New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-08-18
AN DIRECTIVE VIEW OF TEX
AMERICAN sTEUGGLE.
Correspopden Ct The N. Y. Tribune.

As man whose loyalty is known 10 you
as an ardent supporter of the Administration
however its political complexion or policy may
change for the sole sake of the Umon-l have
heretofore Judged that could best serve my
country by keeping silence. But silence is no
longer possible. When not only our enemies,
but our most sincere and stcadfast friends see
clearly our mistakes aud shortcOmings-w
The great exeriions we have put forth, the
enormous sacrifices our noble people have made,
seem 70 have been wasted-and only we, like
ostr,ches with our heads in the sand, do not
see, or seeing viii not speak the truth, i, for
one, Will no longer bear this weight on M
conscience.
left home a few weeks ago, blinded by the
popular excitement, sharing in what were thon
and fear still are-the popular decisions
shail return with my eyes opened.
/ was then quite satisfied with the progress
Of our arms, the p,liy which had been exer-
eised toward the inhabitants of the conquered
territory, and the prospect OF speedy over
throw of the Rebellion. / felt, in advance,
toward the Southern population, that magma.
nimity which we may justly exercise toward
those who are conquered md who submit
Let me tel you how the facts appear, stripped
of the Elusive atmosphere of my premature
hope and faith.
First: 1t seems to me that from the COM
nencement, we have been waging the war no
as TO inhict rs little injury possible on the
rebellious population, while the policy Of the
Rebels has been to infict the greatest possible
njury on us.
Second That we have even been more care
full to preserve to them their property tban
they themselves; for while they destroy one
description Of it cotton, tobacco and mOasses)
we are scrupulous not to touch the other
(slaves).
Third That the representations we have
heard, Of large Union party in the Southern
States, are a deusion and q snare, whereby
the arm of our Government has been weak
eEed
Fourth: That the Rebel commanders have
proved themselves greatly superior to own
in energy in daring, and in the knowledge Of
military science.
This last admission / make reluctantly, and
with profound humiliation. / impugn neither
the loyalty nor the courage of any of our Gen.
orals. A lack of intellectual quickness-Oi
those qualities OF combination and direction
which great commander mxsi haye-can only
be called 8 misfortune, not fault. The move
ments Of the campaign, on both sides, are
watched with great interest by the experienced
soldiers of Europe. When an intelligent
officer, whose sympathes are heartily on the
Union side, asks rne :" How is it possible that
Haleck could not ascertain Beauregard's re-
treat in time to prevent it ~ what answer can
] gyei Wien not one, but dozens of others
say: 81 see that your papers represent No
Clean's retreat from his position before Rich
inond as o splendid strategic movement-but /
cannot understand it"-what can i do but
blush and say nothing
The other day both The Times of London
and the Nonitenr of Paris-neitber Of them, 1t
il true, friendly TO us-contaned criticisms oil
the campaign, which were, on the whole, 50
dispassonate and so nearly in accordance with
actual facts, that an American could find little
fault with them, and which present the Rebel
strategy, thus far, as greatly superior to our
uor tfying as the admission may be.
Let me further say that We Americans
abroad are beginning to lose faith in the state
ments Of our own papers. We are forced 70
guess at the truth, tetueea tie Hues-to collect
the little drops that ooze out, inadvertently,
here and there-sDce on the face OF the &C.
counts we find confusion, contradiction, or
statements through the transparent absurdity
Of which the fiction il apparent We read
everywhere for instance, from the positive
testimony of sye.witnesses that the value q
the property destroyed on GcClellsns right
wing. was not over $500, and we read, IN
Inc same papers, Of carloads Of ammunition
plunged from burning bridges immense CON-
mjssary stores set on fire, and elegant
WAGONS and ambulances" tumbled into the
Pamunkeyl We read that the great strategic
movement had been prepared for days before
hand. and also that 200 sick aud wounded were
left to the mercies Of the enemy! rs. W."
the correspondent Of TIE TRIBUNE, describes
ss one of the most splendid successes in the
history Of War, retreat ia which we lost
siege guns, boggage-wagoDs, and many Iou'
sands of our best and braveat mon
Tbese perversons Of tho truth, If persisted
N, viii be fatal to our cause 1t seems to ne,
ct this distance that We are fighting blisdy
in cloud Of illusions---that press and people