Transcript:
Wednesday Morning, June 4, 1862
Call # AN.R532
“The Evil which Jackson hath Wrought”
“The Philadelphia “Inquirer” argues that our Confederacy has lost, instead of gaining, by Jackson’s capture and expulsion of Bank’s army in the Valley of Virginia. Its theory is that the North will be exasperated and roused by it, and put forth greater efforts.
The argument of the “Inquirer” is based upon an idea which in the commencement of the war, found some to entertain it even in our Confederacy. The idea is, that in our war with the North we should moderate our blows so as not to offend the pride of our enemies. We must strike easy. After the battle of Manassas there were some who even supposed that a victory by the North sufficient to soothe the pain of that affront, would tend to restore peace.
These weak conceits have long ago been banished from the minds of our people. They have seen that every ray of success that favored our enemies’ cause has but made them more arrogant, intolerant and insufferable than before…” “…We must belabor them as with the club, and courage of Hercules. In pugilist’s phrase, we must “plant each blow right between the two eyes,” and with our whole strength.”
“…But the North is rushing to arms, says the “Inquirer,” to avenge the reverse. We will rush to arms, too, and try to give them another. But the rush to arms spoken of, seems to consist of a call on a number of New York Militia regiments to hurry to the defence of the Capitol; so that Lincoln is reduced to seeking his safety at the bayonets of the “Melish!” There is nothing so terrifying to us in that!”
Citation: The Weekly Richmond Enquirer. Richmond, 4 June 1862. AN .R532