The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1862-12-17
Is WooDsFIELD MONROE COUNTY OHIO DECEMBER H. 1862

- 8s[f stt T * sass.
dertook to discover what he had to hope
for on this side. No official advice, either
from Washington or Fredericksburg, had
Informed him of McDowell's presence at
that point, only sixty miles distant, but
rumor and probability agreed so we'll in
|placing him there, that the General in
Chief resolved to make an attempt to es-
tablish communications with him On
the night of 26th he sent forward Gen.
Portsrs division with few squadrons of
cavalry, in furious storm, to Hanover
Courthouse, village about twenty miles
north of Richmond, where the railway to
Fredericksburg crosses the Pamunkey.
The troops of Porter moved rapidly, and
about midday on the 9th came upon the
hostile division of Branch, at Hanover
Courthouse. This they assailed with
vigor, dispersed it, and took one Of its
guns. Assailed in their turn by Confed-
crate troops who had suffered them to pass
by the woods in which they lay hidden,
the Federals turned on their new enemies
and scattered them also. This brilliant
affair cost the Federals 400 men, and left
General Porter in possession of cannon,
of 500 prisoners, and Of two bridges, one
on the Fredericksburg, and one, on the
Virginia Central road. The advance
guard of Mcdowell was then at Bowling
Green, fifteen miles from that of General
Porter. II needed only an effort of the
will, the two armies were united, and the
possession of Richmond certain! Alas !
this effort was not made. I cannot recall
those fatal moments without real sink
ing of the heart. = '.5 -
"Seated in an orchard in the bivouac
of, Gen. Porter, amid the joyous excite
ment which follows successful combat,
4 / saw the Fifth Cavalry bring in whole
tcompanies of Confederate prisoners, with
arms and baggage, their officers at their
head. But neither the glad confidence of
their enemies deceived me, andH askel 1
msyelf how many Of these gallant young
men who surrounded me, relating their
exploits of the day before, would pay with
their lives for the fatal error which was
on the point of being committed. Not
only did not the two armies unite, but the
order came from Washington to burn the
bridges which had been seized. This was
the clearsst way of saying to the Army OF
the Potomac, and to Its chief, that in nc
case could they count on the support Of
the armies ofUpper Virginia x The
reason of this unfortunate measure was
the successful dash eff Jackson. He hat
| driven Banks beyond the Potomac, ant
!, created such confusion that he was sup
! posed to be on the point of entering Wash
| ington. With over forty Thousand mel
) to defend the city, the line of the Poto
mac SO easy to hold, and the vast intrench
ed camp around the Capitol, it was no
1 thought to be safe.l X X jackson hat
gained his point Henceforth the arm,
?. of the Potomac must count upon itsel
! alone" a sa3 80 sItia as a.fi ST..
. The battle of Fair Oaks, the "Sevel
e Days Battles" and the final retreat to tn
: James River, are graphically described
E OF General McClellan's skill and coolnes
. through these eyentful scenes, the Prime
], writes in enthusiastic terms. On thi
q subject we find the following:
y Throughout this grand and darin
movement nothing disturb d the serenit
of the commander. On the terrible got
: of July, when his aids sank under tn
l. heat and excitement of the task they wer
e accomplishing, ST saw him, /" writes tn
< Prince t.stop to rest fora moment an
gdsit down in the varandah of countr
house on the road The mistress of th
j. house came up and complained that th
n soldiers were eating her cherries. Wit
=. al smile the General rose himself and Iwer
% out to stop the pillagers." 81 sss
% Ofthe battle of Malvern Hill, the Primo
:. states:
- 1t was for the Confederates ussls.
!. butchery. The Federal success was du
% to two causes: First, to the fortunat
foresight of the General, who, in spite
:. numerous natural obstacles to the passas
= of artillery, had spared nothing to brin
h his on; and next to the frmness of b
70 troops Men do not make such can
! paign and go through such experience
!. they had endured without coming OF
!, more or less formed to war. If the
! prianative organization had been bette
!. the survivors of this rude campaign,
~ fear not to assert, might be regarded
a the equals Of the best soldiers in Il
i world y riasa lls8e4 Is p04
,e Notwithstanding all the mortifyil
ve blunders and disasters of the campaig
at the Prince De Joinville still expresses
DO confidence in the final success of tbs, Uni,
re cause, and remarks: q
~ 81 am not one of those, however, vi
- will thence infer that the Federal eau
~ ~ is lost. Compared to those of the Sou
20 20 the resources of the North are far fro
J. = being exhausted, and who knows all tn
~ y, in day of peril can be done by the e
10 ! ergy of free people, battling for Il
- right and.for humanity"
y THE REASONS WHY, ORABOLIT
re ON EXCUSES FOR THEIR DEFEA
hi It is amusing to read the excuses whi
~ the Abolition journals make to their re
in ders for the recent defeats of their par