Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1862-04-02
Fur the Standard.

breath wasted. Our miscarriages and inisfortunes
should teach uswisdo,n forfhefuturE Reepsdl6eSng
these, we learn to correct errors and avoid their
repetition for it is silly bird that is caa6 t~'ce
in the same trap. With these feelings the follow
ing reflections are submitted:
firmly believe that the cause Of Southern lnde-
pendence has sustained great injury from sfew er
rors which very common and widely spread
Our eyes arc beginning to be opened now, and men
who were laughed at few months ago, pow hnd
opinions treated with consideration which were then
rldicued, ..s- IA .s,y5.sss .-Isgess-7s==s. 8
In the first place, our great error was in suppos-
ing that the would be short one Conse-
quently we did not make proper preparations for 1t
This caused delay, both by our State and General
Governments, in procuring adequate supplies of
arms and ammunition at the outset, when they
could have been obtained This false idea Delayed
the construction of navy This caused US to enrol
six and twelve months volunteers; and to suffer SO
many points to be unprotected, which, by energy
and hard work could have been eectually fortified
2ndty. We relied upon that broken reed, Europe
an all We deludcd ourselves by crying Cotton is
king" We prated about recognition, Intervention,
and Heaven knows what else. Every one now sees
how baseless was that hope. i am glad it has fail
ed. thought it just possble-but how little would
We have valued independence gained in that way!
The All-Wise is teaching us most valuable les
son. I firmly believe that shall ourselves, an.
aided achieve independence; but it will be after
this generation has toied and suffered for it. that
when gained it may be properly appreciated.
81. We have thought to weary out the North!
| have no doubt the Yankees are heartily tired of
the contest; but fanaticsm and interest combined
stimulate them to persist. | hope they will keep
it up until our people become embittered against
them that hereafter, We shall have intercourse
with Them social political May the gulf of sep
aration be as deep as hell and as wide as eternity.
- L., 1( rnf1
lately heard of man who was annoyed by
neighbours dog, which he wished to get rid OF, but
did not wish 70 shoot So one very cold night after
he had retired he heard the dog come on his lot
He arose, and without dressing, ran out and sue
ceeded in catching the dog by the ears and held him
fast. HIS wife, alarmed by his long absence, went
out to what was the matter, and found him as
described. What are you dong there? says she.
Molly said he while his teeth chartered with cold,
have caught this deg aud intend to hold him here
until he freezes to death!
All. We have appointed as military leaders men
heretofore known only as politicians. Look at Wise,
and Breckenridge, and Branch, and Shaw What
can you expect of such men? Why, simply disas
ter: and when it comes, you turn around and call
the men towards and fools. THIS is all wrong
The both brave and patriotic; they have
good Judgment about such affairs as they con-
vcrsant with, and have only made mistake in their
calling They have forgotten the adage "Shoe-
maker, stick to your last" Non o6,nss on.nia pos
SHmus
And here would make few remarks respecting
courage in battle 1t is very unjust as well as Ell,
roneous to brand man as coward because he has
retreated. The noise and confusion Of battle Devil
ders inexperienced troops, they lose their presence
Of mind; their situation appears far more periious
than it really is, and the instinct of self preserva-
ton causes them to retreat whereas, hau they been
thoroughly drilled, we'll differed, and brought into
action properly, posted advantageously, they
would have acted bravey.
Duane, our best military writer, says Collection
in danger can scarcely bc acquired but by habit !;
and old soldier and young are equally
brave the difference is, the former has, from habit
all his wits about him in danger, the latter has to
acquire it"
Again: at is unfortunately too true that those
men who 1espise danger most, when at a distance,
have the strongest snse Of i, when It is at hand.
Courage may be the effect of constitution but it is
reflection gives tirmncSs."
9TH We have greatly erred in pursuing defen-
sive policy exclusively l have heard this policy
defended by the argument that "a decent respect
for the opinions of mankind should induce US to
show that our disposition is pacific, that we only
obey the first law of nature in defending our homes
and fircsdeS, while the North is an arrogant in
vader. | entertain profound contempt for the
man whose freedom of action is controlled by the
the greatest argument, and will fully satisfy 1.-THE
nations of the EARTH and the rest of mankind
Again: 1t is said We should pursue this course,
that may not too greatly exaSperate the North,
as it is believed that We have many friends there
| have heard Of man who tried to touch off can
non lightly and was greatly surprised when it went
off with laundering bang" but he was wise
man compared with those who this argument.
Friends may spar with gloves on, but the naked
ist is for an enemy!
Let us carry the torch and sword into the enemy
country. Let US raise navy and burn every sea.
coast town Of theirs. Put them OH the defensive,
and keep them in constant dread of descent upon
their territory! Threaten Philadelphia with col
unn of 100000 men, and you force the enemy to
collect 4 larger force there while at the same time
you libcrate Maryland. Advance on Cincinnati with
unequal force, and they will come to their senses
very rapidly. II Government needs 200, 900 mel,
for this special service they be raised in ninety
! days.
! Let us abandon the defensive policy, which we
have followed too long, requiring it does large
| force to guard our extensive country, in conse
quence of which our scattered forces are attacked
! in detail and overwhelmed by numbers: for it
leaves the enemy to choose his point of attack, and
to take care that he shall be strongest at that point
! "Generally speaking the army acting on the de-
ttnSve Is the weaker; its commander wanting con-
j hdence III his strength, either avoids battle alto
gether, or endeavors by aid of ground to make
e.. amends for disparity of numbers. lie is also I'M
certain OF the enemy's designs. In nothing does
the fable OF the bundle of sticks apply more furc
! bly, than war: together strong, apart We are
weak; this principle is known to all professional
men, and yet, perhaps to failure ir applying i,
may be attributed more mischief than to any cir
| cumstance in the whole circle of military events"
Though generally on the defensive, the com
mander of the weaker body should avail himself
with energy of any mistakes committed by his ad
versary, and become, for the time, the assalant
otherwise the defensive system must ever prove
ruinous one: it is like the man who waits to b.
! struck before he will strike, and when he does re-
ceiye the blow, it perhaps knocks him down.
In addition to this, the offensive is in accordance
with the inpetuous character of our troops. Duane
says, Offensive operations require ardor and valor
defensive ones, cool collected courage. Young troops
are better calculated for the offensive than defensive
operations; if battle is to be fought, they hat
better make the assault than wait to be attacked"