Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1863-11-26
Foreshad0wing of Another Retreat of Bragg.

from the hlcnmonO Examiner, NOV. y.
The country may as aceU prepare itself for an
other retreat IN the Vest. The indications of
the annual migration of birds are scar rely
more unerring than the augures which
foretell the disappointment of the high ex-
pectations formed of the results to be attain
ed in that quarter. After a continuance of
favorable prognOstlcS, to which additional
strength was given by the confident tone of
the President since his recent tour of inspec-
ton after reiterated assurances of the straits
to which the enemy was reduced; of the pre-
carious tenure of his communications the
difficulties of subsistence by which he was
pressed and the impossibility of his long con-
tinuance in his present position, we now note
a certain, and somewhat indefnable, change
of tone, which, to a people rendered doubly
acute by long habit and deep interest, serves
to mark the fall of the barometer and give
warning Of the coming storm.
A certain vague mistiness of detail; an I'M
certainty as to the actual position of affairs !;
confusion and contradiction in the various ac-
counts which reach US, both from the enemy
and our own side-oU these are onsens achich the
experience have been forced to acquire IN the
art of diuination tells as are to be Interpreted IN
bad sense. 1t is well that they should precede
the unpleasing reality; that the public mind
inflated with too large a dose of confidence
and braced to too great degree of tension,
should be gradually depleted and relaxed
The power of adaptation, which is so strong
a faculty of the human mind, and that simple
philosophy which, though not derived from
the schools, springs spontaneously out Of the
rough lessons of life, will enable the country
to bear the disappointment of its high hopes,
as it has before now endured more serious
disasters with constancy and frmness. A
little time and gentle preparation will render
the process easier, and give the requisite tone
to the energies and fortitude Of the people.
The newspapers were enjoined, at the be-
ginning of the war, and they have in general
displayed commendable disposition, to OBJ
serve proper reticence as to the movements
Of troops and the probable plans for our Gen
erals. 1t may be doubted, en- passant if the
| practice now prevalent at Charleston, of pub
fishing the exact number of the enemy s
shots which strike and the amount of dam
age they do, is exactly in accordance with the
| prudent policy usually observed. But no
matter what may be the general freedom
from censure in this respect, there is one
point on which there is much to blame, not
| so much for any warning or information it
| gives the enemy as for its sad effect upon our
own people. 1t is the continual and ertrauaqa,,t
representations that are made Of the advantageous
positions occupied By our army, and the great re-
| suits that are soon to e7aSae The enemy's ar
my is at one time hemmed in between a river
and our own forces; at another, his flank is
| turned, one corps entirely cut off, and its de-
! struction certain again, his communications
are so embarrassed that he must fight to save
himself from starvation. These fanciful
statements excite the contempt of the OBJ
server, who knows from general history OF
how rare occurrence is the absolute desttuc-
ton or surrender of an entire army, and how
difficult to bar all avenues of retreat. APP
piled to our own position, and read by the
light of the history Of the last two years, they
excite an uneasy feeling of apprehension
They recall too many glowing promises of the
same nature, all of which, after begetting an
undue feeling of citation and high expecta-
tons, inevitably doomed to be disappointed
even by more signal success than usually
| waits on military operations, have been fol-
| lowed by feeling Of dependency at the un-
| satisfactory sequel Let all such extravaganza
predictions and Swelling prologues" be con-
| sidered contraband in future. The serious
| difficulties OF the war are enough to try all
our fortitude. Let US not add those engen.
dered by reaction arising from overweight
expectation.
LOOK OUT.-A young lady who lived near a
railroad crossing appears to have had no oc-
cupation except perpetually poking her head
out of the window. A wag the other morn
ing hailed her from the street:
"Halloa, Miss
what do you want?" said she, after the
first flush of indignation at being thus &C.
eosted.
1.-The bell amt rung yet" was the answer.
" What do you mean ?" she asked.
Why" was the reply, that sign says
you're to look out when the bell rings; but
you are looking out all the time"
| The young lady's head disappeared with &
Jerk and tho HindnH want down with q slam