Year: 1861

The people of the Northern States of America
are behaving after their defeat in manner which
Is somewhat unaccountable. They do not seem
at all inclined to lessen its importance They do
not affect to conceal that they have been totally
and disgraceiully defeated, that their opinions Of
thelr own merits and OF their enemies deficiencies
were uniounded, and that, instead of a short and
brilliant campaign, they must either prepare for
desperate war or give up the scheme of subiupat-
ing the South. And yet this national calamity
and this grevOus shame do not seem to affect them
as they would affect an European community


lhey even take pleasure in the sensation caused
Dy their unparalleled defeat. Excitement is In all
classes necessary daily dram, and if thew have
IL II matters not whether it is bought by success or
misfortune. Then the people have so little realized
the meaning of war, and they have such confidence
IN their own energy and fortunes in their racultv
OF what they call coming ''right side awards j.
that AS community they are no more depressed
by total rout than they would be in their indivi-
dual capacities by pecuniary loss. singular
trait in human character is exhibited by their
open acknowledgement to all the world of defeat,
coupled with enthusiastic reception which they
are giving to whole regiments of volunteers who


on preteDce OF their time being up, are MARCHING
homeward on the morrow of great defeat and on
the eve o. an expected advance OF the Southern
army. The more aristocratc New York volun-
teerS had returned home long before the battle at
Bull Run, and now regiments from almost every
State are Fastening back to their respective dis
trcts, to be received with the loudest plaudits of
their friends The l4th Ohio on returning to To-
IeuoJ eApeTlenceu Il very cordial receUuOn.' 1t
was mentioned that, after few weeks furlough,
they would be ready to re-enlist-those few weeks


for all that they know, being destined to decide the
fate OF the Union forever. But the extraordi-
nary case Is that OF General Patterson's army


The General, according to his Own account was in
front of General johnston who had 40 600 men


''My force is less than 20, 900 men, Nineteen rpri.
menus, whose term OF service was up, would be
WITHIN week, az refused to stay an hor orer
their time, with the exception iof four Five regi-
ments have gone home, two more 90 to-day, and
three more tomorrow. To avoid being cut off with
the remainder, fell back and occupied this place"
This is, we think, one of the most astounding
incidents in the history of war. 1t entirely
agrees with the statement given by special
correspondent, that while the cannon of Beaure-
gard were laundering in their ears, regiment
of volunteers passed him on their way home, their
three months term of service being complete.
If such thing had happened to CORPS it might
have been set down to the bad counses of one or
more discontened spirits or to the injudicous con-


duct OF some commanding officers. But here it Is
eUident that the tohoie Colunteer drmy of The North


crR States rs 'corthiesS q military organization


1t is useless to comment on the behaviour of men
who, pretending to rush to arms for the salvation
OF their country, make off in thousands when th
enemy comes in sight, and leave their general to
take care of himself. This is certainly carving to
its further limit that right of secession which they
hew to arms to punish. In any other country such
conduct would be looked upon the extreme of
baSeness. But the Americans do not visit it as
such, and they, perhaps, have an instructive sense
Of the justice of the case. They feel how bollow
has been so much of the indignation expressed by
their party-how much the campaign against the
| South is sham, entered into in obedience to a
sensation policy, and differing widely from the
earnest and steady resolve which animates men
who are lighting for objects really dear to them.


II England or France were invading the Northern


states, no one an believe that whole American


army, would evaporate because three calendar
| months were up; nor, to bring matters nearer I
| home, can we imagine that the Southerners will


take the rail homeward while New York rowdies


and Boston Abotionists are desolating the villages
| IN ali ages success IN tOar has inclined to the
garfy ,ohich is fighting for an existence, and is
| consequently steeled to sterner resolve. There


is want of this earnestness to be noticed in the
conduct of the Northerners. They take thing
easy to degree which astonishes an Englishmar