The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1864-04-12

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print, even a. this late date. Is 4 = doati-
les The mast intsis gib,s & ail The aoeaaa's
q the late unfsuunas operations 10 flsri-
"a
nrApetAErE4s. plnuFr Flonipt,
ascEsoNvuLf. MAEcm III
ttase seen &c account q ,he battle 8 OF
ustte, tlsa ,saasht vas likely to SATISFY
Tie pub!ia. Correspondents q Tie Press
may 90 their aimost 70 give a eorreei and
coaPleie account ofan engagement, tat 10
ihs-uiasi o. the hurry aoi txsi,ements q a
desire 10 d 10 time, j Is auery impossible
fer them 70 put together anything better
lhan heterogeneous and CARRIED statement
II aha, has taken PLACES Especially have
the preliminary causes Il the disaster been
lightly ireafed, q entirely overlooked
POLICY or THE CAMPAIGN
Oar landing al jacksonville was COM
bleie surprise 70 the Rebels, aud they we're
ia ne condition "a receive Us Our march
was. consequently, enc continual triumph,
with small loss until cur cavalry had adyan-
oed within two miles " Lake City, the Grst
objective point 81 the campaign. II was At
this time our east great mistake occurred ,---
Maor Gen. Gilmore supposed the Rebels had
really nc force Of any Importance in the
State, and that key were quite indifferent
10 its fate Reconciliation aud rccons,rue.
ton were the leading ideas that occupied the
attention Of our commanders. Their talk
and manners indicated the presence Of civil
magistrates more than Of army officers
" We came here. I" said Gen Gilmore, "not
so much to Eight as to concilime the inhabi-
tants, and except their homages Of loyalty"
No raiding was to be allowed in the State
The new converts to the Federal Govern
mcnt were permitted to 80 aud come as suit
cd their convenience. Privileges were guar
antccd 10 them which were denied to our
e,er-loyal Northern people. While We were
thus resting upon bed of roses, enjoying
sweet dreams ofpeacefal and easy conquests,
the yipers we had warmed to life in our bos-
ems were in alliance with our deadly foes,
and aiding them in their preparations to
sting us to death.
But this was not our worst mistake. The
policy Of eobciiaiion, adopted here, did not
allow our officers to levy any contributions
upon the country for the support Of the ar
my, The most stringent orders were issucb
in regard to touching, under any circum-
stances, private properly. a captain was
in arrest for permitting his men, who were
doing duty on an extreme outpost, to kill IA
pig for their supper. Thousands Of these
animals are running halfwild in the woods,
and no one in particular prtiends to own
them. learn that this officers name has
been sent TO the President with recommcn-
dation that he lie summarily dismissed from
the service. As living Oft from the country
was out Of the question, and as il was imp0s-
sibe 10 transport supplies o meet tho wants
Of an advancing army, over sand roads,
nothing was left for us 10 do but call in our
advance and stand Tin an engine could be
procured, put in repair, and transportation
by rail effected. This delay afforded pr =
eious time to the enemy,and was fatal 10 Us.
Fnncgan calls in his outposts generals and
armies are sent from Georgia and South
Carolina point Of great stutegic inpor-
lance Is selected near Olusiee, aud every
thing put in state Of readiness to crush at
the same time our army and I'll our yisioua-
ry hopes. Had no other thought been en-
teYtained than that we were in an enemy IS
country. and had our commanders taken
and improved all the advantages which lie
laws Of war had put into their hands, the is
sues Of The 0lustee struggle might have been
reversed, our army safely entrenchcd IN
Lake City, aud Florida wr,sted from the
hands Of the Rebels
GENERAL SEYMOUR BLINDED
The battle Of 0lustee will lake rank among
the bloodicst and most truitless slaughters
ofthe war when General Seymour left
jacksonville, the 18th Of February lie ezpee-
led to eight a battle near Lake City, the 2ls,
and not before. This impression seems to
have seized his mind, and he chung TO it
with the force Of fatality. When be left
Barher's on the 10Th, be was told that be
would meet large force, which would drive
him back again. Native Floridans insisted
that, near 0astee, Finnegan and Gardner
had collected an army much larger than our
own. All these statements seemed TO make
no impression whatever upon his mind
And when. about six miles beyond Sander
son, the Rebel pickets were driven in no
preparation was made 10 ascertain the posi-
ton Of the enemy, or for general engage
ment. Onward, with all possible speed. on
/ ward was the spirit which ruled the hour
Much Of the artillery, and the guns Of
whole companies we're empty but, as il this
we're matter Of little or no Importance, on
+ ward was the order. 1t IS the strangest
thing Ia the world that this was 50. The
euemy's adyaHeed gard, retreating preclp-
i;atey On the approach Of our force, vas bat
aIepetiton q what we had WITNESSED all
! the way from Jacksonville to near Lake
/ City. This had been done 50 frequently
that il appeared to be the established order
Of things With the Florida soldiers. Our
policy had been 10 dash after them, and cap.
,nre and scatter as many as possible. We
+ lad net With no repulse and few casualties
Our successes had unfortunately inspired as
,s4l a ct,.ts.f..,,t for ftr G.rs 4 kaftle rom.