The glorious fight at Reanoke Island.
If there is any other people but the
Yankees on the face of the earth who would exult over such a victory as that at Reanoke Island, we know not where they are to be founed, nor do we know in what other nation except our own, such a defeat, under such circumstances, would be regarded in any other light than as a victory.
From fifty to one hundred ships and fifteen thousand men, after two days hard fighting, compel a little hand of two thousand five hundred to surrender.
Our men contended against odds of nearly seven to one, to say nothing of the ships, and they fought with a valor never equalled on this continent, and not surpassed in the most heroic days of
Greece and
Rome.
We may regret most bitterly that the common precaution of providing a way of retreat from such overwhelming odds was not provided, and that our chivalrous and noble defenders are now in Yankee hands; but their honor and that of thier country is unhurt, and the moral effect of theri conduct ought to add fresh hope and spirit to the
Southern cause.
We have just as much confidence in the superior military aptitude of our men this moment as we had at the
battle of Manassas, and the balance of successes is still largely in our favor. --Whenever the enemy advances to the interior and forsakes the cover of his ships, he is sure to be beaten, provided always that we have
Generals worthy of the men, and that they are guided by a skill equal to their courage.
We have never yet suffered from the incompetency of the rank and file.
Wherever they have been ably officered, they have won the day; and that has been the case in the great majority of the battles.
It cannot be denied, however, that there are a few incapables among our military leaders, and the sooner they are weeded out the better.
