The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1880-02-26
A rRUITLESS VICTORY.

(CoNT1NUATIoN.) The day following the
battle witnessed a singular spectacle on the
Southern side the whole army in motion,
not in pursuit of the flying foe, but quietly
returning to cam y. Holmes brigade march
ed back to Acquia on the lower Potomac
Evans, with my regiment and the 18th,
18th, and 10th Mississippi. marched to
Leesburg, on the upper Potomac large de-
tachments started for the South escorting
the remains of distinguished dead and on
the next morning President Davis returned
to Richmond, where he made a glowing and
lofty speech in response to immense multi
tudes thronging round the train. A few
souadrons of cavalry perhaps rode down to
Fairfax, and picked up the debris of the
rout but no organized pursuit was even
attempted. This fact, which seems so in
comprehensive in the light of after events,
deserves careful consideration. Southern
writer's coincide with Pollard in declaring -
The Coniederates showed no capacity to
understand the extent of their fortunes, or
''to use the unparalleled opportunities they
two weeks after the battle, Washington
might lave fallen into their hands, and
been taken almost as an unresisting prey.
Patterson had only ten thousand men be-
I'fere the battle. His army, like the greater
part of Mcdowell $, was composed OF three
months men, who refused to re-enlist,
land left for their homes in thousands.
The formidable hosts that had been as
''ssmbled at Washington were fast melting
away. some slain, many wounded, more by
''desertion, and yet more by the ending of
their terms of enlistment and their persis
ten. refusal to re-enter the service. On
very ~inadequately defended by f~orti6ca-
''tions. The Potomac was fordable above
Washington, and 4 way open to George
town heights, along which an army might
have advanced without a prospect of sue
~<'cessful resistance. 1t needed but a march
''of little more than twenty miles to crown
the victory of Manassas with the glorious
prize of the enemys capital
We're all the counts Of this indictment
correct the inevitable conclusion must be to
convict not only Generals johnson and
Beauregard, but also President Davis, of in
capacity as we'll as inappreciation Of their
accept when We remember that in neither
army were there more skilled and expert
enced military chiefs than these three. But
Mr.. Pollard's arraignment is over-drawn.
He would nave been nearer the mark in
saying that 'at any time within tco days
after the battle.' the city might have been
successfully assailed, by rcterdn troops.
He cuts down Patterson by nearly one half;
and doubles the real depletion of the Fed
eral ranks, by desertion, etc. He also mis-
states the distance as it would have re-
quired two days rapid marching fer the bulk
of the forces to reach the undelenied side Of
Washington.
WHY PURSUIT WAS NOT MADE.
l have never seen any statement in vlndi-
cation of the action, or non-action of the
Confederate leaders. and my disposition has
been to join in the common criticism of their
short -sightedness; )" but on careful consid.
Grafton of the circumstances it must be ad-
mitted they stand acquitted, though unfor-
tunats.
Let us glance at the circumstances. First
as to the Federals: 1t should be borne in
mind that they were not so much whipped
on the field, as panic stricken while they were
retiring from it a not surprising result of
having to retreat along q route which owing
to the topography of the Bull Run valley
WAS exposed to the fire of the Southern ar
Hellery for miles. a similar stampede was
LOT 4 few moments imminent ia one Of the