Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1862-05-28
SPIRIT OF THE PRESS.
From the Richmond Examiner. ]
THE CRISIS.


THE CRISIS.
No situation so important as the present has been
observed on the American continent What tre-
menGous consequences, what terrible stakes, what
enormous results, depend upon the action and sue
cess of the two armies camped within few miles
from the hills of Richmond. Spectators OF their
own fate the citizens compelled to remain silent
and patient while theis liberty or slavery, wealth
or poverty, life death, is decided by the skill OF
Mcclellan and the intelligence of Johnston These
armies not yet trying the question by an appeal
to the sword. Neither general has yet fought q
battle. Hitherto they have only played game OF
chess and they are still engaged in evolutions. one
plays an offensive, the other defensive game.
Hitherto one of these men has stopped the advance
of the other as long as he could and then retired.
Perhaps he was quite right to do so at Manassas
and at Yorktown for the destiny of the nation was
not in jeopardy at either point, and it was impor-
tant to preserve the army intact for more impor-
tant service But let all parties be warned of the
consequences inevitably to follow a similar step
from the banks of the Chcamahominy. These
consequences not only military, but clvil-na-
t,onal. They are Generalization and disorganiza-
ton, out of which the army and the country Will
endeavor to save itself by new creation OF leaders
and rulers adding thus to all our calamites and
difficulties, that of revolution.
A complete and total defeat of Johnston's army,
the others successful assault and storm of the
CITY by an overwhelming mass of Federal troops
would be heavy blow to the Southern Confede-
racy, but by no means fatal to it. The spirit of the
people and the soldiers, the confidence Of the coun
try, would neither be broken nor diminished, but
rather rise in 6ercer flame and to loftier exalta
ton. The enemy would he desperately crippled to
attain their victory, and could not pursue their ad-
vantage. The remains of beaten but brave army
L. Il, ool nol
ed. The war would 60 on with more bitterness
and determination than ever.
Not thus would be the situation Of the South
should the line of the James and Virginia be aban-
doned on the stale plea of military necessity and
scientific compusion. We are dsinclned to paint
the condition of the Southern army and people and
cause after such event. To call over the conse
quences of that step is task too painful. Every
man of common intelligence and the least infornia-
ton the state Of feeling among the soldiers and
the people may easily imagine them without the
aid of our words.
The conclusion to be drawn is direct This place
must be the witness of trial of strength If nil
tary science will not permit of that appeal till all
the evoutions text books are gone through with,
then the attack must be made and the battle deliv
cred after they are done, whatever the inconve-
nences of our position, and however great, accor-
ding to the principles of the art the probabilities
Of our defeat may then BE- Defeated or victorious.
the Southern army and nation must be satisfied
that the present Government and Generals can fight
somewhere, and this is the last chance for them to
prove it.
Mcclellan can operate against Richmond in two
ways. He can come up the banks of the river,
with his flank covered by his boats, bring with him
his sege trains and if not attacked do here for the
second time what he has already done once with
unmoested ease and success at Yorktown. Or, he.
can reach his army up the Northern bank of the
Chickahominy through Hanover, get troops be-
tween Anderson's army and Richmond, and when he
has done away with it. form a union with Banks
and Mcdowell at his leisure. The Chickahomny
furnishes excellent defensive line for our army,
but as Mcclellan is on the other side of it. it de.
tends him too while occupied in these comfortable
arrangements
OF course, if he is allowed to take his own time
and do all he wants over there; if the Confederate
commanders are gong to sit down and widdle their
/ thumbs till he condescends to begin with them !;
If his hauling of heavy guns and digging Of trenches
to be repelled by the hauling of other guns and
the digging of other trenches then the end of it
is certain. Nothing is more automatically proven
than the plans attack taught to boys at West Point
and other academies provided armies can be reckon
ed into blocks of stone, which will stand still to be
measured, weighed, calculated, and then one to be
lifted over another as if by cranes and puleys.-
The attaching army, given the requisite time,
transportation and numbers, will always get the
defending army in such fix that it is bound to
retire or be cut to pieces and up to this time our
defensive army has regularly retired in compliance
with the principles of Jomini. Such has hitherto
been the history OF our war; But such is not the his
tory of war in general, and it cannot always con-
tnue to be here. There such things as brave.
ry, enterprise, invention quckness of movement,
determination Of purpose, which have had much to
do 81, lee
country, and they will sooner or later make their
way over all the precedents Of the late army of the
United States.
1t is easy to repeat the cuckoo song that war is
science, that no one knows it but those who have
passed life pretending to study it. that Generals
have done so, newspapers have not done SO; thai
it impossible to deliver battle to superior forces in
unassailable positions; that our Generals offer bat
tie to Mcclellan, he will not accept it. &c. But an
appeal from common conceit to common sense and
to history is always justifable The greatest mas
tiers OF the military profession have left on record
this unanimous Judgment that war is an art, not I
science, much less mystery that it cannot BE-
taught or reduced to rules that success in depends
upon mother-wit, not study that quick perception
strong sense courage enterprise and general menta
resource are the qualities that make commander
that the worth Of an officer is to be tested by hi
success, and the merit of campaign is to be est
mated by its results, and not by the opinions o
criticisms of persons having military pretension.-
Now, what have been the results Of the campaign
in Virginia : The war has lasted year. Man,
battles have been fought In every one of the bal
ties fought in Virginia, with the exception of Chea
Mountain and Roanoke, the Confederate soldier
have had the advantage; yet the Confederate arne
nave been always in retreat never in advance
aoahoonng position after position according to rul
anu square, till now the State is nearly all swallowe
1ne enemy its fields desoated, villages deserted
srmnouses sacked the slaves wandering in troops
Tue people nation in exile, and the capital still sal
only on the superstition that the precedent of tn
past snail here be abandoned. It's time to put i
pr9sest ag 81 precedent and to give solem
to continue the campaign in Virginia as it has bee
commenced -
But our generals have often "offered battle ~
! Mcclellan would not accept it. Therefore the