Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1863-07-24
Lee,s Retreat.
Rrom dc Richmond EEamlneE, July %.

own responsibility aud at their own time
Public opinion did tot inpel their action.
But public opinion did most certainly JUS
tify, approve, and adopt it. Although 1t
has been abruptly terminated by an unsue-
cessful battle, We are Tar from thinking that
the design WAS iDjudicious.
b This war can be terminated only by such
a measure. II might have been gIoriously
terminated in q month had Gettysburg
witnessed the anuihiIation of the Union
army Of the Potomac But that battle was
fought in 3 position which rendered sue
cess impossible. Why it was fought is yet
unknown au- use usa-a
Many persons now blame Gen. Lee for
attacking the enemy there; but We shall be
slow to sritieise AN officer OF his service
and capacity until the facts are better
known, We would only remark, in pass
ing that while Gen. Lee is ceusured for
attacking an army little superior to his
own with the advantage of position against
him, Johnston is denounced for not attack
ing four tunes his number in Notifications
and position, by the side of which Gettys-
burg WAS playground.
But this campaign is not without galns
to compensate the sacrifice made. 1t has
repleuished the Confederate service with
teams, wagons, provisions. 1t has made
the enemy acquainted with the terrOrs,
though not the horrors, Of war. 1t has
filled the North With sense of insecurity
which canot fail to suggest different
opinion of the power of the Confederacy,
and better notion of the advantages of
peace. Lad
The Coufederacy has lost several thous'
and able officers and brave soldiersi but
war cannot be made without losses. The
enemy have lost more, and the compare
tive strength of the parties is unchanged.
We are thrown on the defensive; bot slnce
we have no longer to maintain the sutposts
of Mississippi and Tennessee, the work OF
defense can be accomplished with greater
ease and certainty than before. The Con-
federacy can defend itself forever if neces.
sary In that species of warfare, the party
that will hold out longest is the party that
wins. Every chance is in its favor. The
South will be that party, for it cannot yield.
To yield is to lose all its citizens have on
this earth. ...
Prom he Richmond Dispatch, July 10.
GEN. LEES RETRoGRADE MOVEMENT.
Opinions are various with regard to the
motives which induced Gen. Lee TO with
draw his srmy to the Virginia side of the
Potomac. All seem, however, TO agree
that the movement was proper, under the
circumstances, whatever they might be,
being guided in their opinions entirely by
the profound confidence which they repose
in the mander's'professional skill, and
his well known prudence and discretion
We shall not hazard a conjecture on the
subject, although the long. continued Hood
in the Potomac, and the absolute necessi
ty of preserving his communication with
Yirginia, furnish ample resons for the move
ment, without attributiug it to defeat.
There are persons who think, and have
| thought from tho FIRST, that tho invasion OF
| Pernsylvania was a rash and dangerous
experiment, which there was no justi6ca-
ton for having undertaken We are not
one of these, On the contrary, webeiieve
when the secret history of this war shall
have been published, the conduct Of the
General will be amply justified by circum-
| stances of which we are now, and must
for generation, remain completely ignor-
ant. As for the effect ofthe invasion, that
is a question open, even now, to discussion
Various are the opinions on the subject.
One party maintains with great warmth
that it has been altogether, and without
mitigation. injurious TO our cause another
that il has neither advanced nor retarded
its progress; a third that it has been pro-
ductive only of benefit. We agree with
neither of these parties. We conceive
/
| it has been productive both of good and
evil, though we are disposed to think that
the good more than balances the evil.
That it has had the immediate effect of
stimulating the war passions of the North,
and enabling Lincoln with the more ease
to recruit his shattered ranks, can hardly
be denied. But it must be recolleeted that
this was the consequences, not of the ex-
petition itself, but of the withdrawal OF
the troops. aud has not therefore the
slightest bearing upon the wisdom of the
measure. Had Gen, Lee destroyed the ar
my of Meade, as there was every reason
to hope, we should have then seen how
fatal was the blow he struck. Theswisdoln
of measure is not always to be judged
by its success. We must look to the de.
sign, aud see what would have been the
consequences had it succeeded, -t.e..N
In this case We may judge what they
would have been, by the AFFECT terror with
which the Yankees were struck when they
found their country invaded. Had Gen.
Lee destroyed the army of Meade-and this
was what he aimed and expected to do
be would have held in his hand the issue
of war and peace. L-s+ Y - - 8
He failed to accomplish his object; but
failure in the execution implies no want of
judgment in the conception, unless the
the means should be ridiculously SMALL
They were not SO in this case. Gen. Lee
believed them to be ample.
But this expedition has been of service
in these respects. 1t relieved an impov-
erished country from the burden of sup
porting large army. 1t gave us enorm-
Gus supplies to be used hereafter. II en-
abled us to live on the enemy, aud TO make
WARRIOR time at least-suppoIt war
Above all, it has taught the Yankees that
they, as well as we, are open to invasion.
La the exultation of the moment they may
forget this; but when that exultation has
subsidized they will be sure to remember it.
The dread OF seeing repeated on their own
territory the scenes which their plunderers
have enacted on ours, will operate more
powerfully in disposiug their minds to
peace than any numberof battles lost with
Il III 4. hn.,u ln IL, IL Tic ~ % -.