The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1862-03-25
STATE OF THE CASE.


On reviewing our history for the past four
months, and comparing it with similar crises in
the annals both of our own revolution and those
of other nations, we feel surprised that the Yankees
should feel any great degree of exultation, and
that there should be any, even the smallest, de-
preston on the part of the South. Almost at the
commencement Of the war with Great Britaiu-in
December, '76-the American army, under the
orders of Putnam, was attacked on Long Island
By an overwhelming force of British regulars. Its
faux was completely turned, a large body made
prisones, and, driven to their works, the panic
stricken remnant would have been put to the sword
or Compelled to surrender, had the British Gener-
al allowed his troops to indulge the ardent desire
which they had to carry the detences by storm.
Providence seemed to have interposed at the pro-
ptious moment to stay the hand OF the victor. In
stead Of assaulting, he made his men camp on the
ground; the opportunity was lost. Washington
carried the whole force over in the nj ght aud the
advantage could never be recovered. But the
Americans lost 3 600 killed. wounded, and
prisoners, at time when they had not twenty
thousand in tho field in all parts of the country
his disaster Infinitely greater than any our
arms have yet met with. But Washington was
not dsmaye he knew that the country was with
hm-and he felt that people fighting for thei
liberties are iuvincible. In few weeks after, he
lost garrison the North river, Of $500 men.
New jersey with three thousand ragged, half
starved and badly armed militia, pursued by an
army OF British and Hessians, numbering 25, 900
At last the tide began to turn. He attacked and
captured the Hessians at Trenton, and one week
after, defeated the English at Princeton. He
plucked safety from defeat He made his
very reVerses conduce to his victory for his enemy
would never have exposed himself as he did, had
he not believed HIM no longer capable Of molesting
him 10 such an extent was this confidence IN
duged in, that Lord CORVALLIS wrote to General
Howe, but day or two before the battle of 'rren-
ton, II will engage to keep the peace in Jersey
with a corporals guard"
Again: When Sir Henry Clinton captured
Charleston, he made prisoners Of the whole Amer
lean army. The American General, Lincoln, had
made the fate Of the campaign turn the posses
sion of that city. This policy condemned by
Col. Tareton as the bel ght Of folly. He should,
said that officer, have left Charleston to its fate
and retired to the country, whence he could have
kept up such war as Washington waged upon
the North river and the Delaware Unqucstiona-
bly,, that the true doctrine. Lincoln surren-
dered nearly six thousand men, very nearly the
number captured Fort Dnnclson. But
mark the difference. We have nearly half mil
lion in the field; the revolutionists of that day
above the tenth part Of that number They lost
full ninth OF their entire force; less than the
ninetieth part of ours, Yet the people Of that
day were in no wise di,htartened Why, then.
should we be? The defeat Of Gates at Camden
shortly ait er cost us TWO thousand men more,
about one twenty-flth part of all we had. The
affair Roanoke Island cost US about the
number Of mer, being not more than one two
hundred aud fttieth palt Of those We have in the
field.
Let Southern men take courage, then. We have
hardly been touched-the skin has hardly been
graZed-our great armies are yet in the field.
They must beat them, and then the guerilla war
rors springins from their remains, before they
can boast Of subduing US. 1t is not in the capa-
city of man-certainly not IN the Yankee variety
Of the specics-to subjugate us.-Richmond Dis
patch.