, 1863-07-15

The Richmond Examiner, Of the 8th, thus
founders about in the dark respecting recent
events When Light breaks upon its vision,
and it sees the true si:uatlon, 1t will talk in
another strain:
Too ready credence was given to the dis
patch from Martineburg, received late In the
| night Of Monday, relative to affairs in the
Mississippi valley. This dispatch stated, on
Northern authorl1y, that Gen. Johuston had
de1eated The enemy in battle, and that Banks
haa retired to New Orleans with onty 5000
men. Not only has no confirmation Of these
| statements been received, but the telegrams
from jackson render 1t very improbable that
any events have occurred to give rise to B1ch
reports. Indeed, If Johnston had m army
adequate to the attack Of the eneuy before
Vicksbnrg, we may be sure that he would
army Of the Mississippi valley was lost In the
battles fought befo:e he got there, aud We
lear 1t has been found q. allow and difficult
task 10 create another Of sufficient force even
to ~ %snn9y an en.smy 1.;y numbering u, COG men.
last movement: Indeed, We have no intslii.
gehce Of it from Confederate sources; though
1he official dispatch of Rosecrans, dated Til.
laho1na, leaves 10 doubt of the evacuation Of
the place By Gen. Bragg, and his retreat to
some point further south. It is believed that
he has retired beyond the Tennessee River.
and holds Chattanooga US the key Of bis new
lire. No contradiction has Jet appeared Of
this GENERALLY accredited fact; but We find It
difficult to believe that the Confederate com
mhrder has surrendered the country In which
he has been 80 long settled without q strug-
glc for its Defense Friend aud foe have r.
presented his army to be larger than. ut the
time Of the battle OF Murfree eesboro, and ho
Una bad Elk mouths to fortify himself In the
position be assumed utter that affair. It is
impossible tn imagine what reason could lnyc
mdpced him to give up that position, and
with it afi the country on the Memphis aud.
Charleston road, without another tril Of
Et1tDGth with Rusecruns, -: =
hhlle We Anve, lost ground, however It
must be added that the enemy loses stratEgic
Advantages by the establishment Of this new
ldnt- RosecTans. was- already acting so far
from bis hase ns to subject himself I'd contfn-
ual interruption of his supplies and commu-
nications. If lie should attempt to follow
B!agg toward Chattanooga, he may be forced
to se1rcat not lets precipi.ately than that Of
Buell. uhder similar circumstances In the past
year. -: ..
But whatever diappoIntments the Confeder-
&C, has suffered, and may yet have to suffer,
In the West, it will be able to support them
with in'perturbahle conlposure, while its real
army continues the career In Pennsylvania,
INC great event Of the day, the crownlng
: decisive battle at Gettysburg On Friday, Sat
urday, and Sunday, will redress the balance.
however low it may have been depressed bv |
the misfortunes OF Pombsrton and Bragg
The news already presented has thus far
been confirmed aud strengthened by all new
Les las forty thousand prisoners. Forty |
Thousand is phrase in telegraphic language
equivalent to In algebra. It Ineans that tic |
reporter does not know how many. But If it
Is true that General Lee has beaten the enemy |
sufficiently to force him into retreat tow
aids Maryland; ifit be true that ha has made |
9 pursuit; it is easy to believe tllat he has |
taken a prodfgious multitude of captiyes. |
When an army like that Under Meade, more |
than haIf Of which consisted of raw ieyies,
hns been exhausted By tlre days fighting, .
Of winter. The principle Of cohesion departs |
from the whole 1nass, and order, discipline,
rark, are dissolved In sdurs qui te,tt.
Unless the accounts are unusually gross ex- |
aggerationE, it will be found impossible to I
fa3ly the Federal army Of the Potomac, OF to |
Ieronstruct another from Its fragments capa- |
bic Of checking the future movements Of Geo. t
Lee Ihls great officer now seems to have
tht Fate Of the war, md the destiny of both
countries in the hollow Of his hands,. On the
Hne of conduct which he now adopts, and the !
falddity with which It Is prosecuted, the issue
Of this struggle will depend. But one econtin-
gency can' prevent him, from winning the
most exalted fortune that has fallen to tic lot
Of any lender within the last ifty years; it is
the condition Of bis own army. According to
the experience Of last year, q victory dIsor-
ga'izes the Confederate troops eyen more
than defeat. 1t is the vice Of this people.
government, army, and citizens, inclusive, to
become elate1 to the degree Of foolishness by
We have hitherto gained but lit.
tie from our victories, because we thought all
gained when the enemy were whipped But
nfler the bitter experience Of Inst year. we
haze reason to expect better things from the
army Of Northern Virginla. It & now yete.
ran Its commander can rely on its solidity In
the enemT's country, eYen after q rictocq.