Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1864-06-23
The American Conflict as seen from
Europe.

Europe.
Our people have become so accustomed
to fierce encounters, bayonet charges, cav
airy dashes, seiges, bombardments, and
terrible slaughters, that they are now only
given slight and hurried perusal, and are
passed over as matters Of only transient
notice. If the battle is gained, the fortifi-
cations carried, and the enemy defeated we
are satisfied And although many of US
have near and dear relatives and friends.
actually engaged, thenews ola great battle
is not received with that profound awe and
dread that it was two years ago. We are
in measure becoming used to such accounts
and begin to look at war with more com
placency and less sensation than the old
war nations of Europe. If we rece i've de-
feat, which we are proud to say seldom
comes, it is talked of for some time, and
we feel slight reverse more severe than
the most costly victory. Our people as well
as our soldiers, have fixed determination
to carry through whatever they undertake,
no matter what opposition they may meet.
And if there is anything more than another
which gals, our people as well as our sol
diers, it is that Charleston, the "mother of
treason" and "abomination of the earth"
has been permitted SO long to remain in the
possession of the enemy. The following
extract from Paris letter, describes in
vivid language the sensation created by the
news of the late battles in Virginia:
PARIS, Friday, May 81, 1864.
OF what interest can European news be
of what interest can any news be-to
Americans, in the face of such events as are
passing at home among themselves Even
here the appalling tidings which have been
forced upon our startled ears by the terri
BILE kilograms of Monday and yesterday,
have produced sort of lull of stupor and
establishment. Such deeds of arms, men
say, have never been even read of in ro-
nance, much less realized in action. Have
giants broken loose, they ask, who thus
fight battles, not of days, but of weeks and
pile up slaughter in face of which the blood
lest conflicts of Europe seem pale and I'M
sanguinary? Our Partisan newspapers
seem almost to shrink in terror from com
menting on the fearful tale of mingled he
roism and carnage to which we have been
listening, or venture upon few lines of
ominous whisper on the dreadful work of
destruction which has been going forward
In fact there is not much said men hold
up their hands in silent dismay, or ask, in
low tones, if it be indeed possible that
forty thousand human beings on the one
side, and more still, probably, on the other
have really fallen in solshort aspace of time
in that evidences" which seems to have
been swept by the very bosom of destruc-
ton. Generally speaking, when news of
great battle or victory from America has
reached us, excitement has been the chief
feeling awakened, and one spoke naturally
of the sensation" created by the intelli
gence. I cannot say that it is 50 now. A
thrill of awe is the sentiment which seems
to predominant. Mems hearts, or at least
tongues seems to fail them, and there are
few words used, because it is felt that none
could adequately express their thoughts.
Speculation on the future is hardly attcmp-
ted, and even judgment on the past stands
almost silent from dismay. All can ven
ture to say, as to the current of public
opinion here, is that it runs most strongly
in two directicns First, upon the superhu-
man resolution and tenacity of the Federal
General in the attack, pursuit, and inces-
SAINT continuity of the combat and sec
ondly, upon the probability of ultimate .ex-
haustion on the part Of the Confederate
powers of resistance. The way in which
these two considerations appear to predom-
mate and repeat themselves, shows that in
general estimation it is thought that the
greater power, now that its strength is eff
fectually put forth, must win in the end,
and that conclusion to the conflict may
at last be approaching.
/ make no apology for sending back to
you only the reecho of your own tidings
The impression created by them forms, in
deed, for the moment, the most marked
feature of European physiogomy. What
is the pop-gun of the Danish war, or the
penny trumpet of the London Conference,
to the sounds which are waited
to us from the forests OF Virginia? Dis
lance adds only to the feeling of suspense,
but it is unable to deaden the overhowing
vividness of the impression.