Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1862-10-14
The Fieht a. si.arp.bars--N9.ot Much Of a

The Fight nt SharpsbuFg-Net Much Of "A
Victory Atter Ala.
The Washington Republican, OF the 22d, (Lin-
colr's orgsa) after stating that the surrender of
Harpsr's Ferry was "lnreEeved by any de-
eidea success in that quarter, says
The aspect of affairs, es far as General Me-
Clellsn's army is concerned, is we regret to say,
| distinctly nOFe anfavorabla than il seemed at
the date Of our last Issue. The enemy has
crossed the Potomac with Ell his raius and arfii-
lsry untouched loitk all his ,c0uHded except feo
btadred and loih the loss cf OHty insignificant
auaber If sigaegicrS. Hels said to be nov wei
4 posted on the south bank of The river, with
artillery in petition aad prepared to dispute cur
/ passage. That he thus escaped substantially
without damage, is 10 Itself a serious misfortune
for us and furthermore il admits Of bat one IN
depreciation and that not ftr0rabe as to the char
acter Of the bqttle Of Hednesday A battle must
! be conceded TO be drawn one, from which one
party withdraws in perfacs order, tae other party
/ being disabled from moving until movement IS
too late. L may have the moral effect of vic
tory TO MS sad we sill think Il has but that is
only because drawn battle ig defeat to aa ad-
vaneing aud hitherto successful army, 51hde
! such battle IS a 0ictory to arag 1riiea has
been suffering cOniiRH9fs reUer8S This ba tie Of
Anlietam was victory for us IN tbas sense only.
J.
tiuue tduifoTm of the good conduct of the whole
Of the army EveTy division, every brigade
every regiment and so far as appears, every
man, did well The new regiments WED with
the old The battle has also left our troops in
good heart j has strengthened their cOn6-
dsnce in themselves, 4thsr than impaired IT,
This is of great moment ia future opsTa,iJns.
Of the losses in the battle Of Antietan, il con
tnues to be said that those of the enemy exceeded
I L. ,-.r. .,ee
test, involving charges upon the enemy in ad-
vantageous positions, aud the crossing of q
creek this t00aid hardly probable, and yet it
may be tue.
We are said 60 have captured ten thousand
stand OF aims oR the hattl -deld Of ADtietsm
which VIII balance the enemies captures Of
small arms al Bun Hun Butt does not bal
/ aneef our losses OF baas kind at Harper's Ferry
nor or losses OF srtil7,y, Whien were heavy
both al Ball Ron and Hsrper's Ferry.
As tie result OF the whole eampsign, com
mencing with this advance upon General Pope
the enemy has gained in he mateTiai Of war, and
have subsisted very much upon .ores captured
from our army, aid upon provisions and forage
! piunlered in Maryland. They must now sub
sist for the present. upon The secession farmers
OF the Valley Of Vngiaia.
Without specializing farther upon the future,
/ 1t is obvious that the present military PosiSon
although a good one, IL nothing more, IS pro-
posed than the defense of the loyal States, is a
very bad one, in view Of the fseg thai it is not
a defensive war we are engaged in, bat a war
for the suppressionof the rebellion in tue seeded
States. We are TO day no nearer the possession
of Virginia than We were in April, 1861, and 1t
/ is doubtful if the military strength OF the resis-
/ tance to US has not increased in quite as great
proportion as cur own. That is the plain
/ truth of the esse, and we may as well look it in
the face.