The defeat of the National Arny at Bull's Run (Manassas) on Sunday evening is a sore lesson. All can see that it ought not to have been incurred. Yet it amounts, so far as out troops are concerned, simply to this--that Forty Thousand patriots were worsted by Sixty or Seventy Thousand rebels, as was to be apprehended. Of the One Hundred Thousand rebels in arms on the line of the Potomac. three-fourths were present under Beauregard at Manassas; while of the One Hundred Thousand patriots confronting them on that line, Fifty Thousand in all were under the command of Gen. McDowell, and many of them out or reach of the battlefield--
That tells the whole story. It is easy to say now that we ought to have had--might have had--a much larger force there; that Gen. Patterson's column should have followed up Gen. Johnston closely from Martinsburg and either routed him or joined Gen. McDowell as soon as Johnson joined Beauregard--that an unaccountable panic broke out among the teamsters and spectators in the rear of our Army, which exhausted soldiers in front--that this, that, and the other ought to
have been just as it was not. The sum and substance of it all is that we are outmaneuvered and outnumbered, and that Forty Thousand patriots in our advance proved too few to beat the Seventy Thousand rebels who confronted them after Johnston joined Beauregard.
There is nothing in all this that should discourage any patriot. We have more men than the Rebels have--and can call out two men to their one. We cannot beat them at enormous odds, and should not attempt it. But let us call men enough into the field and be sure that we have them where they are wanted. If a battle is to be fought in one State, it avails nothing that we have forty regiments standing idle in another. If our men are to carry masked batteries and storm strong entrenchments, we must have them at hand to do it. We can beat the Rebels
with equal numbers on even ground, and this advantage will compel them to come out of their skulking places and meet the Unionists in the open field. They cannot pursue their cautious policy and longer without incurring even their own contempt. Now let the Union forces be concentrated, the enemy met and beaten, as they are and will be whenever the full strength of the parties is pitted against each other in fair encounter. Be sure that this reverse is not a calamity, but a repulse, and that it must lead to a speedy and signal triumph.
LOCAL AND PERSONAL
DEPARTURE OF THE CAMBRIA GUARDS FROM CAMP WRIGHT--On Tuesday, the 11th Regiment of the Pennsylvania Reserves, which had been stationed at Camp Wright and to which the Cambria Guards belong, passed over the Pennsylvania Railroad eastward. Their ultimate destination was not known, but it was supposed that they were to be led into actual service immediately.
A large number of our citizens were at Wilmore to welcome the Guards and to bid them God speed. The train stopped but a few minutes--scarce long enough to allow an interchange of greetings--and again sped on its way with its precious burden of noble souls going to do or die for their country.
We had the pleasure of accompanying "our boys" on a portion of their journey and were afforded the opportunity of seeing and conversing with a majority of them. They were all in the very best health,and appeared delighted with the prospect of having a small brush with Jeff Davis' cohorts of traitors.
We feel entirely satisfied, from an inspection of the troops composing it, that should the 11th Regiment ever be brought face to face with the enemies of our country, they will not be found wanting. And the Cambria Guards will do nothing unworthy of the 11th Regiment.
The entire regiment had been fully armed and uniformed prior to leaving Camp Wright.
IS IT SO?--We find the following interesting item in an army letter dated Martinsburg, VA, July 4, 1861 in an exchange:
A Johnstown man, belonging to Co. F, Capt. Linton, 3rd Regiment killed a picket guard last night who was coming in from picketing. The latter was a member of Co. C. Capt. Neff, Blair county. I suppose the Johnstown man will be shot today as the General has given an order to that effect. The guard must halt a man three times ere he is allowed to fire, and this the Johnstown man failed to do.
DEAD--W.H. Baer, a member of Capt. Szink's company, Altoona, died in the hospital at Hagerstown on Friday week of dysentery. His remains were interred at Hagerstown.
It is reported that two men belonging to the 11th regiment were killed at a bridge a few miles below Altoona on top of one of the cars at the time, and the bridge being rather low, they were either crushed or knocked off.
APPOINTED--We are glad to announce that Col. Wm. Piper of this place has been tendered the appointment of Major in a cavalry regiment recently in Philadelphia.
CAMP WRIGHT--Since the departure eastward of the 9th and 11th regiments, on Tuesday last, this camp has ceased to be the center of attraction. There are now no soldiers there whatever, and the once busy "quarters" present pretty much the appearance of the "banquet hall deserted."
Havelocks are said to be a failure.
More on Bull Run.
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