Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1861-08-07
For the Standard.

peuCOCh
July ~, 1861.
For the Standard.
ALISON, in his Life of Marlborough, says at is
a very remarkable circumstance with how small a
force several of the most decisive actions recorded
in history have been obtained. Ten thousand
Greeks at Marathon, saved infant Europe from
Asiat.c SubJugation-twenty-f -four thousand legIoi-
AIRY soldiers, ut PharSaa, gave master to the Ro-
man wOrld-fitteen thousand English, at Cressy and
Agincourt all hut overturned the Kingdom oil
France--thrrty Thousand imperiaSts under Eu-
gene at Turin, broke the power of France in Italy,
and for the next century, subjected it to the Aus
tran sway-thirty thousand French, under Napo.
le0n at MarengO restored it to the rule OF the tri
color hlg-fltccn thousand Americans at Saratoga,
laid the foundation Of North American lndepen
dence--the charge of fifteen hundred English, at
Carabobo, forever scyercd South America from the
CaStilan mouarchy-the battle of Almanac fixed
the crown of Spain permanently on the heads OF the
Bourbon family"
May not indulge the hope that the effects OF
the battle of Manassas WILL be great and pcrma
nent any of those named by the English historian
Aword or two more in reference to decisive battles
At the battle Of Narva, Charles the 18th, of Sweden
with only twelve thousand Swedes defeated the
army Of Peter the Great consisting of eighty
thousand well-diSciplned Russians. The latter
fought from behind breaStworks. At the battle of
Blenhiem The allies British Dutch, &C., lost
ll,000-the French 10, 900 killed. 1.-The total loss
Of the French (Says ASon) including those who de-
serted during their calamtOuS retreat through the
Black Forest, not less than 40, 900 men," The
spells of the battlefield were immense. In the
battle of Luzen where the great Gustavus Adolf
phus fell, the Swedes, with 1000 foot and 5000
horse, defeated the AuStrians, 1000 strong under
Wallenstein, one Of the greatest Captains of the
age. At Talavera, Wellington had but 10000 men
on the field, whilst the French had 60 900, QnoSt Of
whom had fought under the eye Of Napolenn) COM
manded by three of their ablcst generals. The fight
lasted whole day, and was renewed the next.
Wellington the victor and the number of killed
and wounded on both sides Showed what desperate
fighting there was. At Buena Vista, Gen. Taylor
had 1000 and Santa Anna $4,000. The conflict
lasted all day. and it must be conceded that the Mex
leans fought about well the Yankees at Ma
naSsa! But in the skillful OF the feet and legs,
we are forced to admit the Yankees proved them
selves far superior to their ilustrous friends and
contemporaries of Mexico. That men fought
gorousy at Manassa cannot be denied There were
instances of cool courage and reckless daring which
would have done honor to "Napoleon's "Old Guard"
or the knights of Malta" But the enemy did
not stand quite long enough to give full chance
at them--a fair oppo tanity to shew our EroweSs.
They scampcrcd too Soon-but they say mOr, that
they acted on the principle
He who fights and away,
May live 20 fight another day"
Ifso, then our gallant volunteers will get another
chance at them, when they may 10 able to prove
fully what they con do! have full confidence tina;
they will not attempt TO rival the enemy in pedcs-
TRAN exploits, ercept IN pWTsuH!
1t is said by some Of the letter writers and Jour
nails that the charge at ManaSSa Of our l 800 cav
airy in pursuit Of the broken and panic stricken
forces of the enemy, was indeed magnificent-as
splendid a SIGHT seen" No doubt Of it.
What then must have been the sight of MuratS
charge at Jena with 900 OF the most splendid
and superb cavay known to the world his charge
also at H. lau-wh IL, eco cavalry equally good
and above ALL what must have been the sight of the
awful conflict between the 2h,U0s cavalry, IL, 900
French and many Au>trians at the battle of
Echmuhl, which continued for hourS-un;il some
time after dark-whcn, aS an historian says the
sparks from the claShiug sabrcS gave to the battle
field such appearance would he presented by
the striking red hot on ten thousand anvilS!
Such are the "SplendorS" of war; but its horrors
who can estimate?
The battle Of ManasSa may not teach the North
crn dcSpotiSm and its minonS lesson sufficiently
impressive to check their vanity, suppress their
rOgance, curb their savage arocity but this great
good rcligiouSly believe, it wW accomplish, viz:
tie rcrogDiti0R Of our independence by France and
EbgldHd! If So a glorious future IS before the
SoUrn-the vanguard aS well the reserve corps
of Republican Freedom! Green IL she graves, and
honored the memory, of thOSH who fell on that
"well foughen eld"-and the God Of battles bless
and give strength of nerve and holiness of heart,
iii every time Of need, to the gallant survivors!
August j, 1851. NJ.