American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1851-1863, 1862-02-01
81
F0RLnI
The Battle at Fishing Creek.


- a the sanguinary and, TO us, disastrous
dict at Fishing Greek occupies the public
all "a Just now more than any other subj ct,
y see devote much CT our space to-day to the
Blcation of the various accounts OF the
1 II HE which have appeared in the papers
ihent xrhfa We rive Mace to the statement of
,l,'sef Smith. Of the McNairy Battalion, 10
sing. renee to the affair, we take occasion to
perl, - that we place not particle OF reliance
with - IT, but regard it as sheer fabrication
'"ey a. believe and shall believe aatil we have
onla "a bitable evidence to the contrary, that
ATS 81 f,eorqe B. Criitenden, who commanded
81 Confederate forces in the late action, is
r'a Sogthron and patriot, and entirely loyal
fcr 81 our cause. To impeach the honor and
60 OF such a man upon negro testimony
:. - such vague rumors given by this
=, sp Smith. would be such absurdity
6e Confederate people and Government will
81, be guilty of 1t was only day or two
- we read the address of Cen Crittenden
an u the people of Kentucky, invoking them to
lar the Confederate standard and help him
/, - his companions in arms drive the ruth
- invaders from the sacred soil of Ken
eat &C.. more stirring aud eloquent appeal
he ~ have scarcely ever read. The author of
w H. address could not have written it with
~ treason in his heart. No-when he penned
~ a. appeal the love of Kentucky and devo-
no Il ,n to the cause of his native South glowed
!, hrightly ia his bosom. If he tarned traitor
hs few hours after the transition was certain
" d as unnatural sudden
!, l. is but the turning of straw that makes
"a II what We are We are, to great extent,
y. a. creatures of chance of circumstance.
= 1he happening of event of even a trivial
', character sometimes changes a mans career
"a ma shapes his destiny for good or evil-foi
a successful or unsuccessful life. The attack
v OF Gen Crittenden upon the enemy in their
IN Notifications at Fishing Greek was a bold and
y Hazardous undertaking. daring exploit.
ii d he succeeded-had he been victorious
70 rraus of praise 70 him would have made the
selkin ring. aud fair haads would have wo-
e. green wreaths 20 deck his brow. Bnt he
led-and although good cause is found for
Il, defeat in the strong position and greatly
supecior force of the enemy, yet he is CEN
1red for his 'rashness,' charged with drunk
snuess, and even with treason.
The case il said to be undergoing thor
spugd Investigation, and we have an abiding
saf.tcnce that Gen Critsenden will be ex-
aacraied from the charge Of treason, at least
lnstead of being under arrest, as Smith s
k.urtncut places him, advices of the 9th
Il. st.se that Crittenden was eneamped at
viu@sion, having succeeded in railying
y rarlv all his forces The people in the sur
T-uad.ng country were actively engaged in
,riecting provisions and sending them for
y IA Reports say that the roads leading to
#Iayingston were crowded with horses and
wagons going to their assistance.
Niucry-six of the wounded arrived at Knox
ellie on Sunday last Four surgeons, who
refused to leave the sick aud wounded, were
e taken prisoners.
81 Maj Fogg, Aid to Gen. Zollicoffer, died on
a Saturday His remains were taken to Nash
vile
The vicksburg Wing. speaking Of this bat
tie Justly remarks: The reverse which we
Il experienced at Fishing Greek is the most dis
astrous which has yet occurred 10 US since
E tue war began but under it we must not de-
spond We may profit by it. 1t should
teach us to cherish higher estimate of the
enemy. We have been too given to under
rating them he forces in Kentucky are
composed of those stalwart Western men who
are only inferior to own men in that no
lie motive which nerves us with courage.
They net Yankees, and nothing but hard
sighting will conquer them. We must not
grow despondent at few reverses, or even
at the occupation of some of our cities by the
enemy. In TIE days of the revolution defeat
followed defeat, and at some ii nes the Eng
iish not only reigned over some of the towns
and cities, but over entire States. But our
m cause was just, and after seven years trials
aud missertunes the star of liberty shone out
resplendently before the world And thus
n it will be in our present struggle; we may
meet with reverses, and misfortune may fol-
low misfortune, bnt our people are deter
mined to be free, and independence, peace
aud happiness will inevitably crown their
efforts
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