Omaha daily bee., 1897-05-03
THERE WE'RE OTHER RoUTs.
The Retreat OF the Greeks AwnIsens
Memories of Bull Run.

The description Of the Greek retreat from
Natl shows that it was a rout with all the
features of a panic. No doubt the retreat
was severe disaster to the Greeks and
perhaps 1t VIII prove the turning point OF
tho war, but such rout is not always a
decisive victory. The rout and panic of the
union army in the first battle OF Bull Run
July 81, 1861, were almost as great. In that
battle, the first of the civil war, timely re-
Inducements enabled the confederates ia
union army back to Washington in wild
confusion The latter lost twenty-seyen
cannon and only brought one off the field
1t left behind over 5000 men killed, wounded
flight besides soldiers. The event is thus
described:
when it was known at Washington that
Mcdowell was to attack the confederates on
Sunday, July q, scores OF men. and even
women, congressman officials of almost every
grade, and plain citizens, went out in car,
r!agos to witness the conflict as to spectacu-
lar show. Passes from military commanders
we're like tickets to a Roman circus or n
combat in the Coliseum, and the vicinity OF
the battlefield was gay on Sunday morning
with civilians, who INDUCED in wine and
cigars at early luncheon. The heights were
crowded with spectators, and they epioyed
the roar of the battle as it went on. The
excitement was delicious while danger was
distant. 1t assun1ed different phase before
with terror when the flying regiments came
thunderlng On WIKI tales of defeat and dis
a5ter and OF pursuing confederates The
spectators tSnff IN the pel-mel rush for
safety soldlbE, and citizens and we'll
ore .sed wonesP, wfre mingled in picturesque
confusion in fifj hhe of fugtiyes who crowded
i,oo tnC @ @hlsh,%ayslt 4 several places the roads
or Abandoned clnnQns, and horses and human
kind seemed sHtleiiy eager to escape from tbo
whirlwind of destruction that followed in
fury behihd tasm for a while"
Tho rout was complete, and the panic
stricken soldieJs end civilians came rushing
heck TO Washington In the utmost disorder
Tho confederates thought this victory fore
shadowed the speedy ending Of the war 10
their favor, and for few days 1t had very
discouraslng efS9r In the north In Europe
also, II was thpdght to foroshadow the sIIc-
cess OF the south. The London Times said
at is evident hat the whole volunteer army
or the northern states is worthless as a mil
Ltary organizatcl screaming crowd" Bu.
they reckoned without their host They dil
not know the temper of the nor. bern people
Dtscouraga ment sDCa gave way to determine
tiCn anl panic to confidence. There was
second and greater uprising of the north
Five days after the battle Secretary Seward
wrote to Minister Adams ip London: "Our
Army OF the Potomac on Sunday last met o
reverse equally severe and unexpected. For
2 day or two the panic which had produced
the result was followed by a panic thai
seemed to threaten to demcralize the coun-
try But that oy!l has ceased entirely The
result Is already seen in vigorous recon
strGCtion upcl a scale OF greater magnitude
ond increased enthusiasm" This was tn,
way the nocthern people turned panic into
victory and Ball Run into Appomattox. But
tho Greeks are aot Americans