New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-06-12
TIE EIGEsT NEAR HAMPTON.

The Union arms faTe received cnech u
lower Virginia, which, though the loss on ON
side was iaconsidcrable, and probably fully
equaed by that of the traitors, will doubtless
be magnifed BY their organs into an important
victory for the rebel cause. And this crcom-
stance with the slight coloring of fact to sustain
H. gives the affair consequence which it does
not essentially deserve.
BY whose fault we canpot soy the Union
forces were most wrctchedly handled. Inc col
| lisicn between two OF our ovu regiments, adj
yancing by night from different points to attack
a common foe, wac the first std most criminal
| burder. Whoever planned aud ordered an ad
vance. by night, and did not provide thoroughly
against cur own c0rpy' mistaking each other for
foes, is unfit for his position; r be did give
prope- directions and they were 5isObeyed or
UNDECIDED then whoever is in fauis 9bonld resign.
The oaSe is a very plain one, and NOBODY Justly
refuses to bear the bare.
We DO not believe Gen. Butler ordered al at
tack b. wearicd troops, hsving but t~o or three
guns. on an intrenchment or brcasiY'ert brist!pg
with artillery. Nor do we believe Gen. Butler
ordered On attack on such position IN igno-
rance o. it's real strength. We presime the Of.
6cer in command OF the expedition vss fred by
n stern resolve TO eface The recollection OF his
initial disaster in the brilSancy of h-s ultimate
achievement and was thus impelled 20 exceed
his order,. And the gailantry Of our brave
Volunteers would have wrss,ed victory from
fortune had it been possible to flank tie eaemys
position. AS it was heavier guns and more OF
them were indispensable. a.d the attack necei-
sariy failed.
Let us not lose the Lesson
There GRE some who tall Of q wa Of posts
and skirmi,hes-of strategy aud endurance. This
failure 10 On answer to all such. Behind brehst-
work, poo7 soldiers are nearly equal TO good
ones, since flight is often more dangerous than
persistence, while discipline goes for LILLE; good
marksmanship is the main point. No-the Union
is not to be saved by any system OF petty war;
fare. If we have no better recourse we may DC
well give it up.
"Ah!r says a shrevd, one "you want Gen.
" Scott to offer battle, whether be Ia ready or
" not" No, Sir VIC want him not to slve battle
fiji he 10 perfectly ready. He understands oil
that business a great deal better than we do' OF
ever viii. But ace do ;ssat hm 10 be II the htdd
ola farce ,oih uhios ts can mol only offer t9tre
uhen ne THINKS III, ba;. compel The eHeay to accept
H. That is the whole story. II he-tsinks flify
thousand Men enough TO walk right over the
rebels, then Fifty thousand be 1t, IN spite OF our
deuurrtrs. If be wants One Hundred Thousand
I immediately 10 hand, let that he The number
I If Two Hundred thousand, say the word, AMI
( lat them be forthcoming at the earliest possible
day. But. in aay case, LET the requisite number 10
mustered forthwith, ard Forward March !" DO
the word until the rebels are ahased into FeIss,
and the rebellion put down. II We are whipped
in fair fight let us give it ap, and mako, our
peace accordingly But lei us get ready forth
with to do our best, and being ready, let us
make the shortest possible work o' thir trassoa.
Guerrilla warfare il Formidable against weak or
purposeless COMMANDERS Napoleon IN *FsoD vas
never troubled by it. The General "Ao Knows
how 70 win great battle knows how to compel
his adversary to fight one. And 4 IS oaG by
great battles-st least. by movements thu, lool
10 and offer such-ttet this rebellioa is - be tx
tinguished.
So much for tbs lesson Of Great Bethel.