Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1864-11-01
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From the Richmond Enquirer ost y.

From the Richmond Enquirer, Oct -
What humiliation has attended our
cause In that valley made gloriously his
torieal by the lamented JacksonI From
LynchburR to Hafper's Ferry, nom tne
Ridge to the Alleghenies, where vlctoIy
and honor and glory once snea LnelE
charming blessings over our cause, LneLo
now hangs the gloomy cloud o. usL s.
disgrace and decentralization: ~ y on
said with Sigh, "The news nom INC VA.
ley 10 not so bad % we expeeted' Mss
was expected that could have oeen Notse
than the shameful defeat into which 2 We
tory was turned, mot By the genetAlsp %
Sheridan, not BY the Valor OF his Infantry
mol by the charge Of his cavalry, but ~
the unaccountabIe but not less shameful
and disRraceful panic Of our own troops.
The we'll known bravery OF these troops
forbids the suspicion that fear caused this
disgraoeful fght and abandonment o. Ar
tillery. Such Q suppoaition 10 rented Dy
the fact that they had but few hours De
fore won great and splendid victory.
will not do 10 say the cavalry gave ways
for ali ACCOUNTS agree that the infantry
abandoned the artillery. What caused TINS
paniof Our men went into action well
enough they fought brayely and gailantlyj
victory attended their efforts and enoour-
aged them 10 push on all went well, be-
cause the enemy VIZ flying before them
But the moment the! saw new diepoSiton
on the part Of the loelg the hFst check re-
ceived, they halted hesiiateds tutneds neoi
from victorious nfm5Y Ia the t'ainkitrg Of
an owe, they were routed, demoralined.
There Il n0propiieiy in making ezcnsee
and plasteripg oyerWith soft and honeyed
phrases this most infamous defeat. To
say that our men lost their victory BY stop
ping 70 plumber the captured camps 70 an
excuse more disgracefuI than defeat. After
four years Of war, the discipline that can
not prevent plundering strsgglers from
throwing away the gathered fruits Of
hard fought battle is criminally detective.
The officers that cannot restrain their men
from pluuderiDg and keep them In the ranks
are not ft 70 command.
A change of commanders is demanded
In the valley. Gen. Early has done the
beat he could, We have no doubt, but his
mode Of fighting 10 too expensive, In AZ
tillery ct least. A friend writing of the
grand cavalry" fight in theyallsy, speaks
OF il as eight t'Wherein there was less
men killed than there were pieces Of ar
tillery taken by the enemy" This last
victorious defeat swept away tWentY'three
pieces, and eighteen more just captured
from the enemy, tOrty.one In ALL There
never has been q panic under General Lee,
and there never will be, because the troops
feel that not only brave, bat q wise heaa
watches over them. II q flank is turned
they feel that itWAs not what he wanted
the enemy TO do, at least Il was what he
was prepared lfor, and soon would be ell
right. This Is confidence. When brave
and experienced troops break and retreat
as our troops have repeatedly done under
General Early, Il In because they do not
feel that the head that directs them 10 com.
petent to provide for the exigency that ts
upon them, This panic can be exp lained
in NO other way. II the army had been
new troops, fear and inexpeFience might
have accounted for the flight, but It impos-
sible TO attribute either to the veterans
whom E8ell commanded go successfully
until, at an unfortunate moment, ne was
supposed to DO unfit for the arduous duties
Of an active campaign, and relieved for
General Early.
The past cannot be mended. The cap
tured artillery are, no doubt ere now para
ding the 6tfeelR Of some Yankee city as
the trophies Of some republican mass meet.
iug. But the future should be provided
for, and some commander sent 70 that ar
my who can gain its condolences and restore
| It's morale. While General Joseph d. john
btOu - E6HOaAuk ~ AAoS1 lWAe1SaSA - SSA-s-
mand, the Valley is being plundared and
devastated by the enemy. The people Of
Virginia have lost no confidence In General
Johnston. By them he 10 still regarded
as brave soldier, and son Of whom the
State Is proud. We believe that his pat
riotism Is Of that noble aud lofty character
that will render service 70 the cause where
ever he may be ordered. To see hin once
more in command In his native State, would
be gratifying 70 the people Of the State
who feel deeply his removal from command
in Georgia. An opportunity IL nov pre-
sented, which we hope will be quickly
embraced by the President, to restore
Johnston TO command. His presence in
the Valley would restore confidence and
morale, and assure the enemy that their
victories were mot the end Of the campaign
on our part. The resppointment of John
ston would silence the voice Of faction aud
restore unity and harmony to the county.