, 1862-04-17

IlaHhS aIu praise II tnEse QAIh AVu1s,
when the 6rmest yalor cannot stand against
overwhelming numbers; and the best mil
ltsry talent and courage must give way
before superior force, and be doomed to
feel that bitter sense Of defeat, which cuts |
deeper than steel To deny our soldiers
their just need Of grateful appreciation in
that disastrous time, and much more, to
impute unjustly cowardice, or rdisobedience,
or lack Of skill. is base and cruel to the
last degree.
Weju.tly think that d good name as
people, fol 7alor, and military skin and ca
pacity, is to be tested by thaaanduct Of our
army in the field; and hence we are jealous
and sensitive to the last degree respecting
all it does, every appearance Of failure, and
each suspicion Of blame. Buy # Is to be
remembered that, every officer and soldier
has stakcd his own reputation and fortune
On his behavior in camp and field; in g far
t1uer and more perilous way han any Of
t us. All that is manly or ambitious, or loyal
IN his nature; his present lifA and all BIS
hope for the future, pledge and fasten him
to the faithful discharge Of his ,4hoIe duty;
and it savors want Of ordinary Judgment,
and forgets the ordinary insinssss of human
Dature, to doubt that he will hse every eff
fort, exercise all his activity, skill, and val
OF, to defend his honor against imputation
Of baseness, and preserve his good name
from disgrace.
Loss Of life, numbers wounded, misfor-
tune, and disaster arc the. common Incl
dents Of all 1gar&s--~fftt is not necessary to
believe that there is always gross ineflci-
ency, poor generalship, d unusual coward
ice where these are found; for the ablest
military commanders have been defeated,
and the b-avest and best soldiers have been
often repulsed or overwhelmed. The only
| just course, the only proper and right way
when our army has met with disaster WE
did not expect; or has not achieved all the
success which We hoped for; or gained all
the glory which our pride craved; Is to be
licye they have done all and the best they
could To give them our confidence; shoH
our trust in their yalor and patriotism; ani
defend them against rash imputation, ane
passionate assaults, SO long as all the fact
are unknown, and distorted, exaggerated
and unsi1ted Tumo1s and ISLANDERS fill th
!: air, and render any calm or just decision
utterly impossible. Surely it is reasonab1
: that the men who are shedding their bloc
J and giving their lives for us, should hay
= extended to them the ordinary justic
which is shown to the basest Of criminals
}. for he is deemed innocent until he is prove
i beyond q doubt to be guilty.
= Neither let any man think, that in tht
e Withholding to blame the army or any of
y commanders, he is exercising the grace
y charity. He is not; but is simply doin
a - Justice And all the charity is that show
Is towards him by those who listen to hisu.
ar proved imputations, and his vile and rec
10 less charges, without redressing the injurt
u n and inficting righteous retribution at one
.. Indeed it is only charity the most long 81
1t, fering, and fo1bearance the most patie1
On that protects these mean and dastarlly {
I'd sailants of the brave men who fight O
80 battles, from the quick and stern punis
to ment they 50 richly deserve.