Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-09-05
w. d. WALLACH.
An ENGLI, HMAN'S VIEWS OF THE
AMERICAN WAR.

tning nke Il, was said TO me over and over
sgain In the South BY men who play no ineon-
siderable part In the mystery drama Of the
Confederates. And when asked one Of these
gentlemen, more than two months ago, what
chance there was of the North giving the South
all that time, was answered almost in these
words, "We are bound to 60 to the assistance
Of Virginia. The whole Of the northern from
fed by the rail from the South. The Aboli.
tionists viii come and give us battle. We are
certain to whip them If they attack us, and
the North will then learn itcan't at once over
run MS, as 1t fancied. The leaders will pause.
There will be reaction up there. We will
work all the harder and all the better for our
victory. Drilling our men and consolidating
our resources. The northern cities will become
disoontented. Foreign nations will ask VII en-
the cotton ports are to be open. The North
will have no reply. We shall be better able to
fight In November than we shall be to fight In
June. Every weeks delay will add to the
complications and weakness Of the North, and
the end Of the year will find them further from
their aim than ever-divisions in their coun-
oils, even disturbances In their populations,
while We, inspired by the approach Of success,
will exhibit Increasing energy and unanimity."
A part of the programme has been already ac-
complished, but Ii does not follow that the re-
mainder Of the prophecy will be fulfilled with
as much nicety So far the result Of the action
Of the 2lst has been the prolengation of the
war in America. The effect it may have had
abroad will be known in few days more. 1t
Ia plain now that the Confederates were not
only ready unable to pursue their advantage,
but that they were not at first aware Of its
extent. They suffer from deficient transport,
and arc better prepared for defence than at
tack. Their army was almost as much scared
TO use an English word in an American way,
rs the Federalists, If the reports are to be
believed Of confusion, wavering and retreat in
fhair nd af tha &c
the officers, as well as Of their losses. In fact,
the Confederates stand before the world strip
ped of good deal Of the strength Of which they
boasted in actual numbers; and il is Q poor
cover to their weakness to put forward the as
ssrtion that only small portion of their force
was engaged, when 1t Is notorious that they had
sent TO all quarters for reinforcements, and,
above all, when 1t is considered that, by using
all the men at their disposal, they could have
forced the mass Of the Federalist army to sur
render prisoners Of war, and have occupied
the capital. Their operations up to this time
indicate hesitation and want Of vigor; but 1t is
just possible they may be preparing to strike
come great blow. 1t is given out that General
Beauregard has gone for short time to
Charleston. Gen. Johnston has not shown in
any force in front Of his old position about
Hsrper's Ferry, nor has he threatened the Fed
eralists under Gen. Banks, who are covering
the passage Of the river from the Maryland
side. Before Hampton and Fortress Monroe
there is an equal absence of offensive demon
etrations. The secession cavalry and pickets
occupy the Alexandria road, and the commu-
niostions leading by Vienna and Fairfax Court
House towards Manassas, at a considerable
distance from the outposts and lines of the
Federalists, and there is less Of the wild, que
rilla sort Of work between the two armies than
was formerly the case, but the attitude of the
Confederstes Is not that Of q very confident or
aggressive force. One does not hear either Of
the vigorous advices to drive the enemy from
the sacred soil Of Virginia, which were 50
rife, nor Of the hot menaces to take Washing
ton, nor even of the earnest promises to libe-
rate Maryland and other afflicted portions of
the slsyeholding sisterhood. There may be
policy In this, and, notwithstanding the growl-
ing opposition Of one or two papers in the
South TO the men and measures Of the war, the
influence Of Mr.. Jefferson Davis ia quite suf-
fcient to induce the press to keep its peace, or
adopt any tone he may suggest IN furthersnce Of
the common cause They can organize q trans
port crops In time. There are plenty Of excel
lent mules In the South If the planters can in
their patriotism submit TO ruin and send them
from the fields. Horses in abundance can no
doubt be procured from the southwest and
smuggled out Of Kentucky. twenty-five brass
Geld pieces, one rifed gun thrown 30lb. shot
and shell from q small bore, and perhaps sew
erd other guns not enumerated, captured at
Manassas, win go some way to make up for the
want Of field artillery, under which the Con-
federates were laboring, and the quantity Of
ammunition Of all sorts which fell into their
hands must strengthen them in their weakest
point. The thousands Of muskets left on the
fsld win be no Indifferent acquisition, and they
have been already applisd to arm men who
were not we'll provided previously with small
arms, while whole regiments are made happy
by the blankets, ,overcoats, canteens, ,knapsacks,
and acooutrements Of all kinds distributed
among them, to the great relief Of the Confed-
crate Treasury. Meanwhile, the army Of the
United States is undergoing Q complete reor-
gsniIation in the face Of the enemy. The old
army Of volunteers and three months men may
be looked upon as annihilated, or at all events
dissolved. II would be curious to ascertain how
many Of them will re-enlist. even under differ
ent officers. The affair at Manassas not only
destroyed McDouell's army, but il gave a
heavy blow and great discsuragement to the
very spirit Of the American system, by which
mon we're placed in positions they had no ft-
ness for, and large masses OF armed men were
assembled whom IL were delusion to consider
as an army. Mr.. Davis saw the mischief long
ago, and By special ast Of Congress Of the Con-
federate States at Montgomery he seized the
power Of appointing officers. It may seem
strange that the soldiers should not feel proper
respect for the men they had selected to com-
mand them, but the fact Is that such mode of
selection, particularly In the lower grades, was
injurious to all real discipline. If any officer
insisted on obeying the rules and regulations
Qf tbs army, he was regarded by his nomina-
tors a. an sngrateful fellow, who was using the
power they had given him to veI and harrass
them, and he, too often In q spirit Of retail
alton and in ignorance Of the proper means
Of enforcing respect to which personally,
perhaps, he had little claims, resorted TO
gross language, abuse and harsh treatment,
and incurred the positive contempt and hatred
Of men who took little care to conceal their
feelings. 1t Is hard to teach Americans dis
cipline. Their regular army has been for the
most part composed Of Germans and Irish.
The people are sverse TO obedience on priaci-
pie; and even children, as have observed
particularly in the North, are less manage
sble-"biddable" a. mothers ssy-than in the
old-fashioned country where the fifth COM
mandmsnt Is held In respect. Master Pickle
and Miss Pert are fond enough Of saying 81
won't" all over the world, but the breed is
unusually large In America, and disobedience
passes for Independence. And, as the child is
the father Of the man, 90 Sovereign Smith, on
principle, rebels against obeying the order Of
bovereign Brown; kicks In his inner man, re-
celebrates morally and even physically, and
only succeeds by the prezsur "a of a s.lf a nnlfad