The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-07-16
a Shat W0v

We still hear from all quarters of the North
a repetition of the cry with which the war
begun :" A short war. A short war;" Don't
yon wish you may make it SO? 1t was begun
with the confident expectation that the South
wculd be crushed in six months, and peace
and trade restored in q year. More than
three months have elapsed since the North
poured forth its myriads, aud how far has it
advanced towards the conquest of the South !:
II has not been able even to brush off the bark
of the old oak, Virginia, the parent tree of the
Southern forest. 1t has ventured upon one
pitched battle, and then, with odds in its favcr
Of four to one, il scattered like chaff before
the whirlwind, whilst heaven interposed its
shield before our Spartan band, so that it only
lost enc man. A short war; That il ques-
ton which the South will have some voice in
determining, and she has determined that it
shall last as long as she has a gun to defend
her soil and hand to WELD it. This genera
ton will fight that war TO the btter end, and
even if conquered, viii bequesth their quarrel
to posteri,y which viii avenge their wrongs
and vindicate their memory.
The journal Of Commerce pertinently de-
mands:
"What do these war gentlemen Of the North
expectg We have gone through one after
another phase Of their plans and prOphe cies.
The fret uprising of the North was to scatter
the rebel bordes. 1t only streng thened their
arms, reused their sCirlt, and increased their
numbers. II drove Virginia, North Carolina
and Tennessee INTO the arms OF the Sece ssion-
lists, aud gave the South the unity Of purpose
they had before lacked.
"Then we were promised the ability Of the
North To pour sncn columns Of soldiers into
the field that all resistance would be over
powered, and hoodshed would he proven ted
by the hOpelessness Of the Southern cause
but we find ourselves now equalled il not
outnnmbered by the rebels in Al me, who ha We
the daring to advance their outposts mp to
the very ine OF our camps.
I'VE were assured OF the imminent starya-
lion OF the en- the race Of Sou therners, and we
lind them now in the midst OF plenty. We
were told that they would run from our I'D
ysncirg regiments, aud We find them album
dainty ready TO take advnL tage OF our un.
skilled leaders aud drive us back from their
batteries.
"Every promise, every expectation Of the
war parlv has thus tar proved false, and we
stand now in the presence OF the solemn
truth that this Is great war, no chiid's play i,
u war la hich meh ON both sides are skillful,
couIHee us, strong Ia their confidence OF
right, aDd Of y hich the end Is far distant, and
across fields OF thou eands OF our dead.
I'VE hear some men say again that he who
shrinks from war, who is willing TO make ANY
sacrifice to AVOID war, IL traitor.
ut ~ great mistake TO suppose that blood.
hound IL courageous dog. The men v no
have plunged US into this. war, who have
halloo~d On the people, ale men that have
wisely stayed ~ home And part OF tine
plan 10 cover up their own want Of courage,
Is 10 /. ep on the cly OF war. The rebels IN
the South who planned the dissoi tion OF the
Union, v no ADJ Goa ted IL IN Oongress, and III
Toe W. Ws,sai~ss and ON the stump, are the
men who have taken the Held, while the
Northern editors and Uoagrsssmen and Sena.
tots who Opposed compromise, who let us
DRIFT iut thas war, nay, who dragged Ms into
L., are nj aoIne makidg con tracts " supply
~ my s,orss, and shouting traitor ~ every
man who vsntures TO lsmind them Of the
evil they hass brought on HE country or
Suggest he teassdy tor it,
is., shie !. great var, NO child's play
~ the l.a,.ai " Chn~ssce has the ssnse 70
percsas. II Virginia could he conqasssd, il
would l.au,rs hundred thousand mon to hold
hsr By ID. iLrs u, whilst the long line u the
sns.ay. a~skshsd by every mile it extended.
advanced to North Carolina. And they would