The Memphis union appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1862-1862, 1862-07-22

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mistakesble, it was no longer falling back /
to concentrate troops for action it is, in fact
impossible to disguise that il was the retreat of
an enemy who was discomftted and whipped, i
although no. routed. He had sbandoned the
railroads; he ha0 given up the stronghclds
which he had provided to secure him in case
of q check; he had destroyed from eight to
ten million dollars worth of stores; he had de-
serted his hospitals his sick and wounded, and
he had left in our hands thousands Of prisoners
and innumerable stragglers.
Rebel Mistakes.
Regarding all that had been accomplished
in these battles; the displays of the valor and
devotion of our troops; the expenditures of
blood; and the helpless and fugitive condi-
ton TO which the enemy had at least been re-
dueed, history will record it as q burning
shame that an enemy in this condition was
permitted to secure his retreat. The result of
the light at Malvern Hill was to secure.to the
enemy full protection for retreat, which
should have been made route long before he
ever reached there. The enemy had made no
effort for q victory there; it was q stand, not a
battle; if he lad been let alone, he would
have gone away the next day of his own sc-
cord; the TIVE wings of our army we're in
position TO cut of his retreat to the rear; and
yet nothing was done bnt to make an attack,
in which we sustained great loss, in which
the enemy was not driven, and by which, in
fact, he effected exactly what he desired-a
cover for his retreat.
MeCIeIIan's Success Due to Rebel Blum
ders-StrengIh OF His Present Position.
All that has been said of the masterly re-
treat" of Mcclellan, and his displays of gem
eralship, sounds very we'll but the compli-
ments we believe are little deserved, ana can
scarcely serve as excuses to be made to public
disappointment over the result of the battle at
Richmond, when we come to examine the cir
cumstances in which they have been displayed.
His mastery retreat consists in our own
| blunders. he was permitted to get through
our fingers when eTeryb body thought we had
7 only to close the hand to crush him. He has
secured strong position on james river,
where he hopes to establish a new base of op-
| erations. But the position he now holds was
notorious il the military history of the coun-
try; it was twice occupied by the British when
! they invaded Virginia, and was pointed out as
/ commanding position for power that was
strong on water long anterior to the date of
| McClellan's generalship.
| The Shadow that Attends the Light
! Effects tn the North and in Europe
We repeat that we are not inclined to di-
! minsh the actual value of results, because
they have fallen below expectation; and it has
/ been unwillingly that We have referred to that
| part of the history of the battle of Richmond
| which casts dark shadow over the track of
our victories. The result of the conflict is
sufficiently fortunate TO excite joy, and grave
! enough to engage the most serious speeulations
as to the future. In the North, and in Europe
| its moral effects must be immense. 1t is abso.
lutely certain that Richmond cannot be taken
/ this year, or by this army of Mcclellan. The
mouth of the Yankee government is shut
from any more promises of speedy termina-
tion Of the war; the powers of Europe seethat
the Southern Confederacy is not yet crushed,
or likely to be by its insolent foe; and we have
again challenged the confidence of the world
IN the elasticity of our fortunes and the inv n
chile destiny of our Independence.
Indehniteness of Results.
The results of the battle of Richmond are
worthy of congratulation, although attended
with unavailing regrets that the valor of our
troops, and the talepts of some of our generals
prizes. Although the painful facts exist that
| Mcclellan has secured position where he can
receive reinforcements, and where he cannot
well be attacked, there are yet abundant reasons
for congratulsting the country and the army
on the events which have gone so far as to Sc.
cure the safety of our Capital, and to illumi
nate the fortunes of the Confederacv.