Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1861-08-07
AsIurUpon the volunteers.

Slur Upon the volunteers
The Journal true to its tory instincts, charges
the defeat at Bulls Run to the volunteers. That
We may do that paper no injustice, we quote its
own language:
ut is the most easy thing in the world for ire
sPonsible letter writers to hurl charges of incom
potency by the wholesale at our officers. For our
part we have no sympathy with such charges.
That there we're faults and deficiencies, none need
deny. but they mere the faults Of volunteers, of
brave but inexperienced men. who found them
selves in novel circumstances, for the exigencies
of which they were unfurnshed by long schooling
in the art OF war"
Which regiments bore the brunt of the battle at
Bulls RUM The New York sixty ninth and the
Fire Zouaves. both volunteer regiments. and com
manded by volunteers Is ii right thus to charge the
fault Of that defeat upon brave and gallant men,
who for hours fought with pertinacty and skill
that even RUSSELL. of the London Times says
had no parallel with the veterans in the Crme1n
campaign? Yet the disunion Journal says the
repulse and rout of the army of the Potomac arose
from "the faults and deficiencies If volunteers.
Did the regulars in that engagement show any
more bravery, pertnacity and skill than the vol
unteers? Let us see where the faults and de-
fciencies' of that unfortunate affair belongs The
reporter OF the New York World prominent
Administration organ, gives the following facts
in reference to the great conflict near Manassas:
At two o'clock this morning arrived in WASH
ington, having Witnessed the great conflict near
Manassas Junction from beginning to cud, and
the gigantic rout and pInic which broke up the
Federal army at its close. | STAYED nelr the &C
an hOu rxo l4f fhau in,
order 10 gather the final incidents of the day, and
fully satisfy myself as to the nature and extent of
the misfortune.
And now in what order shall describe the
event Of Yesterday Even now, how shall one
pretend to give synthetic narrative of the whole
battle, based on the heterogeneous statements of
a thousand men-a battle whose arena was tract
miles in breadth and length, interspersed with
hills and fOrest-whose contending forces
divided into a dozen minor armies, continually in
terchanging their positions, and never all en-
braced within the cOgnizauce of any spectator or
participation? EUen the General commanding the
Federal columns ignorant at the close, of The
positions Of has several cOTps-LcdS ignorant at the
beginning Of the Topography of the dangerous ter
ritOry on lchich he attacked an OuerpOtcering toe
Was either General of division better informed of
the movements of even his own forces? l doubt
il. / only know that at sunset last evening, Gen
erals, Colonies and Majors were all retiring, de-
void of their commands, no more respected or
obeyed that the poorest private in the broken
ranks. | know that grand ARM trds neUeT
more disgrdcefuLLy needtesSIy disrupted and
btOtted t1ere, out Of existence in single day.
This is the truth, and why should il no. be re-
cordedl And why should / not tell the cause
which produced this sad RESULT Weeks will be
required for the proper summing up of details.
At present, for one, | acknowledge my made
quacy to describe more than the panorama which
haf,. sIrI,a
ded by the combination of this with much that
has been seen and done elsewhere.
Does this show that the faults and def
ciences'' were with the volunteers, when the
General commanding. regular army officer, "was
ignorant, at the beginning, of the topography of
the dangerous territory on which he attacked an
Overpowering foe-and ignorant, at the close. of
the positions of his several corpsI" What in
centive is il for to volunteer, when the poll
ticians who stay at home. and urge on dangerous
enterprises, turn around when defeat attends
them, and charge it upon the "faults and def
ciences" of those who have voluntarily taken up
arms to defend the honor and maintain the intes-
rity of the Government? This is poor recon
pense for those who endure the trials, undergo
the fatigues, and risk their lives for the mer who's
secure and at ease at home, thus critcise andcon-
denim them. An engagement was brought on by
the urgent clamor of politicians ike the
Journal editor, who took no part i'm it, with the
consent of the Gcneral-in. Chief of the army,
and then, when Il terrible disaster overtakes the
army, the same class turn around and say the re-
suit is attributable to the "faults and defcen-
cies" of the volunteers. And this charge, too,
comes from disunion print, which accuses the
Democracy of treason, when to day the Republi-
can Administration would be utterly powerless
were it not for the brave and gallant Democrats
who hold high positions in the army, and who at
least number one half of the men who Aoulder
the muskets in its ranks. The army is comprised
mainly Of volunteers, and if the integrity of the
Government is maintained, it will be due to the
men vino have volunteered their services and
and their lives to defend and sustain it.