23 NOVEMBER 1861, Page 1

Stump oratory seems really to have debauched the Ameri- can

mind. We have given in another place the story of Fremont's dismissal, but even the absurdities of Adjutant General Thomas have now been outdone. The Federglists,. it will be remembered, in their effort to escape from Lees- burg, flung their arms into the river. General Stone's offi- cial report on the battle has now been published, and this is his account of that incident " With a devotion worthy of the cause they were serving, officers and men, while quarter was being offered to such as would lay down their arms, stripped themselves of their swords and muskets, and hurled them out into the river to prevent their falling into the hands of the foe, and saved themselves as they could by swimming, floating on logs, and concealing themselves." Imagine an English general extolling the " devotion" of his men for " concealing themselves" in a ditch. The very idea that the duty of soldiers is to die fighting, and that any other course may be forgiven, but cannot be praised, never entered this General's head.