The Camden confederate. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1861-1865, 1862-09-19


The summer campaign which was to have
given us the rebel capital, has come to a dis
asterous end Richmond is relieved, and
Washington is besiegcd.. That magnificent
army, organized and drilled with so much care
by Mcclellan q year ago, repulsed first on the
Peninsula, has been again repulsed in its ad-
vance upon Richmond from the North, and
now seeks safety for itself behind the forts
which line the Potomac. Disguise it as we
may, the Union arms have been repeatedly,
ddisgrscefuiiy and decisiveiy beaten. The whole
campaign against Richmond has proved fail
uro. The rebels have resumed the offensive,
and have driven our troops back to the precise
position they held after the battle OF Bull Runs,
more than one year ago. Our Generals do
not seem to be aware whethes they intend 20
attack us there, or push forward on some other
line of operations. One thing may be deemed
certain-thay will not sit down in front OF
Washington and attempt to reduce it by siege
They will either attempt flank movement
upon it, or what seems to us more likely, they
will push powerful column directly into Pen
svlvania and strike blow at the Union ccuse
on loyal soil.
There is class Of public men who think it
highly unwisc to admit that we have suffered
any serious reverses. They have copious ex-
plantations of the apparent checks our forces
they are all to be redeemed in the immediate
future. We regret that we cannot share their
credulous confidence. All their explanations
cannot change this fact, that wherever we have
met the rcbels-whether behind an earthwork,
as in front of Richmond, or in the open field
as in front of Washington-they have beaten
us. Sometimes they have outfanked us; some
times they have got completely in the rear of
our forces; sometimes they have thrown their
whole force upon single weak point of our
line and so overborne us by numbers; some
times they have drawn us into an ambuscade
but it matters not how, the fact remains that
they have beaten us. And all that these va
rious explanations amount to is that their Gen
erals are more skilfu and bolder, and their ar.
mics more effective than ours. This is all that
anybody can ask in war. And it is worse than
idle-it is childish and idiotc to shut our eyes
to the garing and repulsive fact that thus far
in the war the rebels have the best of the
fighting. The sooner we realize our actual
condition, the sooner we shall find remedy
for it.
What is the cause Of these awful disasters
Not in any lack of men, of munitions, of sup
plies-of all the means and appliances of sue
cessful WARRIOR no army on the face of the
earth has been so lavishly supplied with all
these As ours. Not in the goodness of the
cause-nor in the spirit of the people--nor in
the valor and patience of our soldiers, for in
all these respects we may challenge the world
to surpass us. We are driven to the conclusion
that the rebel Generals have been superior to
ours; that the rebel Government has been bet
ter able to WELD skilfu!ly and successfully the
weapons placed in It's hands. Results afford
the only test of military capacity. The ar
my that conquers is always the best. Large
or small, ragged or wel-clad, hungry or full,
armed or unarmed, the army that drives its
enemy off the field is always the better of the
two. Oar forces nave been splendidy drilled,
admirably clothed and armed, and always sup
piled with abundant food; but they nave been
defeated, and that fact oyerrides all the others,
and brands them as inferior os,ga q soss
We all hope that all this is to be changed;