The Camden confederate. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1861-1865, 1862-03-14
The EsOUr of TriaG.

AS has been truly remarked, the day OF trial
has come. The gathered hosts of the uSurpcr
and despot are moving forward from the At
lantic to the Mississippi. Our first real Of
fcnsivc attack WAS made OH the Sth inst, with
what success all our readers have already
heard And now, since we have inauguratcd
that which might have been adopted long
since-an offensive wartare-wc may expect
startling events from the scat of war in quick
succession Nothing but the special intcrpo-
siton of the Almighty can avert the horrible
consequences of great battles fought. The
boom of cannon will pass from hII-top to
hilltop along the vast line Of military opera
tions; ard the rattle OF mu>Eclry, the clash of
bayonets, the sbricks OF the wounded, the
groans of the dying, the shouts Of the vic
tors, the curses of the vanquishcd, and high
above all, the wall of the widows and the crv
of orphans, will fill the intervening valleys:
and be the result what it may. the land Will bc
clothed in gloom, covered with dcsolatc homes
and filled with suffering.
This is the day OF trial. If the grand ar
mics now being pressed forward bv the enemy
be beaten, the war may shortly be at an end
another like effort TO crush ont the South
would not be made. But let not ourselves he
deceived. Place no underestimate OH the
prowcss and endurance of the vandas with
whom we arc contcnding tor al that is cher
ishcd and held most dear bv Sil;zcd mankind
our liberty and independence rather
prepare to meet IA barbarous inluman foe. from
whose hands we may expect 10 quarters
Napoleon the first in all his Grand military
career, or since was never charged with per
mitting outragos on innocent women and child
rem, neither impovcrshing hcl}l and un-
armed families, but inflicted the most severe
punishment on the pcrpctrator OF any outrage,
either on person or property. His mission
was to fight regularly organized armies, and
subduc governments in the manner prescribed
for warfare with all civilized '',,..>.
If one or more of their attempts prove sue
cessful, the contest will be renewed with rc
doubled fury everywhere; new life will be
given to the war, and new scenes of blood will
burst upon our startled vision. The disaster
at Fort Doneson and the capture OF Roanoke,
admonsh us that the conflict must be bloody
and desperate, that at many places it will be
doubtful, and that we should be prepared for
rcvc,ses and at least partial defeats.
The stratcgctic positions occupied 10y the
Confederate Generals can never he taken hv
the enemy. There are several points Of vast
Importance i'll the Contcdcracy We believe can
dcfv the numbers, skill and resources Of the
North, now and forever But there are inter
vcnng ones, important but not vital. where
our dcfcnces are weak, and our means of re-
sistance inadequate and at these, the Yankees
NAV achieve such successes as will give en-
couragement to the people of their section,
sustain the Administration for a time, and
stimulate their generals to renewed efforts to
bind upon their brows the laurcls Of victory.
There is bloody work to be done We say,
again, let none underestimate its Importance
or its difficulties. Let every heart be stceled
and every muscle set; for the danger is at
hand the day of tlial is upon us, and we must
be worthy of the cause We have csponscd. OF
pay the penalty in the horrors of a prolonged
contest brought nearer to our homes.