Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-10-27

.;os5 INDICTMENTS TO distinguish what is true from what
/, fslss GAS 70 history" ssid English cynic, u
Lnov il to be lisn There are few intelligent OBJ
s,srs of the scenes through which are passing WHO
do NOT feel the force of the remark What possibility
Is here of afathu and accurate record on either side,
Of these times How can pOsterty reconcile or decide
between the widely different aud conflicting documen-
tary aud official statements Of the two parties to the war;
What data not inDeached by contemporary cOnsradc-
ton will be afforded for ascsrtaining the relative
me.its of the participants in those see1es-the
comparative strength of armies engaged iR COM
bat The amount Of execution on either side, some
mes the simple question of victory or de-
feat How many G5lls there where victory is
not claimed by both parties For ourselves we have
no expectation that pOsterty will ever more thAn aP
pfoImate truthful and just conclusions on these ana
other questions connected with this war, and we are
compelled therefore to admit the unreliabily OF our
Own information of former times aud the tsultness Of
| ,bs judgments at which we have arrived.
work that purports to be strictly impartial and Sc
verely truthful put forth by publishing house in Phil
sdelphia has accidentally fallen under eye. 1t is
called "The National Almanac and Annual Record for
she year 1865" and though upon largT and more o.
ttatious scale, is designed to succeed and continue
Toe American Almanac book which was formerly
for the amount and reputsd accuracy Of the sta
Il ca and other information it embraced. The object
o the compiler of the present work, he assures us
| been TO make it IS far possible, thoroughly
asuFats reliable and exhaustive authority upon the
Sd jeots of which treats To this end he has taken
othirg at second hand" but has resorted to "the
d ginal sources Of information" and submitted his
fles ITO the examination Of official personages for
rvision and correction" They may, therefore, be con-
sered he says, 'Gs sanctioned by the proper author
On all topics connected with the present state Of
hb5ttes special pains have been taken to ensure re-
liability free having been afforded "tO the
rOus departments of the government" and "Salusble
mlterA" having been furnished by officers of the army
aud navy The compiler is not only documentary in
his proofs but he is impartial in his eeings at least
he makes himself for the occasion his object being
"Aeithe to sggrandze side Of the cont ,ndng par
ties nor to cast s,ur upon the o:her but if possible
ID pu! bsfOre the world an impartial review OF one of
tie most important struggles tina: have oonVu.ed the
earth" He does not call US rebels" or apply the
British Ministerial prefix of "socslei 60 the Oonfede
rate States the President any department or officer
OF the Government One might even imagine that he
was looking to period when there Wolld be demand
aorg ourselves tor his book, and that he therefore
avoided any thing that might lessen the sale.
With all these opportunities and all this desire to
certain aud only what true let what the
official authorities he has consulted have compelled him
70 accept as lacts. We cite only few instances bat
they specimens Of the whole
The failure Of the Yankees to succeed at Bethel is at
rbu.sd to the fact that We had work there "mOuns-
ius heavy guns" which had TO be assaulted by light
hySzsrs. The truth ia we had but two or three light
hOwzers. Tne Yankee killed are pat down at To- ours
al 6-Whereas We had only killed, and they left
more than sixteen dead on the ground.
The Confederate force at the battle of Rich Mountain
given at 1000, who had the advantage of being in
Fenched nevertheless they were routed and all their
guns, wagons and camp equpage captured The Con
ederAe force in that heroic little 6gbt WAS less than 500
The first battle Of Manassas is described IS victory
by the Yankees, al but complete when the Confederaes
we're reinforced by the arrival Of Johnstons forces
from Winchester" The Tearied.out Union troops be-
ing attacked BY these fresh troops fell into disorder"
The actual Eun6er Of Union troops engaged did not
exceed 20 600" "The Southern forces numbered 49,
goo in the fight snd $4,000 in reserve at Nsnassas"-
Our killed and wounded are stated as ous-numberipg
theirs. The troops who actually did the fighting at
Manassas on the Confederate side did not reach 10000
The reserve Of rs 900 is imaginary
TIE battle Of "Wlsol's Creeb," (0ak Hill at which
n- Lyon killed sud hs army routed, ID claimed IS
Jtory-the ConfedsTates having been "driven OF tue
5adn
AZ Gross Lanes, where Gen. Floyd swoopsd upon a
doley of Iankees, and scattered them as a hawk
Hoek of pattrdges We are told that the blue coats
resissd four times their number, and then "cut
tpeb way cut, indioting heavy loss on the enemy"
afiis1 Ferry was also great victory for the Ysu-
q BalPsBud (Lsesburgl 1.-TWO thousand oae hundred
bees we're suddenly attacked by ave thousand Con-
estes, nevertheless left infer that but for
al bad position" Of the former thsy would have
Wiped US, a. usual
Winchester Heights (8earustOwn) "GsH. Jack
soy force numbered u OOO" while that OF Gen. Shields
VI 40 Co., It was a magnificent victory for shiedc.
In bet, Jackson had less thaa 600, aud the enemy
nei 10000
II Shiloh we cusnumbered them By 900 Oh the
hr2 dag, and gained some advantages but they allied
~eto reinforced, and routed US the second d,y.
Zen. Lowell evacuated New Orleans eat the head o.
2'poo troops" he had, believe, some 5000 urarm
ed la,Iia.
II Williamsburg tho Yankees gained "a GROWING VIC
tor |" over so 600 Confederates under Johnston.
the battle of Fair Oaks" Seven Pinea) the Con-
'edpFstes we're driven back With great slaughter on
the first day, and on the second day four brilliant
OasOue. charges we're made by the Union troops, and
IN one of them the COnfedsrstss were driven mile
Over the swanPy ground"
At Port Republic Gen. Shields had $500 and Gen.
Jackson l6 900 men.
10 the account of the series of battles in front of
Richmond, and those shortly subsequent in Northern
Virginia, when Pops commanded the Yankees, the idea