Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1862-07-14

over q great victory IN the se'eiai o"y9 ."
pare,nents with the enemy, and we expected
TO be able to add this week, that nearly the
entire army of Mcclellan had been captured
by our troops, Judging from the oft repeated
assurances that we had him surrounded so
that there was no possibility Of his escape,
and that he would be entirely broken up
Such, however, turns out not to be the case
Il is an undeniable fact, that we have in the
aggregate gained a great and signal victory;
hut it has not been a complete and decisive
one. We have acquired glory in abundance.
We have taken thousands of prisoners
canturcd many heavy and splendid guns, a
very large quantity of small arms, ammunl-
ton. stores, horses, mules, wagons, amoulan-
ces. tents, great coats, &c. We have COM
nelled the enemy to destroy immense pleS
Of his nroyisions-to abandon his whole line
&c for,H6cations. which had cost him so much
labor and treasure to construct, and to make
q hurried retreat to q new position twenty
miles further from Richmond than that winch
he 50 carefully selected and so deliberately
entrcnched. We count amongst our prison.
CTS Major Generals and Brigadiers, besides a
crowd of Colonels, Majors, Captains, Lieu
lcnants and other commissioned officers. All
mi. constitutes, according to the establish
cd nili AIRY rules for estimating results IN
such a case, a brilliant victory. Napoleon
himeel would have proclaimed it as such II
he had pr'aiGed it. But the g%randest result
Of ALL is tic Geliyelance Of our Capital from
the dancer which SO long and so fierceiy
threatened it. Richmond is now safe, and
Will be soaslorga as the war continues. Never
again cen the enemy draw his pareileis so
near to j. as those from which he has just
fled GiacomGJed and disrnayed.
Rrt notwitl standing all these advantages,
Mcclellan has succeeded in saving a large
attack him, where he can readily be rein
forced, and where he can be under the cover
of his ennboats. Wig he was not captured,
and h0a he succeeded in getting off with SC
large 8 portion Of his army, our Generals
krow-wc 90 not. 1t is useless for us to
specl.a ~boat it. The question is, will
Mcclellan gain attack Richmond We
think not. Ii, viii cntrench, and fortify and
make divers Showa, but he will not come out
from his c~owardly retreat to the protection
of his gunboats, and advance upon Rich
mond. Tie will stay where he is, until the
cry is ra.scd that Washington or PhiladeE
phia are uenaced by our troops, which will
be seized upon as q justifying excuse to
Withdraw his grand army" from the Pc
ninSula.
Of course this opinion is based upon the
assumption that our Generals will leave him
un0isturbed in the enjoyment of his place of
inglorious retreat. But we do not believe they
will. As to whether the attack upon the en-
envy will be made soon, or delayed until extern
siNe preparations are made, there seems to
be a difference of opinion. The Petersburg
Express of the 9th says-"We have what
would be considered by most persons, good
grounds for believing that a fight is immi-
nenl. We believe, too, that when it does
take place, the South will have no cause to
complain OF the result. But we do not in
Cenu 10 make puOHc Wnat mas come 10 our
knowledge, and any further comment or
speculation at present, is unnecessary, not TO
say indlscreet." While on the contrary, the
Richmond Examiner of the same date, says,
The situation of the two armies in the vi
cinity Of Richmond is such as we do not
feel at liberty to refer to any thing beyond
incidents which may take place on the lines,
or results which have been accomplished OF
brought within the knowledge of the enemy
We may satisfy the curiosity of our readers
however, by assuring them that there is nc
immediate prospect of any general actor
with the enemy, and that it is likely thai
presentations of great extent will be made or
kr.a sides before the conflict will be renew.
ed beyond the point to which it has already
been brought"
4 Louisiana Artillery Company has sac
ceedet in lassing around the enemy's posi-
ton and getting in his rear, and opened fire
upon his transports in the river at a distance
some eight miles below our lines. Out O.
thirty shots fired, six took effect, badly injur
ing a large passenger transport. This ex-
plot has demonstrated the fact of passages