The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1862-08-22
For the Freeman.
Progress of the War.

Mr.. EDIToR.-Iaving been u close observer
of the progress and changes OF the great struggle
of our nation to sustain its authority over all
Its domain, having travelled extensively and
spoken frequently in The Loyal States ON the Is
SUES of the contest and finding Il little deSpond
cucy and discouragement in the minds OF a ttw
citizens, ask permission to put these facts be-
tore such OF your readers as may belong to the
latter, ii any do. 1t has been now over one
year since the discouraging fight of Bull Run
The retreat of our attacking army. Since then
what have the rebels gained to encourage them
Not one foot of soil they did not then possess !;
No foreign or domestic aid they did not then
possess no credit or resources of any kind they
did not then possess. " hat have they lost
Both the Navy Yards they had taken from the
United States Government-nearlya all their
shipping, including the iyon giant Merrimac-
their two best commercial cities, New Orleans
and Norfolk, and the fort that blocks the en-
trance to Savannah 49, Charleston and
Savannah are as good as lost, as we only wait
cool weather, so our soldiers can guard them,
to take possession of them all-the capital of
Louisiana and all the forts and towns on the
Mississippi, except Vicksburgh, and that not
able to prevent our mails and dispatches going
i!om New Orleans to Cairo ard back, (for my
sons letters come that way from Gen. Buffers
headquarters) All they had of Missouri, Ken
lucky, and nearly all of Tennessee, with its
capital, Mcmphis, and its soldiers (the best they
had except tnose OF Virginia), Cumberland Gap,
the strongest natural fortress in the United
States; large part of Virginia, including tho
Shenandoah Valley, Harpers Ferry and the
Baltimore end OHIO railroad; nearly all west of
the Mississippi river, as it is efectually cut off
and cannot more than take care of itself; one
half their resources are consumed and cannot be
replaced; nearly half their soldiers and many
valuable officers are dead. or crippled, and their
places connoJ be filled; nearly h,f their terri
tory Is cut oil, or wholly gone, with no chance
of regainiDc it, Their credlt abroad, and the
chance OF l@rcl9n intervention, is certainly uot
hall as good Us 1t was one year age, and they
have about given 1t up. TIER commander 81
ali their forces killed CA. ;, JohnsQn), their
best cavalry leader (A>hby) dead. Their sol
diers Glsheaiened and discouraged, SO they can
not gain i victory with three to our ooe On
equal local advantages.
q What have We gained? All the territory
they have os.--alI The cities, forts sc. Nearly
doubled our navy and more than doubled our
gun boats. Nearly doubled our army against
all the loss when tue new regiments arr in the
UCIu, CCeFY OUe " tOCU tUb W JGttCU ~ LfE mug
imam. Our resources OF all kinds are at least
as good ana great in proportion to neeos as one
year ago oar strength really much greater
than one yeAr ago. We are more unlted-nore
earnest--tncrc patriotic-norc determined to
subdue the rebeIious DISTRICTS Onr credit is
better at houe and abroad, and the Nation
stronger on land and water than it ever was
before What have we lost No territory
f,r ia,y yoSculS--uo
brave olhcers-all honor to their memories.
Many brave, noble soldiers, more by sickness
than in battles, and a grateful country shall
remember and honor them ana their valuable
services long, and fill every one of their places
if needed to carry on the work they were to ac-
complish. And last, not least Of our loss is
Hnae--and this it IS that discourageS So many.
We live in an age and country Of railroads and
telegraphs, and forget tina armies and wars are
not.carried on with the same speed as traffic and
intercourse. We all feel now that one million
of soldiers should have been called to The field
last year, and gone over the W ole Of the rebel
llous districts, before the hot weather Of this
summer and been discharged by June last
the work all done, and rebellion crushed out,
planters fled and slaves freed IN the rebeious
districts-cities put under gun-boat protection,
forts restored and all arms ken from the rebel
lious districts, let the civil authorities keep
peace IN the towns and cities, and catch and
nang such guerrilGs as were lett. But though
late, this course and work is now begun for the
coming winter, and if every officer and soldier
does his duty it will all be accomplished by next
spring, and our brave soldiers return home before
the weather is intolerably hot Let us watch
and see who fails to do his part, and remove
him and put another there to do it, tor we have
men enough.
WARREN CHASE.
South llardwck, VT, Aug. 10, 1862.