Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-07-27
DISASTERS ON THE ROAD TO VIC.
TORY

Upon the receipt Of the FIRST exaggerated
reports Of the retreat from Bull Run, many
weak-backed and nervous individuals began 10
cry out that it was all over with Us; that our
inferiority and the superiority of the rebels as
soldiers had been so fully established as to
render il expedient for Gs to be thinking as to
what terms we would make with the enemy
Ever since the receipt of the corrected ac-
cOunts-by which it appears that the disgrace
full panic and fight, which constitute, so far as
we are concerned, the only alarming part Of
the affair at Bull Run, and were limited to q
comparatively few frightened individuals, q
large part Of them teaInsters and spectators,
who, not content with running away them
selves, sought by their false and scsndalous
reports, to involve the whole army in the dis
grace-eyer since the receipt Of these corrected
accounts, there still remain those upon whom
-his FIRST disaster casts q shade Of sadness and
alarm, and who see in il malign omen as to
our future success. For the benefit of these
doubling Th'mases, We propose, by brief
retrospect Of some occurrences in the wars of
the Revolution and Of 1872, to show that panic,
fight, disaster, and certain proportion Of
towards, are to be looked for in all armies and
all wars, and that they furnish no presumption
at all unfayorable to ultimate success.
Even at the wOrld-renowned battle of Bunker
Hill, every common soldier present at W hich
in the ranks Of the United Colonies has been
exalted by grateful pOsterity and an admir-
ing world to the rank Of ny thical hero-eTen
in that famous battle, cowardice had its rep
rssentatives in the colonial ranks. The con-
duct Of several officers on that day was inves-
tigsted by court-martisl, and one, at least,
was eashiered for cowardice-a precedent
which, If all rumors are true, ought to be fol-
lowed out in the case Of the late fight or psnic.
An American historian who, in his account of
the battle Of Bunker Hill, saw ft to state the
above fact, was very severely handled for SO
doing by certain patriotic critics, as il he had
east q shadow over the glories Of the day.
But history is written, or should be, not so
much to exalt the fathers as 10 instruct the
sons, and the above incident in the bsttle of
Bunker Hill may now, for that purpose, be put
10 good use. Even the heroes Of Bunker Hill,
it seems, had among them a portion Of the
same leaven which worked so Indignantly at
Bull Run.
About the whole early history Of the Revo-
lutionary War is a series Of disasters, inter
spersed with few splendid successes. One of
these last was the capture Of Montreal and the
occupation of nearly the whole Of Canada by
the forces under Montgomery and Arnold
But this success was only shortly-lived Sui
hvaH, though sent with large reinforcements,
and aided by the intrepid valor OF Wayne,
found il impossible to hold the province
against the superior force which the opening
OF tho Spring enabled the British to throw inte
the st. Lawrence; and the American army re-
Of John Adams, " disgrsced, defeated, discon-
tented, dispirited, diseased, undisciplinsd,
eaten up with Vermin, no clothes, bsfs, blsn-
kets, nor medicines, and no victuals bat salt
pork and four" and . scRnty supply Of those.
The disastrous defeat at Brooklyn, three
months later, made most alarming impress
sion IN Washington's army assembled for the
defense Of New York. When the van of the
British crossed from Long Island and landed
at Hips Bay. the troops posted TO guard that
landing, panic-struck by the late disasters
fed without firing gun. Two New England
lrigades, brought up to support them, seized
with like panic, ran away in the most shams-
full manner, leaving Washington, who had rid
den up 70 view me ground, exposed 60 capture
within eighty PAGES Of the enemy. Then oc-
Cured q scene which we wonder that some
one Of our numerous and gifted OATS has not
made the subject Of a picture. Greatly exas-
persted at the dastardly conduct Of the panic
struck and flying troops, Washington dashed
his hat to the groand, exclaiming "Are these
the men with whom / an to defend America"
His attendants turned his horses head and
hurried him from the field. Tho occurrence
will be found described at length in tie Me
moirs Of GraydOn, a Pennsylvania officer, who
seems to have been present at it. Yet the
very next day these same men sturdiIy repulS-
duty by the example OF Colonel KnO Hlton and
other brave officers, who sacrificed themselves
in their eagerness to show the soldiers how to
fight. Afterwards, in the disastrous retreat
through the Jerseys, on the victorious day Of
Trenton, these very regiments covered them
selves with glory, and gained the right of
standing by Washington and their country
through the worst extremes Of defeat and dan
ger.
So also upon the occasion Of Burgoyne's in
yasion Of New York, year or two later. At
drst, his approach spread everywhere terror
and dismay. st. Clair fed from Ticonderoga
il Taste and disorder. and the British, pursu-
ing, captured all his baggage and stores. OF
three regiments attacked at Hubb8rdston one
aed disgracefully, leaving most of their ofioers
10 be taken prisoners. The other two, though
they made stout resistance, were broken and
dispersed, and a large number Of them cap
tursd- After o disastrous retreat, or rather
Sight, Schuyler collected tho troops Of the
Northern army to the number Of 5, 900 men at
Fort Edward, on the Hudson. But he could
not make stand even there, and was obliged
TO continue his retreat to the mouth Of the &c.
hawk.
The loss Of Ticonderogs with its numerou.
artillery, and the subsequent rapid disasters,
came like q thunderboit on Congress and the
Northern States. I'VE shall never be able to
defend q post''-so wrote John Adams in a
private lstter-he was at that time President
of the Board of War-would to Heaven our
Board of War had such head l-'' we shall
never be able to defend q post ill We shoot O
General" Disasters, the unavoidable result
Of weakness, were ascribed to the inespacity
or coHsrdics Of the officers. Suggestions Of
treachery were even whispered, and the preju.
dices Of the New Englandsrs against Schuyler
Ter even the North at that time was divided
and distracted by bitter sectional prejudices,
of which now, fortunately, hardly trace re.
mains-broke out with new violence. But all
this disaster and confusion did not prevent
within two or three months after, the glorious
days Of Bennington and Bhemis Hights, and
the total capture of all Burgoyns's invading
army.
Not to dwell any further upon the disasters
Of the war Of the Revolution, of which ii would
be easy to multiply instances, let us now cast q
cursory glance at some Of the occurrences Of
the war Of 1872.
Let rs note, by the way, q curious ciroum-
stance with respect to that war--a ciroumstance
eminently instructive as to the total change
which has taken place of late years in the OBJ
Ject, ends, and aims Of leading Southern poll.
tieians. That war, as every body knows, was
prominently Southern measure, of winch
the great object and leading end and aim, by