Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1862-07-14
TIE GREAT BATTLE.

History bss not vet named the fed on which the
mighty COT q ct in defence Of Redmond occurred, bot
the records of human warfare do not record the name
of any battle ground ancient modern, more usrious
in all tina. is essential to give il immortal fame From
THURSDAY the 26.h of June until Wednesday, the OF
July every day the battle went on. For ak days and
nights our noble citizen soldery drove the hilellrg
throng backward from hill to bill and valley TO valley,
down to the very depths of tho sN4mp ana, reports
be true but for the inei cheney Of certain General,
must have so perfectly eff the retreat OF the enemy
to have compelled his surrender. Thousands OF the
invaders have pershed thousands are wounded
and thousands here in prison. They came against
Us in the boastfu pride Of superior NUMBER they ID
aud fell before US because God blessed Thanks
be unto the Lord God Of JUDAH the Lord OF hosts for
His rght hath gotten us the victory The Rather
OF Lights" gave US General Robert Lee 10 command
troops the day OF the great crisis one who feared
God, Of prayer; ana the wisdom that cometh
from on high directed him in the formation OF plan
which, as il now stands revealed Ia the glorious light
of brilliant series Of victories will at the same
time give him q magnificent place In the catalogue
OF great Generals, aud cause Christian people
to rtjoce sayiog BLESSED s the whose strength is
in the Lord :" From the commander inchet down TO
the youngest boy in the ranks in all the grand chain OF
heroes SO many deeds of courage, so great fortude
ulyieldng patience and prolonged perseverance, could
De recorded that the daily journals could not hold the
record This has been at once the mightiest aud the
most mournful the grandest and yet most trying tr
unph. So many oil our nobest men have fallen! The
lair boy and the vigorous mantle child Of tender care
and the rough stro1g son of to-the rich and poor
the poished educated and rtfned the pain, honest
earnest soldier, whose only accomplishment was that
be could read his Bibe the father with sweet voices
to have welcomed him back from the war the young
husband for whom ono anxious heart beat hopefully
all seepirg upon the held where they died LOT Vr-
tue, home ana liberty.
Virtue Virtue! as thy joys excel,
So are thy woes transcendent: the gross world
Knows not the bliss misery Of ether"
There are deep shadows the land and the shout Of
victory ia repressed till the tribute OF affection has ben
planted the graves of the noble dead Il great to
oe silent in ones agony but 1t is greater sill to receive
the gtandest victory with quiet gratitude and generously
dismiss the pride of triumph while pay honor TO the
memory of those heroes by Whcs blood the heritage OF
liberty and peace shall be b. leathed 10 the living o.,
if our fallen brethren could only have te,n spared to
erioy the achievements Of their valor This is the ex
cama,iOn 6f mourning thousands They have fallen but
from on high may not their Spirits lowering Ger US, look
down from The quiet places Of eternal peace, and thank
God there Wills praise him here that the cauje Of
| right and truth has been upheld.
We know Of the bitterness of bereavement We have
lost dear friends in this war, and among the precious
brother in the m0r1ng oil his manhood They must all
have de0 sooner later. Couli they have died nor
uoby When own brother fell 10 the battle charge,
we felt that the shaft of death that slew him piercing
many loved ores a; home but also felt that be fell in
seht OF his FATHER bigh and met death where duty
assigned him his post We stretch out our hand 10 every
mourning one in the land, and 0sp hlth these that rep
and as the happier people welcome tdDgs OF the safety
/ Of their lrends rjJies ioih those that r,j5iee.
Let us pray God that these trials chasen ald make all
oar Poop better aud stronger WHAT the fleet OF this
great victory shall be, OF course may predict
Whether It will speed foreign recognition, discourage
the North proong shorten the war, is knoWn 70 nc
mar but il is duty to pray God tina. the gra
cious power by which it won, shall follow it with
slcn consc quences will glC rfy bis blessed
As far rs We can confidently from to effect
No see in this grand achievement OF our the mos
encouraging prospect for our liberty and peace. When
we consider that the mghiesi army that the North with
all the a3ted resources at It's command could bring
into the field has besn broken, dsmAyed fsated and
driven from the field; when remember that the army
which lately sjeged WAS actually surrounded and
barely escaped capture when ne remember how long
took that Amy be organ zed, aud how long il
,lovly advanced from place OF lnding 10 il place o.
defeat and then consider the resisiles energy with
which it was suddenly swept back by troops, and
above all when consider tina. IN all this the Lord ha
so obviously been with In struggle have much
ground OF hope in respect TO tie happy
| Of this great bAttle.-Rieh. Chris. Adveeds.