Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1863-11-14
THEY ADMIT \ TERRIBLE THRASHISG IN
THE LATE FIGHT on THE Kappa
HAMMOCK

From copies of the Richmond papers we
make up the following interesting budget
The Richmond Enquirer of the 1lth is Ia chry-
NOSE upon the subject of Confederate "sur-
r. nders ana surprises and says:
"The people and army of the Confederate
States have been so much complimented upon
the proWeSS ana ga1lantry OF their arms, so
much flattered upon what has been accom-
plshed that they have lost sight of the fa ct that
more surrenders have been made by their
armies than any other nation.
The Enquirer then asks the question s.What
nation in three years ofwar ever lowered their
nag eleven times IN surrender There has been
eleven Confederate surrenders since this war
began, ''and after mentioning the different
places at which surrenders have taken place
complains that there has not been on instance
OF punishment in this long list of dIsasters but
on the contrary promotion has in some in
staECes followed swift upon the surrender. II
the history of this war will show as much
gailantry in the fight as that of any other war,
1T VIII also eNhitit more sure nders than ever
befel the arms Of any other nation during the
same period Of time; and we cannot point to
any Saragassa. Gircna, Londonderry, or Genoa
TO onset this long catalogue of unsuccessful
sieges.
Ii our people cannot understand why Euro
pean nations hesitate 10 recognise our nation
ality, perhaps they may find the cause in tae
fact that the flag we seek to register among the
nations OF the earth. though often crowned
with victory has, unfortunately been lowered
very often in unmitigated disgrace.
The Enquirer then argues that the non. rec
ognition of the Contederary by the European
powers is TO be attribu ted TO the frequency of
these surrenders and The complacent manner
in which they are looked upon by the Confed.
crate authorities. Many Of these surrenders
have been disgracrful in.thc extreme, and vet
have never even called forth an official repri.
mand. The Enquirer says:
I've do not mean to intimate that all of
these suIrenders were equally disgraceful, but
we do say that not one OF them conferred any
honor upon the arms OF the Confederate States
At many of them gallant fighting was done: at
Nicksburg and Port Hudson, at DoneIson and
Roanoke Island, there was not wanting in.
stances OF great gallantry. but to none of them
can we point with the pride of the Spaniard,
the French, and the English, at places made
glt rlons by the obstinacy and endurance of the
defence
"The surprises of Keileysy willie, Brandy Sta.
tion, Williamsport, Bristow Station, and now
The late disaster on the Rappahannock, show
how leniency to the first dereliction of duty
may entail continued and repeated disasters,
and eareiessness iniiict lasting disprace upon
the army. = :: \
'It has not yet transpired where the brigade
OF Hcke and Hays were when the enemy
pounCed upon them; it is not yet stated how
they came TO be so completely isolated from the
main body OF the army that they could not be
REINFORCED q, though the fight is Represented to
have lasted without tintermission frcm O'Clock
in the afternoon till dark
''We hope that there are good aud sufticient
that Gen. Lee WILL upon Investigation. be sat-
Isfed that his two brigades We're lost in one of
the ordinary eyeEtualities Of war, which no
vigilance can prevent, and no activity remedy"
X y <
The army OF Gen. Bragg has lately suffered
greatly from surprise, by which an important
position was gained by the enemy, and one
WHICH, IL is feared, may neutralize much OF the
advantage gained by the battle of Chickamauga.
We might, by reviewing the history Of me war,
swell the number Of surprises TO lie equal OF
that of the suTrenders, but 1t would be useiess;-
men, and officers, and people, and the enemy,
and the world know and understand the injury
they inflict, and military discipline IN every
army has soneht to correct such evils by the
seyerest punishment. Wemust do as the world
does; onr officers must be held to the same ac-
eonptabiliy that has always been applied to
ne glicence. We cannot afford to be as lenient
even as Napclt on was, for our necessities are
sieatpr and our cause holier than was that OF
The Emperor of the French"
The Late Fight on the Rappahannock.
From the Richmond Enquirer, Nov.1Il
On yesterday several officers and priyates
wounded in the disastrous fight near Keily,s
Ford on Saturday, reached the city. having
been prect ded on Monday by about $50 wound.
ed in the same fight. They corroborate the