Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1861-1862, 1861-11-29

river 10 bis pursuit He had over 10 900 men, and from
twenty to twenty four guns. General Patterson had
10000 men and SIX guns the latter immovaoe for want
Of harness. On the 2sh be informed the General OF the
strength of the enemy and OF his force; that he
would not on bis own responsibility, attack without ar.
tiery, but would do 20 cheerfuly and promptly, he
would give him an explicit order to that efct No or
der given On the goth he received toe harness Tor
bis single battery OF six smooth bore guns ard on the
S0h gave the order to cross. Ga the I'd Of July he
crossed, met the enemy and whipped them
On the 9Th Of July a council was held, at which all
the commanders OF divisions aud brgades and chiefs OF
staff were present. Colonel Stone the junior line OIL
cer spoke twice. and decidedly against an advance, adj
vocating direct movement 10 Shepher1stown and
Oharestown. All who spoke opposed an advance, and
all voted against one. On the same day he informed
the Gsueran. Chief Of the condition OF affairs In the
valley and proposed that be should 60 70 Chailestown
and occupy Harpers Ferry, aud asked to be Informed
when be would attack Manassas. On the l2ih he was
directed to 20 where he had proposed aud informed
that Manassas would be attacked Tuesday the 10Th
On the 18Th be was telegraphed: 'If not strong enough
10 beat the enemy early week make demonstrations
80 as to detain him in the valley Of Winchester" He
made the demonstration and on the l6th the day Gene
raj Scott said he would attack Manassas he drove the
euemys pckets into his entertainments at Winchester
aud on the l7th marched TO Cbarlestown.
o. the thirteenth he tslegrsghed the GeneraLinChief
that Johnston was 10 position TO have his strength dou
bed Just be could reach him. and that he would rather
lose the chance Of accomplishing something brilliant than
by hazsbg bis column to destroy the fruits ofthe cam
plign by defeat closing bis telegram thus lf wrong Let
ne DC Instructed" But no instructions came On the sew
ensaenth General Scott telegraphed: "kcDowelfs frs
VS. work has driven the enemy beyond Fairfax Court
House Tomorrow the Jinction will probably be car
riedn With this information he was happy. Johns on
had been detained the appointed time and the work Of
General Patterson's column had been done.
Ga the 18Th at half pas: one in the morning. he tele-
era phed General Scott the condition of tho eremys
force and hs own referring to the letter Of the l6Eh fer
full Information, and closed the dspatch by asking,
'Shsll attack?" This was plain Ehghsh, and could
not be misunderstood but he received reply He ex
peced to be attacked where he was, and il Manassas
was not 10 be attaked that day. stated il General
SCOTS dispatches Of the day previous he ought to have
been ordered forthwith join in the battle ard the
attack delayed until he came He could have bsen there
on the day that the battle was fought and his assistance
might have produced different result.
Ga the 30 he heard tina; Johnston had marched with
IS 900 Confederate troops and large artillery force IN
southeastery direction. He Immediately teegrsphed
the Information General Scott, and knew that he
csyed il the same day.
TIE TREATMENT OF MASON AND SLIDELL-
The resolve which the government has come to with
regard 70 the reaatoiy treatment 10 which hessrs Ma
ION and Sidel TO be subjected, will no doubt have
the effect OF checking the prosecution Of blrbsrous mea
sures against OOODel OOrcOfdu anu the
whom the rebel leaders threaten With condign and gno
minous punishment. When it becomes known that the
law Of retaliation will be strictly carried out with regard
the leading rebels at For. Warren, it Is not likely
that the gallant officers OF our army now lying III Soltu
prisons will be treated to the halter as threatened in
the case of Col CorcorAn.
We only hold Mason, Slde aud Faulkner now out Of
the st Of Southern statesmen but we may soon have
rger number Of hostages; perhaps in the course OF
coming events Mr.. jeff Davis himself may be held to
answer for the unciviizsd conduct Of his co-rebsl.
TIE CANADIAN PRESS ON TIE MASON AND
sLIDELL CAPTURE.
We perceive that the Canadian press still continues to
make buster about the of Mason and
Slde The fact is that most fthese Canadian journals
are directly hostile to the government Of the United
States in this struggle against rebeloo and they make
the capture Of the rebel ENJOYS pretexs for shower
ing their abuse upon the federal government aud max
ing much bad blood out Of the matter as possible
Tlty Ieembls pack OF dogs yeping, aud barking, and
max all the noise they can the sight of stranger
ill they slenced by word from their master. When
they hear how much moderately the Engsh papers
discuss the about which they clmofous,
they will sink away with a suppressed groWL Those
Who have the less authority for talking big and threse
ming usually the very people who sound the loudest
trumpet. As neghbors, IT not friends the journals Of
Canada ought to have regard for TRUTH and
dscency in their DISCUSSIONS and not allow their pas
sons to entirely away with their prudence 90
TIE DECISIVE BATTLE OF CAMPAIGN.
The student of history must have remarked that
single decisive battle has ordinarily brought 10 coee
every great in which the nations OF world have
been engaged work has been written, entitled
the Fifteen Decisive Battles Of the World" 10 illus.
rate this theory Such cOnfe: has vet TO take place
between the respective armies Of the North aud South
Napoleon once remarked "Show me where the enemy
is the strongest and there will attack him." Now tue
victory ut Port Royal has not diminished the effective
strength OF the Confederate army Manassas and there
is very little question that General McClesn aware OF
the vital importance Of blow in Virginia, will, ere long,
strike the ground there where, for no many
IN nths, is has been the most rampant. The impending
battle on the right taak OF the Potomac will oe decis
i've OF the fate Of tho rebellion, and s,gnsSs 10 the
world that the back Of treason ia broken forever.
TIE RIAL BLocKADIsG FLEET.
The feet of tWent'Ve old Uhiers, tina. called on the
2Oh inst is the effective bocksdng squadron OF the
Atlantic coast blockade of such description did
not enter the minds OF those who framed the treaty Of
Paris but the population of Charleston, Savannah, Mo-
bile and other rebel s.sports, will fld that completely
the purpose OF preventing ngress and egress TO
their respective haTbors In the begInug OF the pres
century, the patriotic fathers Of the Republic OF the
o. g. presented nearly every OF the practical points,
that have since occupied the attention OF international
legislatures for the consideration Of the civilized world
k has taken the powers Of Europe about half century
to deVelope them and TO reduce them 10 their present
shape but just rapidly as foreign governments come
up TO ous IDEAS We go aheao and leave them lar oenno,
in the wake after Hence il il that the deluSon so
prevalent in the South that the blockade is dead
letter. and in England aud France that IL cannot be rem
dered eectua will b, rendered absurd when the quar-
ter Of hundred vessels that have just been despatched
from Northern ports shall have fulfilled their mission
rebel channels and rebel hArbors will be Theoretically
sealed up before the close Of another month.
CLOTHING AND BLANKETS TO BE FURNISHED
THE UNION PRISONERS IN VIRGINIA.
A few weeks ago the Secretary Of War authorized
General Wool to ascertain whether clothing and other
articles necessary to the comfort Of United States ct
rsn now prisoners Of var could be cent to them. The
letter shows that consent for that purpose has
been given:
HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF NORFOLK,
Nov. 9th 1861.
sn:-I consider myself fully authorized to reply to
the iuoury made 10 your letter OF the S:h inst Ny
Government will allow blankets and other articles Of
clothing necessary for the comfort OF prisoners Of war
-.:-N.. ..,As