Arkansas true Democrat., 1862-05-15
The Progress of the War.

1uG EICSlC5S Oi b4sS w Ns'
 Last week we announced to our readers the Tall of New Orleans, and now we have to announce the evacuation and surrender of Norfolk and Pensaco la This seems bad news, but it may not yet be the worst. Ere two weeks more, we shall not be surprised if Mobile, Charleston and Savannah do l not meet the same unhappy fate Perhaps too even Richmond may be surrendered to the enemy. We do not know that it will be, but We shall not be surprised if such should be the result in less than twenty days. The Mississippi river too, With Baton Rouge, Natchez, Vicksburg and Memphis may also go, and with them the States ot Arkan- sas and Louisiana.
 | This is the worst possible view of the case, yet does it present any cause for hopeless despair TT | We say none whatever, but on the contrary, leaves | Beauregard in the west, and Joe Johnston n Nlf- l ginia, each stronger than ever, at the head oi powerful and invincble army. The fall oi aii' | these places, which are now more a burden upon us than a source of strength is but the stripping 1 of the giant for more desperate struggle. These cities are now of no service to us, their hgh'hs men are in the army, their resources have been exhausted, and they hang as burden upon the | country. It requires an immense amount o1 pro vision to support, and large portion of our army to defend them In the hands of the enemy, en- tirely out of our lines, the streams of provision that flowed to them will be at once turned towardS our armies which will thus be enabled to maintain the field and protract the struggle all the longer- Their fall, too will strengsaen our armies by thou sands of fighting men. At an immense expense oi life and provision we have been endeavorng vainly, and, we think, foolishly to hold and defend our sea-coast cities. We have divided our armies and l frittered away our strength to protect them until the vandals have invaded us from the north and nearly reached the heart of the country.
 + is hard to surrender to the enemy So gallant and brave people as those of New Orleans, Mo bile, Pensacola, Savannah, Charleston and Norfolk, but it may be nece ary to the cause and if so must be done. We want our troops at CoGinth in front of Haleck, and in Virginia before Mcclellan We will now have them there, with the means to sunport and maintain them; and equal in number to the federal forces under those two generals and far superior to them in courage aud spirit, who can doubt the result when the great battle takes place
 On the southern coast, our best defences are the hot southern sun, the southern malaria and the | @~AAAN place of our armies upon the coast, and will afford 8 far more efficient and certain protection, while our men will be removed to the more healthy eli mate of Virginia and Tennessee, to deal death and destruction to the invading armies of ialleck and Mcclellan.
 Our cause is as bright as ever. We are just be- ginning the sacrifices that will lead to inevitable success. We are just beginning to appreciate the struggle upon us, and we feel that are fully equal to it. Let our people be of good cheer There is no cause for despair. Joe Johnston, after he concentrates his (now) immense but scattered forces, will be able to maintain his ground against Mcclellan, while Beauregard is only waiting for the fall of the Tennessee river to whip Halec, and march on Louisville and Cincinnati. The Yankees have had their day, and it is now nearly past. So far every thing has favored them. The climate upon the coast has been pleasant and healthy, the rivers have been ovelfowng their banks, while ihe roads upon which we move have been litterallyde- stroyed by the rains. Without navy ourselves, their gunboats and iron clad steamers have been irresistible, and nearly all the places approachabe by water have consequently fallen into their hands
 -e-----frr- Tlsrsi, yiFtrrr and expellng the gunboats from Tennessee; the climate upon the coast is already becoming insup- portable to northern raised troops, and henceforth every further advance of the enemy has to be by land On land, away from their inpenatrable yes sels, we have never yet been whipped, except in single instance-at Fishing Creek, where our gen eral was notoriously incompetent. We their superiors on land, and whenever Halleck or Me Celan, or Butler advances inland their total oye: throw and destruction are inevitable.
 Beauregard and Joe Johnston have forces equa to those opposing them, and are expecting the col lsion with the utmost confidence in a glorious vic tory. W ith the defeat of Halleck and Mcclellan falls the last hope of cur enemies. Our country throughout it's length and breadth will be evacuated by the federals our independence will be achieved and acknowledged, and al last and forever we will be free from the graspng unprincipIed and intol erable rule of the Yankees Let our people be Of good cheer. The skies are vet bright, eventual | success is certain.