Fresh courage — vigorous action.
It is difficult to decide whether an excess of confidence or a deficiency of it is the greater coil to a nation at war. We are suffering now from the first error; it remains to be seen whether, instead of learning by experience to correct the one error, we shall rush into its opposite, and sing at low in the valley of despondency as we have been exalted upon the mountain of hope. We have all along admonished the South to turn a deaf ear to the delusion that the Yankees are Chinese, and that victories over them are a matter of course. It would be equally absurd and disastrous to concludes that they are invincible, and give way to dejection of spirit because, with odds of five to one against us, and supported by their gunboats they have gained some important victories. To hold them in utter contempt was dangerous enough; to swing from that to the opposite extreme would argue a weakness of character which it would be humiliating to impute to the Southern people.--We must not permit what the Yankees have accomplished, with immense odds in their favor. to make us oblivious of what we have achieved against great odds, and, in lamenting our defeat at Roanoke Island and Fort Donelson, to forget Bethel, Bull Ran, Hansesse, Springfield, Belmont. Leesburg. Carnifax Ferry. Greenbrier River, and Alleghany Mountain.It is lawful to learn from an enemy; and unless we would concede to our adversaries a moral, as well as numerical superiority, we shall not permit even a long succession of defeats to have any other effect than to awaken our energies and intensify our determination to retrieve our fortune. What was the effect of the great battle of Manassas? It demoralized the entire Northern army, and created such a panic in Washington that the Capital could have been taken at any time within three weeks sidewards without firing a gun. Gen. Scott actually gave orders that, in case of the advance of the Confederates, do resistance should be made. But the Northern spirit though depressed, was not overawed. It was only stimulated by disasters to new exertion. As it had refused to be disheartened by Bethel and Bull Ran. it rallied again after the stunning blow at Manassas, and when their bloody rout at Leesburg added its appearing lesson to the long list of catastrophes. it only developed new resources and put forth additional vigor.--Southern victory followed upon Southern victory, and the unfriendly and even menacing attitude of Europe to the North, added new elements of discouragement, but adversity and misfortune served only to inspire them to a more desperate resolve. Have we less manliness, less endurance, less fortitude, less faith, less hope in a good and righteous cause, in the defence of our homes. our firesides and our liberties, than they, in a war of wickedness, aggression and cruelty! If we have, then indeed are our fortunes hopeless and our over-throw certain, for we shall prove ourselves inferior to our enemies in the great moral qualities which are essential to success in war, and fit only to be slaves.
We have not so degrading an estimate of the character of the Southern people. It is natural that they should be mortified for a moment by unexpected disasters, but they will not be permanently disheartened.--In the language of inspiration. "we are troubled on every side yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; and down, but not destroyed. The calamities which have occurred, so far from reflecting on the prowess of our soldiers, have exhibited in as brilliant a light as our greatest victory the splendid heroism of our men. Why should we be discouraged because we cannot always triumph against enormous odds ? If with superior numbers on our side we had been defeated in dozen battles, as the Yankees have been, we might have had some cause for despondency. The lesson which we have to learn from recent events is, not to despise our enemies, nor, on the other hand, to fear them; for if they have fought well they have had advantages of vastly emperor numbers, and of a naval force, of which we are utterly destined. Their naval force can only operate on the rivers, and their superior numbers will be weakened the farther they advance, whilst our capacities for military resistance, especially for guerrilla warfare, will be increased. No ? We have no fears of the Southern people. Let the Government be as sagacious, circumspect, and energetic as the people; let the military leaders be not only cautious, but aggressive, and give full scope to the genius and spirit of our volunteers, and the clouds now overhanging us will be swept from the sky, and a radiant firmament once more gladden our eyes.
We rejoice to know that in our camps, instance of any emotion of disquietude and despondency, there is the most burning zeal and determination. Our noble soldiers laugh to soon the idea of ultimate defeat and disaster. Re-enlistment, which at one time was almost tedious in the army, on account of long continued inaction, has received an imperils from ream disaster, which puts all apprehension of danger from that source out of the question. Every State will furnish more than its full quotes for the war. Let the people emulate the spirit of the army. Let them prove that they are not unworthy and degenerate children of the men of the first Revolution, who against the most powerful empire under the sun, against armed tories in every neighborhood, cruel savages at their doors, and a great part of their country in interrupted possession of the enemy, fought, struggled, and endured several long years of war, till they achieved the independence which their courage, their fortitude, and perseverance proved that they disserved.
