The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1861-08-26
America AI,-gs1s : ,

We trust every soldier, and every ma
and woman in the land, will read Mr. Rus
sells account of the route and panic
Stone Bridge, which we reprint in anoths
column. The correspondent of the Londa
Times was, perhaps, the only cool observe
on the field. He is accustomed to the din
and confusion incident to an action. e
has seen British, French, Sandman, Rus
sian, and Indian troops in and after the ba-
tie. He was doubtless disposed to do our
men impartial justice; and we must ACCEPT
his judgment as competent, and his account
of what he saw as being as nearly correct IS
any account of a confused retreat can be.
When we have read il we cannot be az
CRY at the sharp gibes, the sneers and the
mock congratulations OF the London TimeI.
In another and better world it is possible
that nations; as well as men, will be judged
by the justice of their cause rather than ty
their ability in maintaining it. But until
the millennial period we must be content 10
! accept in good temper, and as not unde-
| served, the contemptuous pity which is cast
at us-twenty millions, in possession of the
Government, in possession of the arms fac
tories, in possession of the skilled labor, the
food, the munitions and equipments of war,
pitted against ten millions, who have none
when our army is beaten, routed and
runs away panic-stricken from a battle
which our General offered, at his own cho-
sen time, after months of preparation, and
within few miles of the Capital of the ma
ton.
The national name has suffered a bitter
and singing disgrace. Let US look it in
the face It will do no good TO abuse for
eign Journals and denounce their e hostility
to the sacred cause of liberty and constitu-
tional government. 1t ispuerile to argue;
and it is worse than pueriIe to complain
It is our part to defend this sacred cause
with all our bravery, skill, vigilance, de-
cision and conviction. five have not these
| qualities, or if because of half measures and
half convictions we suffer ourselves to be de-
feated, the contempt we shall earn shall be
but Just.
The rout at Stone Bridge was a disgrace.
| Let us own that. It is nothing to say that
our soldiers were brave in action, but misu-
! sed and badly differed. Bravery is honor
able, but it is the commonest quality God
has given man. We may heap excuse upon
excuse, and If upon If, and after all is said
| it remains true that, with the eyes of the
| whole civilized world upon us, with the ap-
plause of every Christian people ready tC
hail our success, we offered battle and ran
away from the enemy.
1t is true that panic may strike the brav.
est army, and it has often been said that tt
run away may happen to any man. So ii
may but let US show ourselves men by &C
cepting in silence the contumely that is
sent by those who look only to the end
let us not pule and maunder impotent re
joinders; let. US set our lips firmly together
shut down every word, and look to it tina
hereafter we wipe out this bitter disgrace
The London Times speaks of the "ridicu
lous incidents of stark fear and rabid ter
! ror." Will wordy answers take the sting
out of that? No, but actions; and If W,
are wise, and wish to deserve respect a
well as extort it, actions, a0ithoat aoords
| IN. Y. Post.