Daily Nashville Patriot

THE CAMPAIGN IN VIRGINIA.

THE BATTLE OF MANASSAS.

From the Richmond Whig, July 25

We throw together, from different sources, various particulars of this great combat.

The army extended for six miles. The enemy made his first demonstration against our right. It was a feint. His real point of attack was on our extreme left. On that, while feigning, he directed his main force. His feint was not without success. It deceived us, and with inferior generalship and valor on our part, might have proved fatal. It enabled him to mass thirty-five thousand men upon thirteen thousand. These were the odds. For hours, the thirty-five assailed the thirteen, and at some stage of the contest, by mere numbers, crushed down and drove back the thirteen. The arrival of two thousand reinforcements, led by Gen. Smith, swelled the thirteen to fifteen thousand, and was at so critical a moment as to decide the conflict and give the victory to inferior numbers and superior valor.

We know of no circumstance which prevents this contest being regarded as a fair test of the two people, who were struggling for dominion. Certainly, there were no local or special advantages on the side of the weaker party. The enemy, by threatening an extended line and choosing his own point of attack, was enabled to concentrate his forces at that point. Besides this, a large portion of his force belonged to the Regular army, had seen service and passed through the baptism of fire. In the body of the weaker army, there was not a man, who, three months ago, had ever been in a tented field. They were almost, without exception, volunteers, wielding for the first time the implements of death. If, then, there were any special advantages on either side, they were possessed by those, who boasted the greater numbers.

But concede that they stood upon an equal footing. The result is that 15,000 Southerners are superior to 35,000 Yankees—for, after an eight hours fight, they routed and dispersed this number, and drove them like chaff before the wind.

This combat stamps those who won it with the impress of heroes—and to each and to all, to them and their descendants, will it be an eternal badge of honor. It makes the names of Beauregard and Johnston historical, and associates them with the foremost captains of the age. The strategical ability displayed by Beauregard in the disposition for the fight, and the coolness and valor which distinguished his every movement on the field of battle, are his sufficient passports for fame.

The march of Johnston from Winchester, where he was watched by a superior enemy, without that enemy knowing it, and the promptness and vigor with which it was executed, will excite the admiration of every military genius.—Richmond Whig, 25th