Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1863-04-21
The Result at Charleston,

isa national characteristic, and, our experience
thus far in the last two years. shows that it is
true Of US in war as in peace. W have hardly [
had any success, where large forces have been
been at once announced by a hundred editorials
that the backbone Of treason was broken, and |
peace would smile upon restored Union in thirty,
or sixty, or ninety days, And we have hardly
met with serious repulse, but Immediately the
newspapers have discussed lugubriousy Of the
great disaster or mistake, talked in tho bueSt
kind Of periods Of the fearful consequences, ia
delay and loss Of material and men, resulting
from the miscarriage Of our arms, and have
sometimes even proposed il things we're no bet
ter in three months, to make the best attainabe
peace.
Now, we have 40 objection to any ones say
ing that defeat is defeat, or that victory is
victory but there is no occasion for e1sggerang
it either way, II we could retain more eqnable
mind, a more stable courage, it would be infinite
/ y better for US. We ought to profit both from
our mistakes and from our successes, but the
improvement "a, the ministers sometimes
say-should be more in deeds than in words. A
victory may not be better for US than repulse, if
wsspend more Iine in gloying over ii and indul'
gng Ourselves in feeling good abort il, than
We do in following it up with other blows and
defeat may essen our trials and lead US by
shorter road to a final and more assured triumph,
il we will, instead Of cursing our luck and be-
moaning our misfortunes and wringng our hands,
in idle dependency put our shoulders to the
wheel, give our energies to the work OF saving
the country, and profit 80 for from past mistakes
as to avoid them ia future. Roanoke Island
was a brilliant victory in its day, and so was
Port Royal, but the rebellion survived them. The
Peninsula campaign was a failure, and the Re-
public ma. survived that. And by this time We
think our people ought to be toleraby well sat-
i,fed that, although victories are much better than
defeats, single repuiss like that OF Charleston,
OF sing, victory like what We hoped that would
be, will not decide the fate Of this Nation.
And what i, there in tho withdrawal OF our
feet from Charleston hsrbor, which need make us
hopeless /! may be said the preparation was
immense, and We grant this. Yet the Mont
tore which csst US this treasure are still ailoat,
and in few days will be stronger than ever, while
the loss Of life in the battle was not greater than
frequently happens in picket skrmish without
even attracting our attention. If the attack had
been successful, it would have beena severe blow
to the rebels, and valuable victory to US. Il.
would hav; encouraged our people aud dlsheart
ened theirs 1t would have made the work Of
blockading Charleston light affair, and would
have been fit relribution upon that wicked city,
peculiarly gratifying to the North. But does any
one suppose it would have ended the rebellion ,
Wonld it really have been anything mors than an
occupation Of one OF the seaboard towns Of Jeff
Davis Coniedencyf For the time being seeking
that end, it failed, though we are by no mean,
satisfied the result was not more owing 10 unfore
seen difficulties which can hereafter be provided
,gaInst, than to any miscaculatnn of either our
or the rsbel strength. Certainly The rebels have
not yet sent US any eIutston over what they &C
cOmplishsd.
And one good result Of ;his failure may be TO
teach Us to foil the maIims Of all successful
military strategy, and attack enemies in their
wesksst, instead Of their strongest d,fences. If
half the treasure which has been expended in
building Monitors like those which so We. stood
the test at Charleston, had been used to build
similar ones 10 have cleared out the Mississippi,
Viekburg aad Port Hudson wssla now be in our
possession with the whole course Of that river
and the results OF such an achievement would
have been infinitely more damaging to the re-
belion than the capture Of every se,bOard city in
the Confederacy.
Whit shall be the immediate or remote
2 consequences Of this engagement depends in no
I small measure upon ourselves. II we allow our.
selves TO relax our efforts, become respondent and
" blue" the evil results will be tenIold multiplied.
IT, on tie contrary, we endure it like men, with
t patient, un,htksr cOuIge,we lhall take from it
4 nearly all its power for mischief. Then let us, in
good and bad fortune alike, possess our souls in
patience and with heroic fortitude We are Il =
an army fighting, with 10 choice between annihi.
latlou, or ultimate triumph The bridges are gone
behind US. There is no honorable or possible ave.
nue. Of retreat We must conquer treason, if it
takes us twenty, thirty or hity years, or We lose
not enly our position, but our existence as a
nation. We would DO this wthou, thought of
any other alternative, ia foreign pow~ we're as
sailing us. And il We are worthy the inheritance
transmitted 10 US by tn, unshrinking endurance
Of the founders Of our national structure, we shall
prove that their blood runs in cur veins by stand.
ing like them, and Sighting Tx. them, aud en-
during like them, wh}IhT prosperous or adverse
fortune may come to-day, with a calm faith and a
patient courage, through ysar,, If need be, Of
struggle and endesyor, TO the end, which we be.
lieye will be an enduring triumph, in God, good
time. Let us learn to labor and to wait.
A paoarJ