Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1861-12-25
WARREN. WEDNESDAY. DEC. rs.
HOY goes the Ratt,a7

direction, and swiftly cut the water, still
for many days there is the s2me blue sky
above. and the same bOundless expanse 81
water around him, and it is only by com.
pairing his present latitude and Longitude
with that Of the port which he has left be-
hind, that he can ascertain what progress
he has made. So We of this generation,
who have never before navigated the tem-
pestuous sea Of war, and to whom, eight
months ago. its waters, rocks and shoals
were ali unknown, must carefully compare
our present with our past, before We can
decide whether We have advanced or retro
eaasd
Oa the 14th of last April. when the
President Issued bis proclamation. calling
for volunteers to suppress the rebellion.
treason thronged not only the Southern
States. bat every Northern city; it stalkcd
shroagh every Avenue Of the National Cap
ital, and infested every branch Of the naval,
military and civil service. Traitors were
everywhere: from ComnodOres to common
sailors. from Generals to privatcs. from
Ministers pleuipOtentiary to d~oor-keepers
of Congress, a large share Of ali classes
sere'leagued with the rebels.
The army Of the United States consisted
of less than sixteen thousand men. and
they scattered along every part Of the from
tiers, and stationed in Utah, in New Mex
Sco and on the Pacific, with half Of the Off
GERS disloyal, and the remainder suspected.
The navy of less than forty-fve vessels, all
told, both steam and sail. and they scat
tered ever every sea, in the Mediterranean,
on the Pacific. in the waters Of China and
Japan. ard With many Of its efcers tine
tured with the poison Of rebellicn.
The p~atiOnal armories bad been almost
enftied by the traitor Floyd, and there
were not sufficient weapons to arm on7-half
Of the seventy-fve thousand militia called
out by the President. There we're scarce
y enough of experienced military mel in
the country to furnish generals for the
force ordered cut, to say nothing Of the ed
zcated officers needed for all the military
departments. The treasury was bank
rupt, and there we're rot sufficient funds
fer the ordinary expenses of government in
time of peace, far less to furnish means for
an immensely expensive war. Sumpter
had fallen; Washington Kasin great dan
danger, and men trembled for the safety of
the national capital. OF not a foot of coast
from New Orleans to Norfolk, save that
occupied By Fort .Rickens, was the Gov
eminent possessed. kentuckys neutrality
was more ~efsstiTe against us than the open
hostility ef South Carolina. Delaware aud
Maryland were quiveIing in the balance
and inclined to the South. and all of Yir-
GINA seemed lost.
This was the state of things, less than
nine months ago. How is it new?
To day, there is anarmyof almost seven
hundred thousand men in the field, all well
clothed, and equipped with. the best -Eea-
pOns America and Europe can furnish, and
the largest number of the heaviest and
most terribly effective artillery that any
army of ancient OF modern times ever pos
sessed. The officers and men have been
educated, drilled, and are competent for
the most arduous service.
Instead Of forty-four vessels, We have
two hundred and seventy-tour, carrying
1900 guns. besides a large fOtilla of gun
boats to operate on the rivers, the stone
feet t Oseai,up some Of the rebel ports, for
all time, and a large number of barges and
transports. for carrying surplies.
Now. the secession fever has died out in
Maryland and Delaware; Kentucky fur
nishes. her full quota Of loyal troops to
fight acainst,the rebellion. Western Viz
ginia is redeemed. ard from the Eastern
Peninsular the rebels have been driven.
Instead of loyal men fearing for the safe
Of Washington, the rebels shake 10 their
boots at the danger which threatens New
Orleans, Savannah and Richmond. Charles
ton is in ashes; Pert Royal and Ship Is
land are ours; every port is blOckaded, and
not 4 point of coast from Nov Orleans to
Old Point Comfort, but is liable.tO be at
tackled and takeE'any day.
Instead Of an empty treasury. the money
Of the people has been poured out like wa
Ter, two hundred millions have been raised,
and raised by our " people; not a dollar
borrowed from abroad, and they are ready
to doubls the amoant ifneoeTay.
Within the last week. Gen. Pope has
achieved a series of brilliant successes in
Missouri; taken a thousand prisoners, an
immense quantity of baggage, arms and
arDy.ssorcs. Gen. Milroy has cleaned IN
the last Testigs Of rebels N armsin West
ern Virginia, and at Leesburg, en- .theiPo
tJmsc. another Victory has been won.
Thus stands the aec,unt DOW, and who
.hall cay mo progress has been made"
The Atlantic Monthly. f,