The Sun.
London, England, 1864-11-25 00:00:00

iulual Mes

ddent Davis,

TO THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
OF THE CONFEDERATE STATES OF AMERICA:—
REVIEW OF THE CAMPAIGN OF 1864.
It is with satisfaction that I welcome your presence at an
earlier day than that usual for your session, and with confie
deuce I invoke the aid of your counsels at a time of such
public exigency. The campaign which was commenced
almost simultaneously with your session early in May last,
and which was still in progress at your adjournment in the
middle of June, has not yet reached its close. It has been
prosecuted on a scale and with an energy heretofore un-
equalled. When we revert to the condition of our country
at the inception of the operations of the present year, to the
magnitude of the preparations made by the enemy, the num-
ber of his forces, the accumulation of his warlike supplies,
and the prodigality with which his vast resources have been
lavished in the attempt to render success assured ; when we
contrast the numbers and means at our disposal for assist.
ance, and when we contemplate the results of a struggle
apparently so unequal, we cannot fail, while rendering the
full meed of deserved praise to our generals and soldiers, to
perceive that a Power higher than man has willed our deli-
verance, and gratefully to recognise the protection of a kind
Providence in enabling us successfully to withstand the
utmost efforts of the enemy for our subjugation.
THE TRANS-MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT.
At the beginning of the year the States of Texas was
partially in possession of the enemy, and large portions of
Louisiana and Arkansas lay apparently defenceless. Of
the Federal soldiers who invaded Texas none are known to
remain except as prisoners of war, in North-Western
Lousiana a large and well appointed army, aided by a
powerful fleet, was repeatedly defeated, and deemed itself
fortunate in finally escaping with a loss of one-third of its
numbers, a large part of its military trains, and many
transports and gunboats. The enemy's occupation of that
State is reduced in the narrow district commanded by the
guns of his fleet. Arkansas has been recovered, with the
exception of a few fortified posts, Missouri, affording to
our oppressed brethren in that State an opportunity—of
which many have availed themselves—of striking for libe-
ration from the t3ranny to which they have been subjected.
On the east of the Mississippi, in spite of some reverses,
we have much cause for gratulation. The enemy hoped to
effect, during the present year, by concentration of forces,
the conquest which he had previously failed to accom-
plish by more extended operations. Compelled, there-
fore, to withdraw or seriously to weaken the strength of
the armies of occupation at different points, he has
afforded us the opportunity of recovering possession of
extensive districts of our territory. Nearly the
whole of northern and western Mississippi, of northern
Alabama, and of western Tennessee are again in our posses-
sion; and all attempts to penetrate from the coast line into
the interior of the Atlantic and Gulf States have been
bellied. On the entire ocean and Gulf coast of the confe-
deracy the whole success of the enemy, with the enormous
naval resources at his command, has been limited to the
capture of the outer defences of Mobile Bay.
If we now turn to the results accomplished by the two
great armies, so confidently relied on by the invaders as
sufficient to secure the subversion of our Government and
the subjection of our people to foreign domination, we have
still greater cause for devout gratitude to. Divine Power. In
South-western Virginia, successive armies which threatened
the capture of Lynchburg and Saltville, have been routed
and driven cut of the country, and a portion of Eastern Ten•.
ncs.see reconquered by our troops. In Northern Virginia ex-
tensive districts formerly occupied by the enemy are now
free from their presence. In the lower valley their general,
rendered desperate by his inability to maintain a hostile ocs
cupation, has resorted to the infamous expedient of convert-.
ing a fruitful land into a desert by burning its mills,granaries
and homesteads, and destroying the food, standing crops,
live stock and agricultural implements of peaceful non-
combatants. The main army, after a series of defeats in
which its losses have been enormous ; after attempts by
raiding parties to break up our railroad communications,
Nl Well have resulted in the destruction of a !arge part of
the cavalry engaged in the work; after constant repulse of
repeated assaults on our defensive lines, is, with the aid of
heavy reinforcements, but with, it is hoped, waning pros-
pect of further progress in the design, still engaged in an
effort, commenced more than four months ago, to capture
the town of Petersburg.
GENERAL iiIIERMAN'S OPERATIONS.
The army of General Sherman, although succeeding at the
end of the summer in obtaining pceseesion of Atlanta, has
been unable to secure any ultimate advantage from his suc-
cess. The same general who, in February last, marched a
large army from Vicksburg to Meridian with no other re-
sult than being forced to march back again, was able by the
aid of greatly increased numbers, and after much delay, to
force a passage from Chattanooga to Atlanta, only to be for
the second time compelled to withdraw on tho line of his
advance without obtaining con'rol of a single mile of terri-
tory beyond the narrow track of his march, and without
gaining aught beyond the precarious possession of a few
fortified points in which he is compelled to maintain heavy
garrisons, and which arc menaced with recapture.
ATLANTA AND RICIIM)ND NOT VITAL POINTS OF THE