Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1863-11-17
OF ANOTHER RETREAT Of
BRAGG.
Prom the Richmond E1am.nor, Nov. ..

Prom the Richmond Examiner, Nov. Q.
The county may as we'll prepare itself
for another retreat in tho West. The in
dicati0ns Of the annual migrations of birds
are scarcely more unerring than are the
augpries which foretell the disappointment
OF the high expectations formed Of the re-
shltS % Dc attained In that tquartsF.- Aftar,
continuance OF favorable prognostics, 70
which additional strength was given by the
confident tone Of the President since his
recent tour of inspection; after reiterated
assurances Of the straits to which the enc
my was reduced; ofthe preearious tenure
of his Communications; the difficulties OF
subsistence by which he was pressed, and
the impossIbility Of his long continuance
in his present position, We now note
certain, and somewhat iudetnable change
of tone, which, to people rendered dOubly
acute by long habit and deep interest,
serves 70 mark the fall of the barometer,
aud give warning of the coming storm.
A certain vague mistiness of detail an
uncertainty as to the actual position Of
affairs confusion aud contradiction In the
various accounts which reach us, both
from the enemy and our own side-all
these are omens which the experience We
have been forced to acquire 10 the art of
divinAtion tells US are to be interpreted 10
bad sense. 1t is we'll that they should
precede the unpleasant reality; that the
public mind, inflated with too large dose
of confidence, and braced to too great
degree Of tension, should be gradually dee
depleted aud relaxed. Thep0wer Of adap.
tatiou, which is so strong faculty Of the
human mind, and that simple philosophy
which, though not derived from the schools,
springs spontaneously out of the rough
lessons of life, will enable the county TO
bear the disappointmaht of Its high hopes,
as II has before now endured more serious
disasters with constancy and firmness. A
little time and gentle preparation will rem.
der the process easier, and give the re-
quisite tone to the energies and foFtitude
Of the people.
The newspapers were epjolned, at the
beginning Of the war, aud they have In
general displayed commendsble disposition
to observe q proper rettCence as 10 the
movements Of troops aud the probable
plans of our Generals. It may be doubted,
en PEASANT, il the practice now prevalent
at Charleston, Of publishing tho exact
humber of the enemy's shots which strike
and the amount Of damage they do, is ex-
actly In accordance With the prudent policy
usually observed. But no matter WhRi
may be the general freedom from Ceusurt
in this respect, there is one point on which
there 10 mucu 70 plAme3 NOT 80 WuCu lOl
any warning or information It gives to The
enemy as for its sad effect upon our OWE
people. 1t is the continual and extrRva
CANT representations that are made of the
advantageous positions occupied by oul
army, aud the great results that are soOu
to ensue. The enemy's army is at one tint
hemmed in between river and our owl
forces; at another, his flank is turned, on
corps entirely cut off, and its destruction
certaini again, his communications are 81
embarrassed that he must fight 70 saw
himself from starvation. These fancifu
statements excite the contempt OF the OBJ
server, who knows from general history o
how. rare occurrence is the absolute de
struction or surrender OF an entire army
and how difficult to bar all avenues Of re
treat. Applied to our own position, an,
, read by the light OF the history of the las
J two years, they excite An uneasy feeling o
; apprehension. They recall too many glow
, ing promises of the same nature, all o
| which, after begetting an undue feeling Q
elatlon and high expectations, inevitably
} doomed TO be disappointed even by NOR
signal success than usually waits on mill
tary operations, have been followed by
feeling OF dependency at the unsatislacto
~ sequel. Let all such extrAvagant pre-
!, dictions aud dwelling pFologues" be con
Q sidered contraband in the future. The &c
al FIoua difficulties of the war are enough {