Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-08-27

Tn. London rime. ON the Matte,


The curtain has risen for that tragedy
which cur kinsmeu across the Atlantic have
prepared for the scandal of free institutions
A great battle has been fought-fought be
tween men of common origin. common
language, and common sympathies. A bat
tie, such as might have happened between
Turks and Greeks, between Germans aud
Magyars. between Italians and AustrianS, be
tween Poles and Russians, has been fought
between men bearing on each side Anglo
Saxon names, and proud to claim common
lineage with our own fathers It is as if we
heard of great battle upon the East and
west Ridings of Yorkshire. It is much nearer
10 US than the atrocities of our own border
warfare, when the Moss troo ops carried fire
and sword down to the walls OF Carlisle, and
were beaten back with rout and slaughter by
the Lords of the Marches and their stout re-
tainers
Those events were but the normal eondi-
ton OF an unquiet land, and those contests
were between men claiming separate ma
tionality. But here, for the first time, we
have brotherhood of near hundred wears
spiit asunder by one great schism and ioining
IN senseiess and bloody strife. Here we
have the mastering of fighting men, the ir-
ruptIon, the quick occupation of territory by
fierce invaders, the desperate attack upon
the first stronghold in the way, and then the
check, the surprise, the overwhelming attack
from the hidden enemy, the sudden panic
ana the heediong rout; but all with de
liberate and deadly purpose far more serious
than In cur border battles. They were fought
comparatively from gaiety of heart, from
love OF fighting, from habit of fighting. but
tlrst and principally for hope of plumber. A
days hunting on The Chevoits was excuse
enough and as we made our cause of battle
lightly, we composed our strife easily.
This is not the war the far away descen-
dants OF these men have been waging. It is
not barbarous sport akin to an exagger-
ated endgel-match. upon a village green; it
is p fierce, deadly, fatal civil war, where
every wound is the source of Iuxuriant
hatreds, aud where every victory is but a
necessity for future death struggles. What
we English have all hoped against hope
would never come to pass has now occurred.
The two hosts of this sundered republic have
for the first time joined in Conflict, and the
first of a score of varying victories has inclin-
ed to the South. The Northern levies have
fled panic stricken aud disorganized before
their brothers, leaving their arms, their ar
tillery aud their stores behind them. They
have lost all-even theirmilitary honor.
Let us examine how this happened. In
the early days of this rupture Mr.. Jefferson
Davis and his followers had foolishly, btn-
dying perhaps boast for boast across the Po-
tomac, promised that the Confederate dag
should float over the Capitol. Upon this the
fiery cross went through the Northern States.
and to Washington. to the only point
where the challenge was to be accepted, eve
ry railway bore its thousands. until the city
obtained more half disciplined soldiers than
1t required for its defense or could sustain
from its resources. Stores and arms came
more slowly up, and behind all came the hot
blasts of popular erdor, calling for the blood
OF the Southern insurgents, and the fierce in-
vectives of the empty Northern press denoun-
cling the inactivity of the generals who had
to organise their raw levies. Under this
pressure the troops which crowded Washing
ton were pushed forward over the Potomac
river, which runs in front of the city, aud in
to the enemy's country.
These levies at first marched with eau
ton which seemed to give the world confi-
dence in the prudence of the commander who
was directing their movements. On the OPP
posite side to Washington, and little lower
down the stream, stands Alexandria, whence
the railways branch forth which ramify
through the South. The OVERLOOKING garri-
son at Washington had swarmed across the
river, had occupied Alexandria, and with
scarce a show of opposition had. step by step,
possessed the enemy's country for
about twenty miles along the line of one OF
the railways. What there was beyond no one
seems to have known. OF course they were
aware that if they advanced far enough they
W Ould arrive at the mountains which in TWO
ranges lie behind; bat how the country was
was an, entire mystery.
That Confederate army lay somewhere
between them and the mountains was
strong probability, and this seems to have
been the extent of their information. But
there was the whole power of that uncon-
Il at<
ten thousand newspapers, believing behind
the great Northern army. Why had the PEG
pie of the United States voted 100000 900
and 5000 men if Gen. Scott was not imme-
diately to sweep the whole white popuia-
tiou of the reoel South into the sea! Posi-
bly, General Scott may have known that the
chances in a conflict between undisciplined
troops must always be with the eide which
remains on the defensive. He may have fore
seen that the trained officers he had to act
against would be likely to keep their half
drilled men behind lines OF fortified tions,
where they would fight as well as the best
veterans in the world.
But, whatever he may have known, be
gave way to pressure or to Impotence. On
the morning of the 21st of July the whole of
the Federal army-we are not told their
but they were supported by their
artillery, rifled cannon, and the Rhode Island
battery advanced along the plain country,
between the Orange and Afexan-
dria railway and the high road. They seem
to have had the railway upon their left and
the road upon their right Three miles from
the Manassas Junction, so often mentioned in
previous descriptions of the country, is sta
ton on the railway called the Bull Run sta
ton, where there are some mills, and where
also stream falling from the Bull Run
crosses the country, intersecting
both the road aud the railroad.
We can very well. understand that this
place might have been made into a very
formidable position. Here it seems, the inva-
iers found their enemy. 1t would appear
probable that Gen. BeauregaId, having the
stream in front. and a road and railroad on
lis fiaaks, had used these facilities to their
Utmost. The half-disciplined army of the
North, coming suddenly upon his lines, ap-
bears to have rushed impetuously against
hem. We are told by the telegram that they
attacked them for nine hours, and succeeded
It the end OF that time in carrying three of
he batteries. At the end of the niue hours
we are commenting upon the Northern ac-
,ount-the Confederate army, reinforced by
attacked the Union army and drove them in
disorder from the field.
Then happened what SO frequently hap
pens even to the best troops. Their impetu-
osity had been checked; they had found the
enemy too strong for them; from confidence
md emulation they had passed to despair.
they had become disorganized, and they
we're being shot down by their enemies be-
hind the ramparts. Then came the charge of
The fresh Southerners, and before it they fed
TX q chaff They fed il ia said IN Aiavsp