, 1862-04-17

The repoIthrought to Us from " Nasa1uS-
ton. tlat the surprise at Pittsburg, where
blythe very existence of Gen. Grants army
was i,nperilled, is to be made matter Of
Congressional inquiry, will be the cause of
astonishment among none who have ntten-
tiyelv read tie details Of the great battle
We have been 10th to give credit to the
minors which first reached us from the
scene Of conflict; but the evidence that the
surprise was SIS complete as it proved to be
effective. is 80 unanimous and oyerwhe1m-
ing that We can 6iscredit it no longer.
Even the rebels wonder that they opened
the conflict with so little loss, and that their
victory On Sunday was so easy. A party
Of them, well known in St Louis, where
they are at home, have been taken there as
prisoners; and they tell the editor Of the
Demoe7at the following story:
Generals Price and Van Dom, previously re-
ported ut the battle, were not there, nor any Of
their forces General Prent1ss surrendered about
fopp O'Clock on Sunday evening. The rebel off,
csrs say he and his men fought we'll, but were
completely surrounded when they gaTe up. They
also saw ttst their army was dr1ac1 up in line Of
battle On Saturday night scitki1 @ .}e7o hundred
yards Of oar camps, and p3ainly saw our men 60
ing IN and out Of thei1 tents. Their Generals
would not let them build their camp fires for fear
Of discovery. But for the r.in and terrible
condition Of the roads, and the delay In
the arrival Of come Of their reinforce
ments. they ~ou1d have been dorn upoF
Us Saturday morning. Our- gunboats, they admit
eRyed onr army from complete aunihi1atfon or
Sunday night. They esy they cannot understand
4rky q.e hard aoscogts oT pckets out. They pouret
into our camps without resistance, and in man!
cases elew or captured soldiers in their tents
In thei. opinion, they have Won great victory
They claim to have routed Us from cur camp
captured our gu1s, and taken s,G0o prisoners. TIL
fight on Monday was simply defensive, as the:
claim they retired In good order from the field
Their camp, they state, is now at Pea Ridge 8 fe7
miles south Of Pittsburgh, where they will make
grand stand
Of course rebel testimony in such mat
ter is to be taken with many grains Of al
lowance; but as it is supported by tn
complaints Of every letter writer from Ii
CAMP, whether be be soldier or ciTi
ian, that part Of it which relates to tn
disposition Of the enemy before the attacl
about which there is now no inducener
to lie, may, We think, be received IS nea
approach to the truth
There is fearful responsibility som
where. An army in the face Of superi<
force, known to be only few miles away
separated from its reinforcements by
broad, deep and rapid stream, and witho1
pickets out half mile from the regimen
in front; the headquarters Of the con
manding General twelve miles from h
men, and he there1ying off at his ease; IL
battle beginning in his absence, and ragin
for more than four hours with great fuz
before he arrived on the ground; careles
ness so criminal or confidence SO assure
that the first notice Of danger was volle
from the foe, at point blank distance, upe
half dozen regiments in front, ju
preparing or eating their breakfasts; su
prise 50 complete that before . thoug
could be taken for the common defenc
the whole front line Of the army was
full and in some cases, disorderly retres
sending thrill Of terror and insubordin
ton 10 the very rear;-these are points th
demand investigation; and ne hope ths
strike where the blow may, the man
whose door the responsibility viii be lai
viii not be suffered to escape.
Somebody is chnrgeable with that fa'
Sundays work, which needlessly cost t
lives Of so many brave men, and which
nearly risked the entire command. !
withhold a1 censure from Gen. Grant; q
for him, as the Commander to whom
blame would first and most naturally
attributed, We ask suspension Of ju
mcnt until the facts are known.
know not what orders he was IN
from his superio1s, nor "
faults and disobcdiences his subordinate
the heads Of divisions and regiments u
have committed. But for somebody th
is reckoning which ought not to be dc
red In another article, VIC give an opin
how commanders should be judged,
here, while pleading for the punishment
the guilty, We apply the principles tt
laid down, and ask that the accused I
beheard