The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1862-03-05

The readiness and facility with which |
large bodies Of rebel troops have laid down
their arms and surrendered themselves to |
federal soldiers, is SO inconsistent with their |
boastiuga before they put on the harness. as
70 occasion smile of contempt on the part
of those who, whatever they might think Of
tbs folly of their conduct, have never doubt
I'd or called in question the courage OF the
people oflho Southern States The ability
of one chivalrous Son of the South" to
Whip i've &c the mercenary, Pusillanimous
mudsills OF the North, was to be the rule-a
failure sc do this, the exception. Unfortu-
nately for their calculations the exceptions
have proven so numerous rs to make tho
rule the exception. The truth is, tho per-
sonal bravery Of Southern men has been
Judged by the violence Of their passions, the
readiness with which they pick personal
Quarrels, the frequency of their bar-room
brawls, the bloody character of their street
T~FH'nt'@s and tAe EaE1etz and nnHherr I G5
test of true courage consisted alanc in The
promptness wItlawhich a personal affront
was discovered in the most innocent joke,
and the pertinacity with which the quarrel
is followed up until the .affront is wiped out
ia his own, or the blood of the offender, it
is not strange that the Southern man re-
CARDS the bully as the embodiment of chiv-
aIry and courage. The manner in which o
large portion of the Southern troops are
armed is indicative. Of this standard of cour-
age adopted The huge bowie-knives of
the Mississippi Tigers and Louisiana Zou-
aves, manufactured out Of mill saws and
carriage springs, show plainly that they ex-
pccted to accomplish more by intimidating
than lighting. gs-f
II is not 10 be wondered at that the peO-
ple of the Southern States have fallen into
SO lameutable an error, when we see tC
what an extent the same prevailed even il
the Northern States. Upon the breaking
out Of hostilities, all eyes we're naturally
turned TO the bullica of the large cities ant
country neighborhoods for our lighting men
Dead Rabbits and Bowery Boys" wht
had been Graded in crime, and whose Onl!
their Gsts and the weight of their blows
were at high premium and rs regiment
Of these men fled out of New York city
screaming and boasting, the whole countr.
appeared to breathe easy and considered tn
rebellion virtually at an end, 1t only re
qured Bull Run, with its displays of alb
iect c0wardice on the part of many of thes
men, to convince the North of the folly o
such m estimate Of courage. Roanoke Island
Forts Henry and Donelson are gradual,
awaking the Southern mind to an investi
cation of the matter, and inquiries ar
being made MS to why it is such vast sui
renders have been made, when there SCENE
SO little necessity for them, or when at leai
resistance might have been prolonged wit
terrible loss to their adversaries-the fedei
ais. On this point, correspondent of th
Richmond Exapinor makes some inquire
and suggestions which we especially con
mend TO our friends in the South, for W
feel assured that when once they are tho
ouebly convinced OF the folly of the
claims for superior proves, they will bC
cone satisfied 70 live in the Union with
people who, ifnot SO quarrelsonle, have prov
en- just as bravo rs themselves.
The following is the communication RI
forred to:
The independent conduct of yonr iourns
cmboliens nc 10 venture a criticism mo
the late reEerses AT Fort Henry and Roam
oka Island, which may be grnting to ear
polite, but IS rendered necessary by an
condition Of the country. II is high tim
that these suTrendeFs should cease, for, cor
sidoging the character Of the war in il
consequence to Us, they have been trnl
amazing, commencing with that of Il
cavalry Mt Alexandria down through tbs
a Colonel Pegram, at Rich Mountain, thi
of Commodore Barron, at Hatteras, &,
Sc, to the present lamentable instances
eaAt Fort Henry Brigadier General, VI
wounded, having garrison almost intac
lowers his flag over a dozen guns of tl
largest caiibeT, aud with hackneyed con
flimont yields az hi5 bloOless sword.
How whitening aud humiliating 10 OF
Southern manhood was the scoEnful rep