The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1863-04-16
The Result at Charleston.
neither

u T. see in it anything that need make men, who
are determined to crush treason, disheartened.
Undue dependency as well undue citation,
i.a national characteristic, and, our experience
thus far, in the last two years, shows that it is
20 true of us in war as in peace. W. have hardly
a., had any success where large forces have been
,3,, opposed throughout the rebellion, but it has
been at once announced by hundred editorials
that the backbone Of treason broken, and
h. peace would smile upon restored Union in thirty,
.9s7 or sixty, or ninety days. And we have hardly
d met with serious repulse, but Immediately the
newspapers have dscoursed ugubriousy of the
+. grea. disaster or mistake, talked in the buest
gJ Kind OF periods of the fearful consequences in
as delay and loss of material and men resulting
~, from the miscarriage of arms, and have
"a sometimes even proposed, if things were no bet
ter in three months, to make the best attainabe
80 peace
Now, we have no objection to any ones say
ing that defeat is defeat, or that victory is o
victory but there is nc occasion for exsggeratipg
sf neilher way. Il could retain a more equabe
% mind, more stable courage, it would be infinite
l. better for We ought to profit both from
sod our mistakes and from our successes, but the
improvement as the ministers sometimes
y-should be more ia deeds than in words. A
,aa victory may be better for us than repulse, i'll
ri we spend more time ia gorying over it and indul.
os ging ourselves in feeling good aboa. il, than
il, we do in following it up with other blows; and
~ defeat may lessen our trials and lead us by
.l shorter read to final and more assured triumph,
a Is If we will, instead of cursng our luck and be-
40 moaning cur misfortunes and wringing hands,
in rdls dependency, put our shoulders to the
wheel, give our energies to the work of saving
j. the country, and profit far from past mistakes
ga to avoid them in future. Roanoke Island
was brilliant! victory in its day and SO was
Port Royal, but the rebellion survived them. The
Peninsula earpaign was a failure, and the Re-
public has survived that. And by this time We
think our people ought to be toerably well sat-
iSfed that, although victories are much letter than
defeats single repulss like that at Charleston,
or single victory like what we hoped that woud
be, will not decide the fate of this Nation
And what is there in the withdrawal Of our
fleet from Charleston harbor which need make us
hopeless? 1t may be said, the preparation was
immense, and we grant this Yet the Moni-
tors wbich cost US this treasure are still ahoat,
and ID few days will be stronger than ever, while
the loss OF life in the battle was not greater than
frequently happens in picket skirmish without
even attracting our attention. If the attack had
bsen successful, it would have been severe blow
to the rebels, and valuable victory to u.s. Il
would have encouraged our people and dshear-
enea theirs 1t would have made the work of
blockadipg Charleston light affair, and would
have been fit etribution upon that wicked city,
peculiarly gratifying to the North. But does any
one suppose it would have ended the rebellion /?
WonId it really have been anything more than an
occupation of one of the seaboard towns of JEFF
DAVIS ConfederacyP For the time being seeking
that end it failed, though we by no means
satisfied the result not more owing to untsre-
seen difficulties which can hereafter be provided
against, than to any miscalculatnn of either our
or the rebel strength. Certainly the rebels have
not yet sent US any exultation over what they
cemplished. t
And one COED result Of this failure may be to
teach as to follow the maxims of all successful
.niitary strategy, and attack enemies in their
weekes Instead of their strongest deiences. If
half the treasure which has been expended in
lbaitding Monitors like those which SO well stood