The late victories — rumors.
The late defeats of the
Wilderness,
Chancellorsville, and
Fredericksburg No. 2, are not such as are recovered from in a day, and, therefore, the rumors of Yankees crossing above and below
Fredericksburg, and of demonstrations at several points in the Tide water, and above it, were manifestly inappropriate to the condition of our worsted, wounded, and demoralized adversary on the
Rappahannock.
The
Examiner, of yesterday, states that the spoils of the battle-fields are immensely large — including fifty thousand muskets and rifles, and a vast amount of coats, knapsacks, etc., abandoned by the enemy.
This is the best evidence of a stampeded and flying army.
None other escaping from the field of fight would have left so much behind.
Even Northern accounts show that the army of
Hooker, or a very large part of it, ran "
as only men do as when convinced that sure destruction is starting them." We quote their own words applied to the flight of the Datchmen commanded by that hero of bombast,
Carl Shurz, and have not a doubt that it may be applied with equal propriety to many thousands of Yankee birth, who are certainly not better or braver men than the Germans.
The enemy was dreadfully defeated beyond a doubt, and with his demoralization and his rapidly disbanding regiments he cannot with any immediate movement menace our own Army of the Potomac, which stands now with no superior in history, ancient or modern.
The victories we have recently won are clearly among the grandest on record.
The enemy was assailed by
Jackson, on the memorable 2d of May, in a position (as the
Whig justly says,) stronger than that at
Gaines's Mill, and driven from it. The
Wilderness was a fastness which an army ought to hold against almost any colds; yet what do we see?
A Confederate force drives out of that position an army of Yankees at least three times as numerous as itself!
Is not that a great victory?
Is not that something to boast of?
Something to be rejoiced at?
Can an army immediately recover from such a defeat as our enemy received there?
Let us thank God for this grand triple triumph!
and let us, putting our trust cheerfully in
Providence and our brave men, never, never despond, or for a moment doubt the result! --the ultimate triumph of the
South, and the vindication of our Honor and our Right.
