The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1862-05-20
Eev.x D.EpeBd,

There il no denying the fact that the course
OF this war has brought many true Southern
men to y condition Of depression which is net
warranted by the facts, and which, for the
sake Of the cause, ought 10 be sLsken off. For
tho seke Of 'hs cause, We say--nay, for the
sake Of their own credi:, as patriots aud men,
lot item cheer up, take new resolution aud
fresh hope; and giving their hands with re-
Moved energy to tie struggle, with the blesa
ings Of God. a few months will pat new
phase on affairs, and destroy the hopes of the
enemy In his boastei efJrts TO crush Cut the
rebellion
II cannot be denied that many things have
gone awry. 1t cannot b. denied that our pre-
parstions for defence on the water were Grim
inallv delayed. Il cannot be denied that a
long pause of apathy, incidence, disaipa.iou,
and rsckleesnsss, followed the battle of Ma.
nassaa The Government went to sleep, Off
Qers, II not soldiers, drank hard and did not
great deal for discipline and less in the way
Of campaigning, while the enemy worked
night and day for our subjugstion. Nothing
was done worthy of notice in tho way of in
orsasing our forces until the beginning of the
present year. Up to the time of Nc Clellau's
advance upon Manassas, General Johnston
Was left with NO effective force to meet such
m army - the enemy brought into the field.
Our defensive policy, pushed to an extreme
that many thought perilous, became unavoit:.
aba for tho want of power to pnrsus diff.
1sEsnt one. 1t 10 true, that our only great
achievement on the water was the greatest
known TO the world but it ia equally true,
that the wonderful agent by which it was &C.
oomplished has recently been blown up in
foil view of the enemy which dreaded her
aud which had repeatedly run from her as
they would from Vesuvius while in state
Of eruption. All this is true. and more than
this, to produce dissatisfaction and complaint.
Yet lot US look on the other side of the
picture.
The best OF Governments, in a ;ims liks
that Va arc passing through, would be com.
planned Of, and the complaints would rise upon
every reverse or discontinue that might oc
ear, however blamsless tas Government might
b. Though ours csnno. be fully defended,
~ know that the men who compose it are
arusto the cause; that they are the constituted
aathoYitiss under the Consultation; that under
then W must conquer or b conquered. and
that Ne must give them oil the support and
eonadsnes We can, trusting that they will
profit By experience and make every disaster
she occasion for improving their measures for
doSonoa
Bot with al the mistakes and blundsrs that
nay b alleged, what is the state of the case
The Southern army has not been defsated
aaywhsre In field fight In which the snamv
was not assisted by his guusoa.s. The disas-
tsrs W have met have been all at isolated
posts On tho water, where tho enemy cou,a
bring tho most approved machinery Of his
mechanical gelius TO bear upon DOR iraper
sssuy constructed andimperfectly. guarded de-.
sseees. There, and there only, has he tri
umphed- II il true, no has gained important
eAvantsSes by our dis sssers 1t these points;
~ they dbl not establish Tor him auy sac.l
esessiorify over US as to justify hope that
p would conquer rs, or 10 warrant the fear
~ our part t.sat We wonld be sab1ugatsd.--
Insy forced "a 10 draw in oar lines OF De.
1879 sno concentrate our troops, and they
ny, ~ Escsss!ss, 70 !oio~ sglsv u and
sssey eaf dsisss " sssseiiag Gus army, tkus
concentrated, Away from II, .l.m.nt 80.
- oaly srsas advantage over q, /. an..,s.s
- THE asw phase Of tas gam. Of .As VA q -
~ tad9s from tie past Iii We may III. Il.
yssas u al the great scpt$sts with the sneuy