Washington telegraph., 1862-03-05

.boasting aud imrudent scum of the nor
thern cities We have been meeting on
the Potomac, and different also from the
regular Dutch mcrcenaries we defeated at
Oak Hills. 81
The former were mixed crowd OF
holiday soldiers, city rowdys, and young
gentlemen on spree-all going to the
war with various motives; not the least at
traction Of which was the romantic pros
pect of revel'ing in the luxurious halls,
and reclining in the groves and gardens
of wealthy and indolent race, who were
to succumb humbly at once to the (here
tofore undoubtedly superior energy of ii
people hardened by a more iuhospita
cline. 1t was their favorite idea that the
Southerner was uneducated, aud iudoleut
but vastly wealthy; and on his Northern
visits, very useful in squandering his
money for their use. They had something
of the notion of him. which English
youth entertain of East Indian nal obs
Coarser and more brutal natures thcugh,
only of assured plunder aud the gatfca-
tion of lust and iusolent oppression; never
dreaming of successful resistance; and a
few more (for s'there are adopts beneath
vice--and people in them") went with
the 6endish hope of gloatiug over tn,
horrors servile insurrection, beside
which that of San Domingo, would be d
stupid tale. The courage of Eiryiuians
had been favoriie jest with them since
the John Brown raid. The result was
Manassas. Thot army never rallied. AS
for the regulars a, Oak Hills, they were a
nobler enemy, and required more determ
ined resistance. But they were the mere
machinery of camps, and little better than
antomatons. They were used to the
incest of drill, and the routine of camp
life, but inspired by nothing, rot even
the insane love of glory in the abstract
which carried the French conscripts like
whirlwind through the earth.
Oar present foe is far different. We
have found it out, but thank God not too
late! The vessel has received the unex-
pected shock of the tempest, with her
sails all spread for the breeze. She has
reeled and bent IS the, seething waters
aad almost dipped her sails, but she re-
covers again. The sailors are in the rig
ging; all is safe We know with whom
we deal.
They are hardy sons of the West,
enured to hardships, and filled with some
thing of that spirit which their life in
the woods, and on the prairie is apt to in
spire. Besides that, they are well used to
firearms They are volunteers, and many
Of them deluded with the idea that they
too are battling for home and country.
We think it is observable too that they
are inclined to conduct the war on more
civilized principles. We meet amongst
hem less of that disgusting rowdyism aud
hateful insclence, which characterizes the
red shir,ed "Moses" and "Syksey" of the
northern cities, and there always exercised
under the cowardly confidence of superio'
strength and numbers. They seem to
commit fewer outrages, when it is in their
power. This may be accidental, bnt their
conduct at Florence, was certainly supe-
rior to the habit of Eastern Federals.
They took only public stores A large
quaptity of meat was also taken from
warehouse owned by private citizen
When notified OF the fact, the meat was
politely restored. Florence was at their
mercy. No private house was entered. No
lady insulted. No child alarmed No
negro captured or enticel away. So OF
which vas lett untouched.
This may have been ruse. If not, We
must recognise the fact, and remember
that the most courteous and gentlemanly
people have always the most pride, and
courage They are the more
dangerous foe.
Lei US resist them inch by inch; defeLd
every point; annihilate them; drive them
from our soil, or be found ourselves min
bling our blood with its surface.
But let us no longer commit the folly
Of encouraging our people in their want vi
by passionate contemptuou'
of the courage and military
skill of the enemy. They are neither
towards nor fools We must be honest
with ourselves in our estimates of facts.
We must take in view the true magnitude
Of the foe, in order to pitch our own flight
above it. The eagle ould never soar
above the cliff, shut ting his eyes, and re-
fusing to consider it SO high. He would
be dashed against the jagged rocks aud
perish.
TREMENDOUS CoNFLAGRATIoN.-Lsst
Tuesday night, at midnight. fire broke
out in the cellar of d. W. Fellows Gro
Gerry store, supposed to have originated
from bale of cotton, which had been re-