were too
much for the old hero, General Scott, and
prevailed upon him to give the orders for
battle and forward to Richmond" For
the last two mouths the Summers, the Viii
sons, the Lovejoys, the POmeroys, the Ar
nolds, the Greeleys, and other leaders Of
the Republican party, have been clamornus
for fight. Nothing but fight would sat
isfy them. And Gen. Scott, against his
! own judgement, has been induced to en-
gage the enemy. We know that many
censuro him for venturing an attack un-
der the circumstances, but it was the for
ward movement cry of the Republican
press and the impatience manifested Nv the
hepubiIcan members Of Congress that
has brought the terrible disaster ~ Don us.
Let Sumner and Lovejoy and their confed.
crates bear the blame. Let the blood split
upon the plains of Manassas cry for ven
geance upon the fanatics and hot heads who
control the Republican party. 1t was they
who forced the battle upon us-and upon
them rests responsibility. Henceforth, it
is to be hoped that these blood thirsty poll
iticians will hold their peace, and that
Gen. Scott will be left to the command of
our armies without dictation from Repub-
lican newspapers and members of Con.
gress.
The repulse of our grand army, at what
may be called the Threshold of the cam
paign, changes the attitude ofthe Govern.
meDt. The pride of our nation has receiy.
ed heavy blow and the buoyant hopes of
loyal citizens have been rudely disappoint.
ed. Therefore, compromise ard peace is
farther eff than ever. The Government
will make new ard tremendous efforts to
change the current of affairs. The reverse
must be avenged and victory crown our
arms before the North will listen to terms
for Cancellation. The war, then, will 20
on more battles and bloodshed will ensus
before the victory is won.
The prospect is, indeed, gloomy aud dis.
heartening; but it behooses patriots, more
than ever, to stand by the Government in
all its efforts to suppress the rebellion and
establish its authority.