The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-05-25
Northern Victories.

The Charleston Mercury has some caustic |
reflections upon the manner in which the in |
genious manufacturers Of the New England |
pre.s fabricatc Northern victory. They have |
spared no pains. says the Nercury, to dimin- |
ish the glory of the Charleston conflict They |
had opened their ears to the silliest stories of
clodhoppers, and have also, themselves, in
their rage and hatred, invented statements
concerning that bombardment which 80 ex-
ceeded the bounds Of probability that the
slandered were reluctant to pronounce them
false. But how differently they act when sue
cess crowns their movements. The Virginia
forces march to Harper's Ferry. The Federal
troops hear of their approach and evscuate
the post with all speed. OF course this was
the best thing the Wanting soldiers could do.
and Capt. JONES was highly commended by
prudence. Some were of opinion that they
should not have believed the first reports that
reached them touching the strength of the
coming army. And many whose courage is Of
q rash, high kind, condemned the Captain for
rstreating in so great haste Had he not been
80 nervously eager to get beyond range of the
much that would serve his cause in the course
OF tho war, and at any rate he had ample time
t, inHict material injury and loss on the en-
envy. But the excited commandant already
heard the tramp of the terrible legion at the
gates, and giving the order to march, which
war went at a trot toward Pennsylvania.
Whether Captain JONES should have waited
till the Virginians got little nearer, and
should have tried to ascertain the precise num-
Der Of the force, is a question that concerns
him and bis Government. We only know chat
he left in hurry, and that he and his CON-
mand are now thirstng for the blood OF the
rebels But we were surprised beyond measure
when we saw this hasty evacuation and rapid
retreat proclaimed a victory. The warliks
Qazettes Of LINcoLN's realm in their accounts
of that evacuation, claimed it as victory ovel
the Virginia troops. If they had praised thu
captain for vigilance, and quickness and speed
he would have richly deserved their most ex
travsgant laudations. Or they might hav'
shown that he evinced the possession of th
highest qualities of a great commander, by tn
consummate skill with which he conducted tn
retreat. They might have described the Draw
little army passing triumphantly through al
unarmed country, enduring none of the severi
ties and hardships Of war, plentifully supplied
with food that might be eaten with glad palate
and grateful hearts in the piping times G
peace, and at last fresh and strong, thong
not quite recovered from the fright, wit
nerves not perfectly quiet. arriving at th
place where there was nc danger of bullets o
swords.
The Norfolk Maryland was the scene {
another of their great victories. They ha
several of their largest ships of war in tn
Navy, an unlimited supply Of military store
10 the Yard, and about two thousand ma
sinss, ssamen and regulars, whilst on our sid
were but two or three companies Of Virgins
volunteers, without cannon. The frequeu
movement Of railroad trains, and repol
that BEAuREoARp was at hand, scared thel
out Of their propriety, and they vamosed
double quick time, making an effort, whie
proved a. futile as it was barbsrous, to bio
up the Yard, as they retired. This was AM
Their glorious victory. May they gain mar
such daring the war?