Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1862-09-11
3 ntlaua gerald.
THURSDAY SEPTEMBER II, 1861.
WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE

ninds Of the people, that our Generals in the
1sld, who have all, at one time or another,
been the objects Of newspaper or Congress
sional detraction and calumny, are the only
individuals who have had any just concep-
dsn Of the magnitude and strength Of the re-
telhon, and Of the stupendous efforts which
must be made to crush it. From the very
evlsst the people Of the North have under
rated the military resources of the South.
We have stupidity and persistently refused
. believe that the seeded States could raise
q AMY Of one million Of men, and maintain
hen in the field. In the outset OF the war
nothing Was more dwelt upon in the press
aadby public mcmillan the assumed ability Of
On army of one hundred thousand men, to
crush the rebellion at single blow. We
would not allow ourselves to believe that the
Southern soldiers would fight. Boastful and
vainelsrious, ourselves, we believed our ene-
mics 10 be white-livered towards. We dis
credited all representations of unanimiiy Of
IL Southern mind in the purpose to over
throw the Union. We fondly dreamed that
one half of those who composed the rebel
armies would refuse to fire upon the Stars
md Stripes, and would seek the first oppor-
unity to desert tojus. Thus despising our
enemies, we promised to ourselves an easy
victory. We fattered ourselves that the re-
belhon was to be crushed, and the Southern
Confederacy extnguished in ninety days, or
n SIX months at the farthest So fully had
tAsss false dreams beguiled us that last Spring,
Uhile the rebel government was straining
every nerve to strengthen its already Inn
nsAse army,--while it was enacting con-
script laws, and swelling its forces with thou
sands spon thousands of its very best men,
The North folded its hands in sleep. The
mrser rolls were enumerated, ard the PEG.
pie were told that we had soldiers enough,
and more than enough, to end the war. The
next anniversary Of independence was to
behold a reunited nation, in which no harsh
Aosss Of war we're to be intermiDgled with the
Joyous peans Of a people rescued from the
hc1rers of dissolution, and civil strife While
every village and hamlet in the South had
lie recruiting Office, and the still more effec.
tive eonscription was doing its work, recruit
ing Offices were everywhere closed in the
free States, and with but little more than
half million ofmen, the task was undertaken
Il crushing a rebellion, supported and sus-
tanned, as now appears, by more than
n7lion Of we'll armed troops.
The movements Of our western armies were
attended with brilliant success, and substan-
ial results Yet even there, in every impor-
Aaat engagement the forces of the enemy out
numbered ours This was the case in all the
hard fought contests in Missouri, ending with
that Of Pea Ridge in Arkansas. twas so at
Fort Donelson, which was captured only by
the aid of our gunboats. TWAS SO at Pitts
burg Landing when We we're again saved from
overwhelming defeat by river monsters. For
ths rest, the success on the line OF the Mssis-
sippi, it was all the work OF our iron clads,
20 much 50, at all events, that without their
90 oper alton, Columbus would have been iii
the possession of the rebels to-day. So New
Orleans was taken, but our ships OF war lay
abreast Of her, and compelled her surrender
before oul land forces had struck blow.
On the coast of South Carolina the advance
OF our troops has been efectually checked
by the enemy in superior numbers. In Gen
Burnside's late department, in every battle
fought by him, though successful in all, h'
vas met by superior forces. 1t was so from
Roanoke Island TO Newbern.
And the same sad tale comes to US from
Virginia In the score Of fierce and blood.
battles which have been fought upon the sol
OF The old Dominion since the campaign com
rnensed, the enemy has had the greater mum
Der Of troops, and has been able to hurl upol
our single columns, corps after corps of hl
apparently inexbaustable and fresh reserves
Witness the battles of Williamsburg, Hano
yer Court House, FAIR Oaks, and the serie
Of bloody engagements attending upon tn
falling back OF our forces to the james Rive
In all these engagements except those Q
Williamsburg and Hanover Court House
though victorious in the field, or able to hol
il, our forces were too weak to follow up thei
victories.
How the result might otherwise have bee
had our army Of Virginia advanced in or
body upon Richmond by the way Of Mana
sas can only be copjectured. We might an
probably should have witnessed the downfa
q Richmond ere this, but even then the wa
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