The independent. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Kan.) 1860-1874, 1862-06-28
One Year Of War.


This day. The 18th Of April. IS the
frs. anniversary OF the War. On this
day. twelve months ago, at 4 O'Clock
in the morning. the seven rebel batter
les allowed to be ieisuIely and without
even a protest, constructed arouua For'
Sumter. were. by the remorseless com.
mands Of the rebel government. opened
upon the little garrison of 70 men in
that Fort: and after a bombardmenl
which lasted sill the next morning. the
,raito,s' aim was accomplished. The
fort was reduced. and the American
Flag hauled down. and the garrison
surrendered as prisoners of war.
A year has passed since then. and
what q change! The contest, so wan.
,only and thougn,lessly provoked as q
h lidsy drama for the display Of ar
ephemeral passion. has become . stern
and fierce struggle. with all the earnest
ness that hundred fights. successive
fields Of blood. and unspeaksble miser.
les impart 10 it. The festive glare and
glitter Of iinsel that made Charleston
the centre Of a strange sentimental chiv.
airy. whose prowess was 10 end the wal
in six weeks, has vanished. The gay
plumags. that made the Southern host
an ''army of:gentlemen." is no more
seen. The companies and regiments.
whose members are "each worth a hun.
dred thousand dollars" are no longer
talked Of. The despised mechanics
and small -6s,ed farmers" Of the loyal
States have taken the field in stern pan.
oply. and proved their claim to high.
er order Of chivalry BY beating the
Wanting rebels in every fair fight with.
in the past six months. and by the ex-
hibition Of those virtues. courage. pat.
r'o.ism. liberality. patience and forti.
iude. which are the pre-eminent char.
ssteristics Of every warlike people.
When the war commenced the South
was in arms and in the field. command
ed by the best officers Of the old army
it had destroyed. and enriched BY the
resources Of the arsenals. forts. navy
yards and treasures il had plundsred
while the loyal States. scarcely dream
ing Of war. we're quietly pursuing their
customary avocations. Nos0. the Gov
ernment. which one year ago. was So
weak rs to be almost despicable. con-
fronts the rebellion with 60 200 yOl-
unteer bayonets. and threatens in the
rear with hundred armed ships.
At the beginning il had no officers.
and but few soldiers. Now. it has the
sbIest generals and the best armies in
the world: while the boosted martial
and naval heroes Of the Sonth have
been outgeneraled. and its troops out
fought on every 6eld since the disaster
at Balls Bluff. The opuleat merchan,
has become impoverished AMI .xhsnsl
I'd by the loss Of material. disheariene.i
and humbled BY successive defeats. aud
demoralized by the evacuation Of posi-
ton after position along It's 6rst line Of
defense. /, has been steadily forced
back in Virgins. driven from Kentucky.
Missouri and Tennessee. and beaten
ba:k to its last hiding place in the Gull
States. whence i; began its career Of
wIckedness
Such is the attitude Of the war on
the anniversary Of the day Of it's com
1t is infinitely better than
The most sanguine could have Tessona
oily anticipated. after the reverses OF
las. summer. and better than any cause.
not righteous in itself. and supported
BY Heaven could have attained to-
Evening Aews.