Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1862-09-04
ss., Prom the Baltimore American.
The Conseauences OF a Rebel DefeaI

=
s. Rromthe Baltimore American.
The Consequences OF Rebel Defeat.
1t appears quite possible that on the
events of ihe month which is ushered in
with ,to-day depend our chances for q
speedy peace, which will restore to the ma
ton, as, such, its choicest blessings, and
place 1t again in a career OF prosperity
perhaps to be uninterrupted for centuries.
Thepresent tmoment-as We Writs-appears
to be the very turning point in the affairs
of herebels,, driven as they have been to
hazard everything upon the movement
made in the direction of Washington. 1t
would have been much, within the past few
months, to have taken Richmond, and
thus, in one sense, broken up the rebel gov
ernment by sending il upon its Travels
But with the rebel army falling back, mea-
surably intact. and still capable of threat
ening this government, but little, compar-
atigely, would have been gained. it is
mOre-it is eYerything-to utterly destroy
the rebel army, since without thatto sus
tain the rotten and unpopular tyranny at
Richmond, the latter Is less than nothing.
With Jefferson Davis, Benjamin aud others
mere fugitiVes in the land-reduced TO
the position of heads of guerrilla parties
merely, or with only such rowing bands as
their body guard, all the prestige gained
from the hitherto array OF great armies
would be lost at once, and the rebellion,
hitherto deemed so formidable, would van
ish Ikea black but spent tornado.
We know there are those who have made
up their minds that this warfare is to be
greatly prolonged (; that, driven TO despera-
tion, the Rebel leaders will still have the
power to influence the people of the South
TO an indefinite and terrible contest. But
this idea is inconsistent with the advance
of the age What might have been deemed
formidable century, or even a half a cen
tury ago, is olOngerl OF moment now, when
the more modern implements of warfare,
shot and shell at long range, and railroads
for swift conveyance 10 its troops, enable .
strongly organized Government to have its
armed representatives at nearly all places
at once. The astonishing improvements in
gunboats, in naval warfare, an improve
ment hitherto of such fatal import to the
rebellion, is further proof in support of our
position in regard to the interior resources
of the Rebel organization. Whilst the lat
ter are limited in their means of offensive
warfare, and have suffered the most dis
astrous failures, every month has witnessed
some great addition made to the means Of
the Government, every day has rendered
the case of the conspirators in this regard
more hopeless. Time was when few in
ferior guGs in couple of forts of most or
binary structure, like forts McHenry and
Moultrie, could beatot British heetsl At
present the most deliberately constructed
Notifications, like Forts Pulaski, Phillip
and Jackson, are bored through and
through by the terrible missiles, or the
walls are cracked and rent from top to
bottom as by the upheagel of an earth
quake.
We say, then, take the case either by
land or sea, and il is alike hopeless for the
rebel cause. The side that has the artil-
lery, the mimic rifles, the possession OF coast
and river and railroad, through every way
superior resources, is not only sure of tri-
umph bnt now of triumph without much
delay. A sO-called "Cabinet,p driy-
en- in hot haste from point TO point
at one time, perhaps, making its
HEADQUARTERS in hamlet, the next hiding
in swamp, can orgGnize slothing; and once
driven 10 flight by the destruction of its ar
my, that becomes its fate beyond all shadow
of doubt. 81
So far, if we look at the matter right,
the Government has onlybeeu getting ready
for the terrible blow which it is about to
strike; so far, the rebel chiefs have been
permitted q place, centre of operations
and leisure 20 do something according to
system. The result is seen in the really
formidable array they have sent to the
field. whilst uncovered and dispersed. they
will never be able even OHpprOximateany
thing like il again. l-
And If any one wants proof that this
reasoning is we'll founded, let them look a.
this matter, plainly illustrated on a amallel
scale. in the case exhibited by the State o.
Tennessee. So long as the rebel Governor
Of that State was unmolested by the adj
vance of the National troops on its Capital
sbere Vas no limit TO the sysfeHlGtized aotiV-
ity zhieh preTailed there in seuding troops
10 the Geld. IT was the great depot oi
military supplies for the whole rebel Or
Vanizafion IA the Southwest. Millions oi
pereussion caps even were manufactured
there. whilst artillery and artillery harness
E,nanSaeks, shoes, everything almost need
ed. were rsPfdly fabricated Bat one aus
pieioas morning asreEinentI OF National
troops mAde its apPearA1ee on the pm bic
SQUARE; the Governor aud his busy workers
aed, and the whole system Of the supply o.
he rebel forces disappeared along viii
them, leaving iths Pestilsnit Jefferson Davis
on 3 small seele-H -Harr1s-aeEe Eermsre %
/ n heard of as 0fany account 70 the rebel
H. y-bafeTer.sf Before this vas aehisEed
boTsverIs bf thsFedsraI GoTeFnmeat. thii
pi,ifal little traitor had Organized and sent
into the rebel GrmI 'saffy Regiments, Z "
whilst, as the reEerss Of AZ this trooPs eF'
noe raising At the same STATE Capital q
suUport the General Government.
: lVvbeaber the assertions credited 60 some
Of the Rebel chiefs to the eHeet that ..be1t-
sn n tiIs- Grest conflict at hand the Con,
6e.ierarv iszeaded, - be trity reported OF
No, n. feel that they ought % be ttues i
there & am truth in the lessons already
Teeeiyeli. aud 40 let the loyal ehertsh thl
hest hopsss that not long new VIII th'
worst features Of deadly conspiracy eEis