Winchester journal. [volume] (Winchester, Indiana) 1862-1863, 1862-10-31

thority OF such an old time pre-
cedent. There was no "irregu-
larity' here. 1t is true that
those other builders we're violent
and did mischief, but then they
were gods and had power, aad
heathens liked the law q retalla-
ton, bu: We were mortals and
lived IN a Christian era, ana ev.
cry incentive of patriotism requlr-
ed Us to be satisfied, ii only our
work went to the benefit oil the
country.
But what was really the cause
OF all ths2 What was II that
scattered the fruits OF our labor,
and struck 50 maav good soldiers
from the field OF successful duty,
and paralyzed the career OF our
victorious troops2 Perhaps our
War Secretary had been reading
old campaigns, and his mind hau
been excited by the rapidity
which characterizcd the great
soldiers OF Europe at a time
when war was in its normal con
dltion. He had read about the
CELEBRITY OF Petarsborough, and
carried in his mind what az
english minister said pt him
that he could never write to
him, but was always Obliged to
wright at him"
Prehaps with these and other
such examples before him, the
Secretary thought that We Ia the
West were too slow. We had
suIltrd post only 200 miles oil,
tc surrender for want OF rein
forcenents Or, perhaps, he
had later events in his mind, and
thought Of the French Emperor :
brilliant campaign into Italy, he
behcld that splcndidIy appointed
force, for which The great Ditta
tor Of Europe had drawn upon
all the resources of the East, all
that science could give him on
the earth or in the air -rallroads
to carry his troops into the bat
tie field, railroads to bring of his
wounded, aud balloons to carry
his scouting parties through the
air.
The Secretary had all this
in his mind aad grew inpatient
with us. tie forgot how lew OF
these appliances wc had. and
how poor the West was IN all
the ready materials OF war, eN-
cept, indeed, la that one indies
pcn,lble matcrlal-of brave aad
loyal m9a. which she has Sc lav-
ishly given to the service ct the
country. We may pause here
Tor a momentto make .ho rcIlec-
;ion. that Il we had not these
great appliances Tor rapid and
brilliant successes. we are not
sale on the other hand rom tie
arb:tary use made Of them The
Italians were promised freedom
from the Alps to the Adrallc,
brt the great army Won lrWt
less battles, and the hopes OF a
brave people were deludcd Bul
We "conpsehend our epnch. Ia
ths country tits not possible that
two conm'der@ OF opposing ar.
mle> can meet togethcr at a
breakfast table and compromiso
away tie hopes and libelues Of 4
great people Sat II was no'
that we had Disappointed som,
high wrought eXpccttloas otth,
Secretary. 1t was not becaas
we had lniled in soldiers duty
or suffered at the hands Of III,
enemy iagloriu, de.ctt, that ~
incurred ministerial d-plea>ue
Il was because, IN or unc,lculat
lng eagrraeSs. we wcro too has'l
in striking that enemy a 'lial
blow,
Like the Trojan, whose spcn.
against the treacEcrou, hor-'
made the cling of arms resoIad
andtp whom tne angry godde-
punished Tor the blow upon he
sacred property, 50. too, did "
undergo sudden punishment ID
devotion - oar country. | pol
me too. a. in an old story, wer
the ~erpcpts set They wouu.
arouni me fnaur loa,u>oue coil
they strained M with thel
foul embra e-thev brcathod o
me their pesulcupal brcatH-lhc.
lacerateI me etG their veae
nous i7ns S; bui a gteltcr thu
Pallas rule~ the contest, and n
power 10 destroy vas not pqul
70 the will hyet .hrougis Il
unclean struggle. come bac
u YOU a secoad 6me, and yo
receive ne with tue same old re
gard. the warm welcome as here
to.0re, uo matter Lcw oItc
struck down and rudely throw
back among ven. The lrlendl
contact restores my Streogii. au
rise again mll Of confidence AZ
hone. AID ready aralu for a-1ll