Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-10-13
THRCOXsFITBTIOE-sFATE Rear +.
RICHMOND WING.
TUESDAY, noRNINe, OCT. Is, lsss.
Wbat the war has Taught Us

the proverb. Alter two years and Elk months OF war
We have either learnt something Of the art ID Sighting
and the disposition Of he enemy else we ae ineaPa-
Die Of learning anything Let rapidly over the
list Of the principal battles and what lessons are in
oulcated, and What iniereuees must be drawn.
At Manassas We chose strong defensive position,
which the enemy turned and attacked even ground
with superior numbers. he completely routed At
Belmont Ne we're surprised, aud the day would have
gone against Us but Tor the rapid arrival Of our rein
foreemeuts, BY which tie enemy Gays he was over
Whelmed. The ground was even nearly 50, and the
foe was driven back With heavy loss, Al Oak Bills
we we're attacked simultaneously in resr, faux aud
'front.' but BY obstinate bravery succeeded in winning
great victory. The grou-d tOlerAbly even, aud
the forces nearly 80. HuntOn, with inferior force
attacked the enemy al Leesburg on ground advAnta-
gsous to US so far as Balls Bluff Us concerned and
defeated him terribly.
Fort DonelsOn was an entrenohed camp, poorly fOFt
fed in macy parts. Enormous odds Of the enemy Al
tzcked il by land and Wa'er, and after being badly
beaten for tao days and sustaining loss Cq1al
70 the whOle force opposed - him, suIpri ed BY
the oapltulAton Of place be had failed to carry by
storm. His owing to numbers alone, which
more than counIerbalauced the advantage we had in
position. At Shiloh surprised somewhat superior
force OF the enemy, drove them in confusion to the
cover Of their guaboas, and gained brilliant victory
Our army became mob Of planderers upon which the
heavily reinforced euemy fell The next day and, after
desperate fighting, succeeded only in forcing them TO
abandon the spells they had won the day before The
odds against the second day we're two or three to
one; had DO particular advantage in ground, yet We
held our and retired q leisure.
The battle Of Seven Pines Al attack upon the
enemy enIenshed We carried tie entertainments and
gained The day. At FIRST the odds Wsrs on our side
but before The cOsRpg ths battle the Snemv probably
Oumumbered u.s. The battles before Richmond we're
series Of assaults upon chosen positions IN some cases
powerfully fortified and in all defended by an immense
amount OF artillery. The enemy vas driven back from
point 10 point By direct assault combined Nith aank
movements. Upon each single point, except Malvern
Hll We threw equal not superior, NUMBERS and couu-
terba'aneed the advanAg, Of their position.
The second grea. battle at Manassas commenced by
an attack Of the enemy JACksons wing Of Lees army
Successive attacks we're repulsed. Lee assumed the
offensive, attacked the enemy the very GROUND where
we had defeated IS attack the year previous, and
whipped him shamelully. AtSharpsburg. one hundred
thOus and men, under Mcclellan, attacked Lee with less
than forty thousand The enemy had the advantage OF
ground, as Vel As Of numbers, Nevertheless, be
rePulsed held our position throughout the day,
and retired At lie sure slmOst unmOlssted.
Perryvlie, Ike Williamsburg EAs 40 attack upon our
rear guard The odds we're largely against US, but the
enemy defeated aud lef tbe 6eld il one direction
while We TetreEted in another. Murfreesboro was Al
attack on our part With inferior forces upon the enemy
in a veil selected and naturally strong position. We
drove in his wings, captured many cannon ard men,
but failed to carry his stronghold be retired selected
position still stioage-, which Iashly, almost fool
ishy, attacked BY single division. We taied neces
sAriy, and our Whole army retired 70 Tulahoma Al
Fredericksburg the enemy as5aied us on advantageous
and slightly fortified ground, and vas whipped back 80
easily that soldiers fan iced they had been engaged
IN a mere skirmish. The enemy vas very powerfully
fortified az Charlottesville and ouinumbersd Us nearly
three one but be asnked whipped diszracsf1lv
and driven frOm bis Entertainments acrOss the river
The last day a. Gettysburg vas ike the last DAY at
AwreesborO. division, unsuslAinsd, destroyed il
self in assault upon powerful passion Of the enc
my, defended BY more than hundred cannon. The
battle. taken As whole, made IA ignorance Of the
ensmy's force and intentions Numbers we're nearly
even but the ground not and our attacks we're not
well planned ard sustained. At Chickamaugs, if we
may trust Gen Bragg, inferior force attacked Rose
Grams in chosen position and drove him away, with
the loss Of men and cannon. HIS army vas somewhat
denoraEzsd but nos rOuted.
This is the brief relation Of the principal battles Of
the Il viii be that in esry instance without
exception, where the South had equal numbers. even
ground and capable Generals the enemy has been east
" whipped. 10 many instances the odds both as q
ground and numbers have been greatly against rs but
good generalship side has carried the day. The
courage Of troops has never yet failed US in any
great battle. Bad plans a1d rash attacks as at Mur-
iressbOrO and Gettysburg have Loss US hafvOn Veto
RES which, if wholly won, would have been the most
important Of the var. The lessons taught by these
battles are 800 plain to DO mistaken. We must SIGHT the
enemy on even ground with even numbers If possible
As acting on the defensive ought to compel
the e1eny always to attack on our own Sround-
Good gsnerEshiP can accomplish this. TASTY and i'm
perfect plans and rash attacks are to be avoided De-
lays dangerous but delay better than the needless
sacrifice Of Time is precious, but life cannot be
replaced Money can be made out Of paper, men can
not Debt is better than failure better even than the
oss Of territory which furnishes both soldiers and food
Bot, to ensure deeisrs victories he paramount aim
should be to force the enemy to fight Us on our
own ground, or else to 6ght him On even ground
with equal or nearly equal numberA Fhese are
the conditions Of eduosd from the history Of
the great battles of the war When these conditions
are attained blood need not be husbGnded, for il viii
fetch les full price in victory.
European Politics.