The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1863-05-07
The Defeat on the Rappahannock.

belief may pierce our hearts, to acknowledge
that the Army Of the Potomac has been again
defeated. The hopes of all loyal men through
out the Nation of successful issue to the new
campaign in Virginia, have been dashed to the
ground, with all life torn and trampled out of
them by the crushing news which reaches us
from Hooker s army. Our banners are again
trailed in defeat, and our brave soldiers, after
the most gallant, heroic and steady fighting for
nearly week, are once more on the north side
Of the Rappahannock, repulsed and beaten back
BY victorious rebel army.
This is all sad enough, disheartening enough,
and will, in spite of US, make men who love
their country shed tears of the bitterest disap.
pointment and indulge feelings of the deepest
sorrow :; and that it should cause intense emo
tions Of grief and sorrow, is not only not unpa-
rotic, but is I'm exhibition of the truest and most
sensitive love of country We certainly should
be ashamed to feel no grief, no sorrow, and no
distress. But the way in which we should re-
eeive this calamity, in our relation to the Govern
ment as citizens upon whose shoulders all pow
er rests, should be as little as possible governed
by our feelings. We cannot control our sensi
blities, but we can prevent them from unman-
ming u.s. The first shock will naturally drive
the blood back to our hearts and almost palsy
our will; but we are unit to call ourselves
American citizens, unless the strong current of
our purpose ultimately to preserve this Govern
msnt against treason, flows as strong and full
to-day as one week ago. It is human, it is
christian, it lie patriotic to mourn, but it 10 not
christian or patriotic " to hang our harps on
the willows and sing the sad song of recollec-
cion' because the battle ia not as we wished as
we hoped, as we confidently expected. True
courage and true manliness should rise above
the sorrow in our hearts, and take its inspira-
ton from our righteous determination to fight
until we conqner and from our belief in the
righteousness Of our cause.
We shall not make any attempt to review the
situation in Virginia or elsewhere, whether that
review would show US, on the whole, progress
ing or not. We cannot forbear, however, ask.
ing our readers to look over the whole field be-
fore sitting down in hopeless dependency in the
shadow of this gloom. There is light elsewhere
If there is darkness in the East.--But we prefer
to say that we have no right, as men and as cit
izens to be discouraged. disheartened, despond-
ent. The country is ours to protect the gov
ernment is ours to preserve, and our will and
courage, and stouthsartedness are as necessary
TO ultimate success as valor and bravery in the
field
Then let us meet this reverse with unAnching
frmness of purpose, like brave men who will
not yield, and who, when one road to success
has failed will only make the moro vigorous and
unhagging efforts to find another way to victory.
Armies have been beaten in all wars Federal
armies have been beaten before in this war. But
we have survived all previous disasters, suffering
more cheerful sacrifice. Our resources are yet