Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1862-09-04
THE CRISIS.

al life, free government, republican insti-
buttons here and indirectly throughout the
world, have been trembling fearfully in
the balance for the last ten days. The
expulsion of army correspondents from
the field the silence Of the government /;
the contradictory sensation rumors that
consequently few over the country, more
numerous and unfounded if possible than
ever before, distracting all minds and
filing them with terrible suspense and
forebodings Of disaster, were first succeed
ed by the official intelligence of great
and then apparently decisive victory over
the rebels upon the old battle field of Bull
Run. This intelligence coming directly
from the general commanding in the field
and being graciously permitted to filter to
the public through government channels,
suddenly raised us from the slough of de-
spond upon the apparently firm footing Of
decisive victory; and victory, too, upon
the spot which, of all others, we would
have chosen, SO far as the associations are
concerned, to wipe out the disgrace of
former defeat. Subsequent intelligence,
however, has shown us that the victory,
though important, was not of the decisive
character indicated that the time of great
danger is not yet passed, and the heart of
the nation still throbs in anxious sus-
pense.
While disease and death were attacking
our armies and thinning their ranks
through many weary months,--a more
terrible enemy than the rebels could hope
to become by joining battle with -
while they believed that volunteering at
the north was exhausted and draft would
not be submitted to; they of course were
content 10 act upon the defensive mainly.
But astonished by the unprecedented spec
tacle of a people demanding that their
government should order a draft among
them, and then volunteering so as proba-
bly, to prevent its necessity entirely; they
are aroused to the decisive importance of
burling their entire forces upon us, east
and west, with all the desperation involved
in last opportunity, and striking us
blow from which it will be difficult to re-
cover, before our new and overwhelming
levies reach the seat of war. Hence the
startling news which reaches US of their
advancing in Kentucky upon Covington
and Cincinnati their forward movements
in Western Virginia and elsewhere, and
the massing and hurting Of their entire
forces in Va. upon Gen. Pope in front,
rear,and flank in desperate attempts to cut
of and destroy him, attempts which for
skill, boldness and rapidity of execution, so
far as we know of them, are worthy much
better cause; and which have hardly been
equally visible in one better cause, viz, our
own. That this last attempt of the enemy,
full OF the desperate energy of death
struggle, did not succeed, before Pope was
joined by Burnside's and McClellan's ar
mics, is cause for congratulation, and hon.
or to the heroic soldiers who so long stood
the brunt of the contest. That our armies
are still III the field undestroyed by the
rebel masses against and around them is
further cause for congratulation but the
situation is critical, and the desperation of
the enemy must be met by the most vigil
liant energy. The crisis is upon us; if
we can hold our own for short time lon
ger, all will be well new regiments are
Fastening to the battle field others must
be forwarded with the utmost rapidity and
energy. Now is the point upon which
turns national life and liberty no,O is the
time to work, to fill up and push on the
new regiments ere it is too late. Let us
do our duty noac, and rely upon the faith
that overriding justice will not permit the
overthrow of civil liberty and retro
gression to despotism and slavery.
SAFE. = The Washington correspond