The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1861-12-02
1iDECPEf.IER, VIZ.
MONDAY, DEC. 2, 1861.
A Long War.

"A Long war.
War was new business TO this Nation MI
months ago, and those now administering t.
affairs of the Govern mrrt were not put in the
places with So much reference TO their fitness
conduct Il ullilalv as political campaign, al
~ it is not strange that ut the outset the
should have te.n he siancy. doubt, division ,
and multiplied SCHEMES. endless in their divers
ty, for adjusting aud settling the troubles viii,
had So suddenly come uron us. 1t ought n
now to be a matter Of complaint that the ma,
nitude of the treason which last Winter al
Spring commenced its assaults upon this Co
crnment Was not comprehended by those whoi
duty it was to take care that the Republic IT
ceivts no detriment. They, in great measure
shared with the public in this bllsstul ignoran,
of What the Summer months 50 ,er:ihcallv r.
vealed AS We look back upon ithow. it Seen
but the sheerest simplicity that anybody shouj
have supposed that 5000 men could in thrt
months compose the storm Of rebellion, all
bring back into their orbits the stars in OF
Union that were shooting madly from the
spheres. But Mr.. Seward and other publ
characters, who had for many years been locke
up to as oracles Of craftsmanship, seemed t
take our trou bles so philosoph ically, and take'
50 gIibly about settling all our difficulties j.
ninety days-as though rebel ordnance of Sc
cesson was like a bank note intended at til
outset to " rum only three months--that W.
were all quite willing to let our judgments keel
company with our wishes, and look forward ,t
peaceful celebra ton of the Fourth of July,
1861 There were, no doubt, few far-seeiny
men who had so far watched the progress
the South in its preparation for revolt, and had
50 carefully studied its character and resources.
as to be painfully aware of the nature of the
conflict which was upon us, and the magnitude
of the preparation which would be required to
carry the Nation through its peril, but unhap-
PLY these men were not in power, and their
counsels, if offered, were not followed
But if the Government erred at the first in
under estimating the rebellion, it appears not
to have persisted in that error, and for the last
four months, instead of proceeding on the ground
that treason WAS to be crushed out, or driven
out by proclamation, or persuaded to lay Down
its arms in few months, has nearly gone to
the opposite extreme, and seems to he conducting
the war as though it might, and very likely
would continue dozen years. and there is GER
tainly one advantage which this slow treatment
has over the rapid one. If the people should
be disappointed by speedier conclusion of the
controversy, it would be an agreeable surprises
which could hardly be said of disappointment
in the other direction. However, the Govern.
ment is evidently now going about the business
of war deliberately.
Our immense army on the Potomac, aside
from reviews, pageants and foraging parties, is
still engaged in the business of getting ready for
war. Gen. Banks and Gen. Stone still guard
the passes and lords of the upper Potomac, with
in sight of the rebels on the opposite Shore
Gen. Mcclellan holds his vast force close to his
entertainments, in front OF Washington and
Georgetown. Gen. Hooker, and the Excelsior
Brigade Of Gen. Sckles, are watching the rebel
batteries and blockade of the lower Potomac.
and occasionally doing some service in lescuing
some unfortunate boat from the clutches of tho
enemy. Gen. Wool at Fortress Monroe, and
Gen. Mansfield at Newport News, remain where
their commands have been posted since the
month of May. 1t looks very much as though
oil these armies would, as matter of necessity,
be compelled to 90 into winter quarters and wait
for milder weather and better roads.
And IN Western Virginia, Rosecranz is as he
was, holding his own, and gaining some advan.
tages. But portions OF his command have been
withdrawn into other departments, and what is
left can do little if anything more than garri-
son that new State. In Kentucky there are no
advance movements of Union troops, our forces
a. we'll as those of the rebels seeming to be con.
tent with defensive operations. In Missouri the
Federal army is being Withdrawn from its ad.
vanced positions, and the extremities of that
State are left co the rAvages of the rebel leaders
under Price, Raines and McCulloch, it being
supposed, nquestionably, that such stop was
necessary as q preparation for winter. The
long talked Of expedition down the Mississippi,