Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1861-07-26


molested. This is geueralship with ven5'
geauce. -
Again, no attempt ught TO have been
made to capture those masked batteries nj
Bulls Run, after the repulse, without hav-
lug force that would have ensured sue
cess, say at least thirty thousand men, and
the attack should have been made On all
sides, turning the enemy's position, aud
thus attacking him in the rear and ON
each flank as well as the front In addi-
tion to this, here the enemy's force was
not known there should have been re-
serve Of at least ten thousand men, sup
ported BY a heavy battery in front, stntion-
ed some three miles in the rear of the ar.
my during the engagement. either to have
advanced and supported them, or to have
served as a raliyiug point behind which
they could have rstreated and formed in
case of Z repplse, ana to have driven back
the enemy in pursuit of our retreatiug coll
umns. No large army ought ever to go in.
TO battle without taking these precautions
as they have often been the cause of turn
ing defeat into brilliant victory, by
turning an enemy when hewas in disorder.
In the flush of victory he has left his en-
trenchuenis, aud his victory has been
turned into defeat. ~
But this is not the end of the blunders
which has resulted so disastrously to our
arms aud which has frightened the coun-
tenances of traitors in our midst, such as
the little pill doctor who mounted his
horse and rode ont 10 have Jubilee over
our loss, along with rebel friend in the
country last evening. General Patterson,
or granny Patterson, as he ought now TO
be culled, instead of following up Johnson
in his retreat, remained quietly at Martins
burg, eating roast beef and drinking
brandy, while johnson slipped of and
Joined Bcaurcgard and was the cause of
our defeat. aa
1t will not do TO lay the blame at the door
of the people or those editors who were
anxious thtt the war should be prosecu-
ted. The disaster was not the result of
the battle being fought too soon, but that
it wns delayed too long, until the enemy
had selected his ground, fortified himself
to any extent he might desire. aud concen-
trated all the forces lie deemed necessary.
WheR those fortfications were commenced
the encmy's forces were comparatively
small ut Manassas and could easily have
been dispersed, and the cannon captured
before they were got into position, hut
nothing of the kind was attempted, AL
though the authorities at Washington
knew that the rebel force was being in-
creased continually. This is n novel mode
of warfare, to lay still with an immense
army in and around Washington and per-
init an enemy to fortity himself and then
go out and fight him iu the open field with
a force less than third of his. Cen
cral Scott might have sent sixty or seven
ty thousand men to that battle aud thus
have insured victory beyond pnradven-
ture; ins,eud of that ~e are told there was
only twenty thousand, while seventy thons-
and were lying in and around Washington
doing nothing, while our brave fellows
were being slaughtered like sheep. An
other objectionable blunder was the lack
of cavalry to lave encountered and driven
back the enemy's cavalry, who charged
upon our retreuting columns with terrible
effect But the detail of these bIunders
is so sickening can follow it no further,
only to sayth"t they must not be repeated.
The people will furnish the men and
moneytO crush out the rebellion, hut they
will demand that the government furnish
them with competent officers, men Of skill
10 plan and courage to execute. ~
In conclusion, the cause of the unexpect-
ed panic that seized our troops, and the
terrible disaster which followed, ,mhy be at
tributable TO the open and daring violation,
of tue law of the Christian Sabbath. If.
men are attacked on this day, orininett of
God as a day of rest, they have n right TO
defend themselves, for that is both work
of mercy and necessity; but there is nei
ther excuse nor paliation for an ofiicerTin
commencing that battle on the Holy SHb-
bath. And though Tmake no pretensions
to the spirit of prophesy, yet l predict now
aud here, that our armies will be defeated,
no matter how numerous they may be, and
no matter what officers may commrnd
them, so long as they thus defy God and
outrage the moral sense of the religious
portion of the nation. This terrible war
did not comcb chance. but is the sconrge
of God sent to correct us for our national
sins. prominent among which was the sin
of Sabbath breaking. Aud us though we
intended to provoke him to his face, our
armies have been marching and parIdtng
on the Sabbath ever since the war com
menced. Let this be the last Sunday bat
tie. CoNMoS SENSE.
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