New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1862-02-18
Sp 81 #a'T 7r
We Must Learn to Brook Defeat.

One particular effect of this war upon our people
up to the present time is found in the remarkable
fact, that their continued and uninterrupted sue
cess has rendered them indisposed to confront
reverses to our arms as bravey as they should do:
The Southern revolution, which was ushered upon
us with the brilliant achievement at Fort Sumter
on the 18th of April 1861, presents the historical
anomaly of having been pushed forward up to the
10th January--a space of more than nine months
without having been retarded by solitary signal
defeat. Revolutions generally, since that of the
American Colonies against Great Britain, Belgium
against Holland and Greece against Turkey, down
to the revotof the South American colonies against
Spain, and the establishment Of the new Italian re-
glme under Victor Emanuel, resulting in the
overthrow of the tyrant Bomba. have all had to
contend with defeat after defeat in their very in
ception. The present movement that has invoked
into existence the government of the Confederate
States, is bright and conspicuous exception to all
these previous struggles for national independence.
We have been peculiarly blessed by Providence,
to such an extent, indeed, that our people have
fallen into spirit OF apathy and Indifference. 1t
Leesburg, Belmont, Oak Hills and Lexington
victories glorious and great for our cause-ha6
finished the task we sought to achieve. The dan
gerous impression had commenced to gather force
that the brunt of our war for independence was
over, and we could return to our places Of trade,
ease, honor and retirement, to repose upon our
oars. ..-..-.r .
Hence it is that we have repeatedly asserted
LQaL Iue people Idlleu dppTcCidtc Vie duA
warned them that they must be aroused, grid up
their loins and be prepared to confront disaster
and seize victory from the jaws of defeat, When
Zolcoffer-the lamented and the braye-fell at
Somerset, we saw in the untoward event the fore
runner of similar disasters, and braced oursef to
anticipate them in the future. They have come.
To Fishing Creek, we must add the affairs at Fort
Henry and Roanoke-battles, it is true, which can
have no effect upon The ultimate decision of this
great struggle, but which still afford encourage.
Ynan IN tha md rrpltipn tho nj the
enemy. There is no reason for the most easily
dsheartened supporter of our cause to grow timid
or respondent, however, in view Of these results.
No fact is better established than that our inde-
pendence will be maintained at every hazard of
life and property, and, as we are told by the organ
Of the British Ministry now in powe--the London
Post"eyery sensible man in Europe locks upon
the subiugation of the South as tried and proved
impossbiity." Such is an actual historical fact,
and will be denied by none but towards and
traitors
1t was the result of the first Napoleon's expert
ence after the failure Of his great campaign into
Russia, in the year 1872, that mo people could be
sttutions Of their country.5 Unity of purpose,
energy of action and unanimity of sentiment con-
sttute all that is necessary to beat back invasion
and insure nationality, and these requisites we
possess in a preeminent degree. q t.t.s- - ...s
Let us expect, therefore, before we have passed
through the fiery ordeal Of this war, to see towns
and villages, it may be cities, laid waste, and our
flag occasionally trailed in the dust of defeat But
the fact is too manifest that the issue Of final
defeat or triumph must be determined by great
battles, such as Webster tells US :" have fixed the
fate of nations "-hot by skirmishes and fights be-
tween few thousand men on either side. Manas.
sas, Bowling Green, Columbus, Charleston, savan-
nah and New Orleans, must, one and all, be
carried by the enemy before we allow cowardly
despair to seize upon our minds. Of this we have
no apprehension. The enemy's victories have SO
far been confined almost exclusively to the sea.
coast and the rivers, where he has been able to
use his superior munitions of naval warfare.
Besides the affairs at Fishing Creek and Rich
Mountain, ,where we were met in overwhelming
numbers, his hireling hordes have been routed
upon every field where they have dared to ad-
vance and offer battle. 1t will be 30 in the future
and we may look with confidence to the eagles OF
victory resting upon our standard when the foe
ventures to leave the protection of his guns either
upon the Northern frontier or along the coast, and
consign to the God Of battles the issue of the day
" The darkest hour,,'' we are well reminded by 6
contemporary, always precedes the dawn Of
day.''7+"" '@r 'H 7'