Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1864-04-27
-, SaSGXleteES rsr ~ unia nnoeIe:

patches some interestisg faets connected
with the recent severe battle in Weatern
which resulted at last, after
defeat, 10 = glorious triumph tor the Union
arms. The HrSt days 6ght vas against Us
in the beginning, Aad here it was We sus.
tanned our heaVies Losses bot the arrival
of reiaforeements turned the tide of battle
against the enemy, aud the second day
bis disaster and drove him from
the Geld, crippled, broken, II not wholly
ovsrthrOUn. The New Orleans Era saws
10 estimating the results OF this contest, IL
should be remembered that the enemy
came on 10 his whole strength, confident Of
victory, and stalking everything upon the
enterprise. He failed the victory is with
our arms, and We doubt not, when the
smoke Of the struggle clears away, it will
be found his power is broken, il not ami.
hilated, in Western Louisiana aud Texas.
The steady TalOr that prevailed against
him 10 the hour OF his utmost strength
will carry the Gag OF Union and liberty
over his broken aud dtshsarteued forces.
TIE path to victory has been marked with
blood; bat the blood has not been wasted,
A great battle was necessary TO the con.
quest over treason 10 that portion of the
county it has been fought, and the path
Ii now open before the veteran columns
that have WithstOOd the shoek Of a force
the enemy eau never again summon be-
Meath his banners. The commanding gen.
eraI was conspicuous in the fsht, and
ehssred his men to reserved deeds Of Valor
Oy his presence. We believe he has gained
a dec sive victory for his country, aud ha,
broken the main strength OF the enemy in
his department.. From The Era of toe isEh
instant We extract the following editorial
remarks:
II is evident thst the advantages are
wholly with onr arms; that the enemy not
only tailed totally TO accomplish his pur
pose, but that be WAS so badly disabled
aud crippled that be can make little resist
AOce to the future advance OF our army.
II should be borne 10 mind that he SUN
moned to this encounter the entire force
Of Western Louisiana Rud Texas. with the
expectation Of crushing and aLuihilatiug
our forces at the gateway, as it were, OF
the latter State He made the attack. and
be made it because be knew bis force was
| greatly superior TO our own, and that he
was stronger IheD than he ever could be
again, because il he succeeded be could
retArd, perhaps, tor another year, The con.
| qaest OF his remaining territory, and pos
sIbiy, rePossess hin self OF the greater DOR.
ton of that already occupied by our Iroops.
IL must bGye been apparent 10 every one
Who has surveyed the 6eid of operations
before our advancing columns. that great
and bloody battle must occur sooner or
later for the mastery; that the immense
stretch Of territory west Of the Mississippi,
forming 10 itself . vast empire, would not
be given up by the rebels without = des
Perate resistance. That battle has been
fought. Louisiana has never before wit.
messed . contest OF such gigantic prcpor.
tons, and il i probable that she never
Will again. More than tbuty thousand
men pressed to that deadly eBsountsr, and
TO suppose that victory could be achieved
over the superior force Of the rebels with
out the sacrifice OF many lives would be =
SuPPosiIlon without the pale Of reason and
| experience Great results are achieved on
the battle-Peid by great daring aud sac
rihee; and 10 the present war the men who
meet each other are Of the same raee.
the same courageous impulses, the
same pride aud ValOr. Discipline in
arms, skill 10 leadership, advantage OF DO
Sition, superiority in arms Aud equipments
alone give advantage 70 either SIDE, when
men Of equal courage meet each Other In
mortal eooHiet. 10 the battle of WHICH re
write, the enemy had nearly Two men to
every one of ours; but be wanted that
disciplined and steady Valor which resist.
ed him, and by his seeming ruccesses in
the 6eginning Of the contest, be vas led 10
oVer-eoOhdeoee in his strength; be pur-
sued With more imPetnosity ihau discre.
ton, Gnd 6ualiy, on the second dsy's 69bt
he came TO that terrible turning point IN
} the struggle which had been prepared for
him with more wisdom and tact than h.
himself pOsSessEd- that awful moment
when seven thousand rides and many bat.
tsries OF artillery, charged TO the muIzle
WIN grape and canister, poured into bis
RANKS . storm OF death such As, perhaps
was never before hurled upon an army in
any Other battle. With that lash. tha,
appalling deadly discharge, fell treason
and rebe lion, forever PoVerless at the feeI
OF the Union army in Western Louisiana
aud Texas. In an instant every preTiou,
disaster was retrieved, and victory few 10
our banners- a thousaud enemies of the
Republic were smitteu TO the earth bT that
one fatal biow, as if the bolts Of ven.
geanee had suddenly Ieaped forth TO ip-
VolSe the foes of our Gag IN common and
instant destruction.
30 far as the result is concerned, it mat.
tiers little what bad previously occurred.
This Ess of itself the battle-all before il
vas but preliminary to this splendid eowp
de EGtH. True, We had lost a baggage
train aud several pieces of ARTILLERY the
day before; true hundreds of our gallant
soldiers had fallen never 10 rise again; but
these were sacn6ces incident to the ehastly
game OF war, and drew on the enemy to
Toe sSitt add sure destruction before them.
aus PEeeiPita!e aud confused retreat from