- _, THE WAB AM» ITS B
that, the the troops which had been left 1 -china "ii the proceeding to arrive ia time, obliged the Confederate Generals to alter their original . which was offensive, .'11111 await the attack 1 f the enemy — that the enemy, turn the left wing 1 - —thai a long lesperate battk ensued — thai an order sent posted on our right centre, to charge the exposed flank of the enemy, miscarried — that in the ,n crisis of the haul.-, Kirhy Smith arrived frith 1,700 men — that he •• wounded and —that the attack of hi* body caused the enemy to hesitate, and finally to give ground — and that hi.- discomfiture was completed by the attack, made on his Hank by Colonel Early, at thi bis The battle of Manassas had been fought, and the rout was the most _-h known t" history since the day of Waterloo The Army of the Potomac continued for seven months to occupy the p<
- Centreville which it had conquered from, the enemy by thi.- splendid vic-
tory. Except the brilliant episode of Loceburg, and the reverse at Draiuesvillet there were few incidents to diversify the dull m if a life ia camp. The winter was uncommonly warm and wet, and sickness and death thinned the rank- of our army. Bui the men became ■ and learned how to bear fatigue as well as to face danger, without shrinking, [n the meantime, the Yankee government made enormous preparations, both naval . military. Their Secretary of War boasted that in an incredibly short -; of time he had put troops in the iield. The fruits of his energy -
- i to ripen, flattens was taken, Beaufort fell, Fort Donnelson was captured,
with 5,000 men, and New Orleans fell. Nothing in all history can bo compared to the exultations of the Yankee press. They believed the South already oon- nuered, ami they spoke the language of conquerors. Nothing would satisfy them hut another "On to Richmond." This time it was to be undertaken by 220,000 men, under .Met "lellau. Johnston soon became apprised of the designs of that officer, and prepared to foil them Early in March, McClellan moved upon Manassas with his whole force, t" find the camp deserted, and everything thai could be of value to his army safely removed. JonnSton had evacuated all his positions, and retreated to Richmond without the loss of a man. There is no comparison, we believe, between this retreat and any other upon record. Had Johnston never performed any other military exploit, this alone would entitle him to l< considered one of the greatest captains of the age. His whole force Scarcely amounted tu 4il,il(Hl men. and with that little army he bad confronted for lix months, and eluded without loss, a host of more than 200,000 men. But we will not undertake to record the events of A^iril and May, 1 s f "> - , the most brilliant of Johnston's whole life, lie hastened with his veteran army to the 1 the gallant Magruder, who was on the Peniusula with Llj50Q men, ami confronted by McClellan with 100,000. On arriving, Johnston at once assumed command, and on the 6th of May, 1862, fought the buttle of Williamsburg, repulsing the enemy with enormous loss. Falling hack with his victorious army upou the liue of the Chickahominy, lie g«ve McClellan auothev
