Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1861-08-07

ALISON, in his Life Of Marlborough says ut is
very remarkable circumstance with how small q
force several Of the most decisive actions recorded
in history, have been obtained Ten thousand
Greeks, at Marathon, saved infant EaroPe from
Asiatic su6jugation- four thousand legion
ary soldiers, q Pharsala gave master to the 70.
man world fifteen thousand English, at Cressy and
Agincourt, all but overturned tho Kingdom Of
Francs-thrty Thousand Imperialists, under Eu-
gene at Turin broke the power Of France in Italy,
and for the next century, subjected it 10 the Aus
trian sway--thirty thousand French, under Napo-
leon at Marengo restored it to the rule o. the rl-
color hag-ffteen thousand Americana at Saratoga,
laid the foundation Of North American lndepen-
dence--the charge OF fifteen hundred English, at
Carabobo, forever severed South America from the
Castan monarchy-the battle of Almanza fixed
the crown Of Spain permanently on the heads of the
Bourbon family" -
May we not indulge the hope that the effects Of
the battle Of Manassas will be as great and perma
nent any Of those named by the English historisn
Aword or two more in reference todecisive battles
At the battle Of Narva Charles the l2th Of Sweden
with only twelve thousand Swedes, defeated the
army of Peter the Great, consisting of eighty
thousand vell.disciplined Russians The latter
fought from behind breastworks At the battle Of
Blenhiem The allies British, Dutch, &c. lost
l1,000-the French $4,000 killed. The total loss
of the French says Alison) including those who de-
serted during their caamitous retreat through the
Black Forest, was not less than 10000 men," The
spois of the battlefield were immense. In the
battle Of Lutzen, where the great Gustavus Adol.
phus fell, tho Swedes, with $4,000 foot and 5000
horse defeated the Austrians, 10000 strong, under
Wallenstein, one Of the greatest Captains Of the
age At Talavera Wellington had but %, 900 men
on the field whilst the French had 10000, (most Of
whom had fought under the eye of Napoleon) COM
manded by three of their ablest generals The fight
lasted whole day, and was renewed the next.
Wellington was the victor, and the number of killed
and wounded on both sides Showed what desperate
fighting there was At Buena Vista, Gen. Taylor
had 5000 and Santa Anna $4,000 The conflict
lasted all day; and it must be conceded that the Mex
leans fought about as well as the Yankees at Ma
nassa! But in the skful use Of the feet and legs,
we are forced to admit the Yankees proved them
selves far superior to their illustrious friends and
contemporaries Of Mexico That our men fought
gloriousy ut Manassa cannot be denied. There were
instances of cool courage and reckless daring which
or the knights of Malta" Bnt the enemy did
not stand quite long enough to give us full chance
at them-a fair opportunity to shew our prowess.
They scampered too soon-but they say now, that
they acted on the principle,
"He who fights and runs away,
May live to fight another day."
Ifso then our gallant volunteers will get another
chance at them, when they may DO able to prove
fully what they do! have full confidence tina:
they will not attempt to rival the enemy in pedes
trian exploits, except IN pursuit.!
1t is said by some of the letter writer's and jour
nals that the charge at Manassas of our 1900 cav
airy in pursuit Of the broken and panic-stricken
forces Of the enemy, WAS indeed magnificent-as
splendid SIGHT as ever was SEEM" Nc doubt of it
What then must have been the sight of Murats
charge at Jena with 10000 OF the most splendid
and superb cavaly known to the world his charge
also at Eylau-with 5000 cavalry equally as good
and above all, what must have been the sight of the
awful conflict between the 10000 cavalry, 10000
French and as many Austrians, at the battle of
Echmuhl, which continued for hours-until some
time after dark-when, as an historian says, the
sparks from the flashing sabres gave to the battle
field such an appearance as would be presented by
the striking rcd hot iron on ten thousand anvils!
Such are the "splendors" of war, but its horrors,
who can estimate?
The battle Of Manassas may not teach the North
ern despotsm and its minions lesson sufficiently
impressive to check their vanity suppress their ar
rogance, curb their savage atrocty but this great
good, | religousy believe. it wH accomplish, viz:
the recognition Of our independence by France and
England! If so, glorious future is before the
SoUrn-the vanguard as well as the reserve corps
of Republican Freedom Green be the graves, and
ever honored the memory, of those who fell on that
"well foughten ield"-and the God of battles bless
and give strength of nerve and boldness of heart,
in every time of need, to the gallant survivors
August !, 1851. NJ