Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1862-05-16
DISSOLNING VIEWS

DISSOLVING VIEWS.
No better exhibition of real dissolving
views was ever given to the public than that
now being made by jeff Davis Confederacy.
From North to South and from East to West
it is melting away like dew before the sun
Wherever its rebellious head is raised def
ant, it disappears as suddenly, and we catch
but a momentary glance Of its hideous form.
Its " final stand" so often taken, is but a
new point from which to make moro prccipt-
Gus retreats, and the last ditch" in which
the rebelshave so boastfully promised to die,
is nearly reached The exhibition must be
nearly closed, and the last scene about "play-
cd out"
The week again opens with glorious news.
Norfolk has been rescued from the grasp Of
the rebellion, and that city together with
Portsmouth and the Gosport Navy Yard arc
now held by the Union forces. The " Mer-
rimac," which has been the terror to our navy
and the fear Of the people, was blown up by
the rebels Immediately upon the occupation Of
Norfolk. She was aAoat off Craney Island.
with no friendly harbor to receive her. and
only sure destruction awaiting her should she
attempt to run out to sea. Rather than at
tempt that uncertain fate, she was fred and
abandoned by her crew. Her associates. the
jamestown and Yorktown, have been captur-
ed or sunk on James River, and both the har-
Dor at Old Point and the James river are
cleared Of any formidable rebel craft. Re-
leved Of any further necessity Of their pres
ence in Fortress Monroe, the Monitor and her
associates, after clearing out the small craft
in Norfolk harbor, can now make their way
up the James river to Richmond, where we
shall soon hear Of their laundering at the gates
Of the Confederate capital
while these things we're going on at For
tress Monroe, Gen. Mcclellan has been push
ling the enemy TO the WALL beyond Williams
burgh. and his advance was, on the afternoon
Of Saturday, within about twenty miles Of
Richmond and no rebels TO be seen this
side Of Chickahominy, except in the direct
road to Richmond" Where have the rebel
army fled to Echo answers, where. Dis
pirited demoralized and broken up. it can
never again be rallied as an army. and the on
ly hope for lis leaders is to effect a successful
retreat from Virginia. VIII they do it; or
rather can they do i,s With Gen. Burnside
on their front, heavy force on their left
flank at Norfolk, Gen. Mcclellan and Gen.
Mcdowell in their rear, and Gen. Banks on
the right flank in the vicinity Of stanton,
there can be no escape for the rebels 40 an
army. unless per,hance they have been so
feet Of foot as to slip from the grasp Of these
combinations. Have they done it: It is
possible, but We hardly think probable.
On the Mississippi river also, the rebel
gunboats have been repulsed in their attack
on Com Foote'S aotlla, and Fort Wrigh: is
reported as being evacuated. But few days
can now elapse before the Mississippi will be
entirely cleared Of rebel craft. and Com. Far
agut effect junction with Com Foote, with
Mempbis-now the only point Of any impor-
lance on the river, held by the rebels, --occu-
pied by the Union forces.
But the changing scenes and the dissolv-
ing views Of the rebellion are following each
other in such quick succession, that we must
await the next flash from the telegraph to re-
veal to us the exact position Of affairs The
final scene is near at hand, and soon the last
faint gimmer OF rebeidom will disappear in
mid air