, 1861-07-23

.~A %Ate-@!@A " -N- t. %--- ~'- |
:tizens cordial welcome to fight under |
be stars and stripes Of our common coun-
r..
It is not improbable that an order has
,een given not to enlist troops promiscu-
>us1y, but any whole company or reEi-
nent Of Germans, or other natioua.ltles,
:f1icercd by themselves, will unques,lona-
Nv he accepted. The dispatch doubtless
-eouircs some such qualifications, and our
adopted citizens should not repress their
nthusiasm till correct report is received.
Z HE "pLAN', AsD1rs EXECUTION.
It may do very little good to recount
Tue causes and circumstances which Led
to the reverse sustained by the National
army in front Of Manassas. But short
eau do no harm.
1t will be remembered that strong dt-
vision Of the army in Washington crossed
the Potomac on the night Of the 23d OF
May, taking possession Of Alexandria and
Arlington Heights without resistance.
There were in Washington at that time
about 10000 troops, and half ofthem cress-
e,?: &C .:ver. This important movement
lock 1.!ace, it will be rendered, t,co months
6So.
At the time Alexandra fell into our |
hands there were but comparatively fe"
rebel troops in that vicinity or anywhere
Forth Of Richmond. The scouts and pick
cts cf our army penetrated beyond Fairfax
Court House and within few miles Of
Bulls Pun and Centerville. The rebels
lad, 1T Menas.as Junction, but small
force, lily equipped and not yet entrench-
ed. They had also one OF two regiments
at Aqua creek, The terminus of the Rich
mond and Potomac road-in the line Of
direct co communication with the Virginia
Capl,si, distant Is miles, where there were
reported to be eight to twelve thousand
troops in state Of disorganization. The
vote on tie question Of secession had not
yet been taken in Virginia. JEFF. Davis
and his Cabinet lad Lot then removed the
Confederate headquarters from Montgom-
try to Richmond. Tennessee had not at
that time voted, herself out Of the Union.
1t was believed at Washington, when
The army crossed the Potomac, that Gen.
Scott intended to order the occupation Of
Manassas Junction forthwith before the
enemy could concentrate q formidable
force at that important point It was e1-
pected the occupation Of Manassas would
be quickly followed by the capture Of
Aqua Creek; and thus with these two
key points in our possession, two plain
roads 10 Richmond, would be open, and
the way by either direct and easy. It was
also expected by the public, that Gen.
Patterson, then at the head ef $4,000 men,
at Harrisburg and Chan,bersburg, would
Immediately march on Harper's Ferry.
Tie IT bel troops there, were poorly armed
and provisioned, and did not number 5000
men on the oath Of May. Patterson could
easily have crushed and perhaps captured
them in body by throwing division o
his troops on the rear Of their position
The rehels would have been compelled te
q pfccipitate retreat or forced into SUI
render The road to Winchester an'
Manassas Gap wouldthen have been open
and a short u1orch from the Gap WOu1'
have broucl. pattcrson's column Il
Manassas Junction, where he could haV
effected union Of his troops with those @
1IcDowe1ls already in possession Of tia
position.
Such va. the programme marked ou
l,y military men at Washington; and eac
Cay the people expected to see it executed
But days and weeks passed away-pr*
cious moments OF unimproved time the
werc-but the columns Of the Gran
Army moved not. Gen. Mcdowell in
plered Gen. Scott score Of times for pc
mission to take possession Of Manasss
Junction before the rebels could ha1
time 10 gather and entrehch an army ther
protected and supported by numero1
parks Of artillery. The answer inEariab
was, "No, NJ; not an inch"
Fer two long months our troops on Il
Virginia side Of the Potomac, spent the
time in digging bitches and throwing l
emtankments, until the whole count
round about was torn up with the spa
and pick.
Meanwhile the rebels were pu:til
forth herculean efforts to coneantrs
a gigantic army at the Critic
point Of the lines Of their defence;
eight weeks d steady stream Of armed m
The flower Of the South, were rolled O
the Richmond railway to Manassas, a
massed there 10, 900 strong. Amuniti
cannon and stsres poured along in an e.
less stream, night and day. Seeing tn
immense preparations going on with
interruption by our side. and the term
service Of the three months Toluntc
nearly out, the public became almost fr
tic with impaticuce. But they were t
tia! the keeper Of the anaconda Wo
never bulge until he was completely rea
At last the word was given to So,
mer to march; $4,000 were held bacl
guard these intrenchments which
the summer in exc&vat
Where was Gen. Patterson all these !
weeks and months? What is he dol
He has $4,000 brave and well discip1i
soldiers under him, some three thous
Of whom are regulars.
The answer to these questions is, he
done nothingt He went to sleep
Chaznbezssurg, Pa, in May Last, and
not walked up since. Gen. Johnston, ;
an inferisr force, has done just wha
pleased. He has burned and destr<
property, and shot Pauezssn's pickets e
night, and kicked up his heels at the il
cile opposed to him.
Yhm the enemy had completed al
preparations, and assembled his u
force, Mcdowell was ordered to as
-,~~--,1is position. A.struggle ensued, CON
cling on Thursday LAST, renewed on t
dny and ended on Sunday. F.
time Mcdowell is victorious. Hi
umny storm the enemies batteri
st Bull Creek and take them one BY
FL drives the rebels behind their ma;
t?cnc1 ntn!s, at Manassas, and bee