Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-07-17
The Organ of the Eng ish Premier on the
Battle OF Big Bethel.
From the London Post, June Sc


From the London Post, June So.
1t is, however,, believed that the Northern army,
under command of General Scott, amounts to sixty
thousand men, and that the enemy has IN the field
force which is supposed to range from seventy to
ninety thousand men. The former, if we may nudge
from the recent affair near Fort Monroe, appeared
to be ill-dIscplned ard inetfcientlv commanded
The regiments which were despatched under the
command of General Pierce, to attack the intrench-
e. camp at Great Bethel were speedily repulsed and
IN the darkness of the night fred upon each other
This disaster is attributed to the mismanagement of
Gen Pierce, who it is stated, "lOst his head or TO
the Discrimination of the raw Northern leyies to
face masked batteries and to stand the CALLING fire
of riled cannon The military operations which
hitherto have taken place IN America to Euro
pean nations to be uterly inexplcable. In this
country we know comparatively little or nothing of
the organizations of the Southern forces. We are
obliged to term our conclusions from the not very
trust worthy accounts with which the New York
papers favor the world. 1t is, however clear that
both IN the attack upon Fort Sumter and in the re-
cent affair at Great Bethel the secessionists were
well provided with artillery, and that their troops
were sufficiently well handled to secure success.
We suspect that the delay and hesitation which have
marked the policy of the Federal govern
ment are to be attributed mainly TO the
circumstance that Gen. Scott an able and
experienced officer, knows that militia resi-
ments cannot, in the short space of two months te
converted into we'll trained and efficient soldiers
Oen Dutlef, WIS ulfeCteu the ulSaSIFOu3 movement
from Fort Monroe, was the other day practicing
lawyer, who of cannot be expected to become
q general by inspiration. The Northern army ap
pears tO.be in great want of officers, owing to the
circumstance that the great majority of the officers
of the regular army have thrown up their commits
sions to take service with the Southern insurgents
In a few dsys we may expect to hear that Manassas
Gap has been the scene of great struggle, upon
the issue of which the fate of the Federal capital
must depend. Hitherto the prestige Of success has
been altogether the side Of the SO-d matter of The
greatest importance at the Commencement Of campaign
Nr. Jefferson DdUis appears to hare lceH equipped
t0eH offered. and losH orgGnized arRy 17,ils Kr.
Lincoln and General Scott haze Under hir command
rdto sUsS, more formidable on paper than they are %
an enemy in the field. Actual warfare, how ever, is
sharp ard quick instructor, and the Northern pop
ulation have only to initiate the energy and activity
of the Southern insurgents to learn those abits Of
discipline and to collect those resources upon which
success depends quite much upon enduring
courage and good and righteous cause,
The two armies were approaching each other, and
the fight which seemed Imminent at Mana sas Gap
will IN all probability decide not the fate of the
campaign, but whether the North or the South is to
become the invading army.