Council Bluffs bugle. [volume] (Council Bluffs, Iowa) 1860-1868, 1862-07-23

FL s+4f-@ Frsfn the IT, r Hsrxia. "
1 1sEK FKDERAL DISASTERS IN vtw-
SHK 9SHhKIte-9sfkSf94s TaRf u aa ESTIoFs
The series Of federal disasters in Viz
ginia, ending With the latest and greatess
OF all-tha retreat OF Gen. Mc6lallaa's
army before superior nambers--is well
ealeB sted to stir the national heart 10 its
depths. The whole country il roussd
and everybody inquiries what is the cause
| OF tAe misfortune? The blame does not
ress with the brave troops who have been
sacrificed, fighting like heroes, ner with
the General. whe, as the outset, seid be
would do the best be could with lhs small
| number Of troops entrusted to him. but
with the imbecility of ths Navy and the
War departments. Ii was Gen, MSOlel-
tan's purpose to procsed up the James
river as irst bat our incompetent Mary
Department. vas unable 10 clear Il for
him, notwithstanding the immense mum
Der os vessels ut the command of Comm O.
dore Uoldsborongh. The Merrimas was
permitted TO control ths waters of the
james river till it was too late. and the
rebels had possession of the strong points
on its banks. Had the river been under
control Of Our feet when Gen. Mcclellan
wss ordered to march up she York penin-
sula, . very different story would be told
to-day. The James would have been his
basis of operations from the beginning,
instead of the York and Pamankey +; and,
supported by the gunboats, he would hare
been in Richmend month ago. The War
Department cut ap snd divided MeClsl-
lan's army in despite Of all his renon-
straDces, sending one portien here and
another there, in order to give position
and consequences TO political generals,
while the rebels concentrated their whole
force around Ricbmond--the decisive
point Of the theatre of war. The result
was serious reverse to our arms. IF
this blow hsd been brought about by de-
sign On ths part of our high officials, ii
could hardly have been more disastrous,
Phat the radicals intended to hare Nc
Ciellan repalsed on the Chickahoraiuv, as
they caused Banks TO be repulsed on the
Shenandoah, there cannot exist doabt.
But there is something still worse to be
appfehended. The news of the disaster
has gone TO Europe, snd upon it's heels
viii probably follow intervention on the
part Of France and England, If not Of all
the maritime Powers Of Europe.
The practical question is, what ought
to be now done in the srisis that is upon
usf The fTst thing the people ought 10
do is TO demand the removal Of the imbe-
ciles from the Navy and War depart-
ments, who have brought such disgrace
upon our arms. Tbs next most essential
thing lie to secure the coast, from the Rio
Grand to the hsnnebee-to strengthen
the Notifications already in existence, and
to add new works wherever they may be
needed and, lastly, to organize fiou,e
guard to man the artillery aud practise |
constantly at the guns. In the meantime |
the feet Of gunboats ought to be madaI |
stronger, and the new iron-clad vessels |
ought to be FASTENED to eompIetion.-l
Lastly, ies the 300, 600 usn called for by |
she PresIdent be speedily enrolled, organ |
ixed and bfought into the Geld, Thas
prepared for the Powers disposed to ID. |
tarvene, they may shrink back from the
consequences, or, should they be rash !
enough TO assafl us, we can retaliate ap-
On them with terrible vengeance. Not |
only can we wrest from them every foot
OF soil on this continent and on all the |
Islands which belong 20 IL, but we can /
carry the var into Europe. There are !
plenty Of Irishmea throughout the North |
eTn States wh0 want to go to Ireland with |
arms IN theiR handss Then, If sne eoun-
try is forcibly broken up by foreign in- |
reference, sAe less of American bondE, |
amounting 70 Stx or eight millions of doIs |
lars due 70 English capitalists, isHineyiE- |
able. IL the republic 10 divided il is no |
longer the United States, and The question /
Is which half of il viii be responsible 70 |
foreign countries for the common debt. |
Among the dangers, too, of European |
Powers win be revolution at home, or.
ganized By the democracy IN sympathy |
With the United States. "
Such are some of the difficulties In
volvsd in the meddling Of European na-
sions with our domestic affairs. Yet there
d TOO much reason TO believe that they
mediate intervention, and that they viii /
attempt Il IL our statesmen are not carefnl
and energetic. Our people should be
for this emergency. Is is ex- /
lrernely probable that they will make the
recent disaster in Virginia an excuse for
the racoguition of the Independence of /
she so.eaifed Confederate States, and |
that step would fnYofvs eonscquEhCes of /
she most tremendous charaEtsr. Cur
citizens should hold great pohlfa meet /
Ing, where the voice Of the peopIs could /
be beard and the conservative strsngshl
md power Of this metropolis made maf-
IFegt. 2Ests sss}A