Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1862-10-04
TFrom the Sacramento Uuion.
Present and Future.

Notwithstanding the reverses sustained by
Mcclellan before Richmond, and notwithstand.
ing the invasion Of Maryland, Kentucky and
Western Virgiaia by rebel armies, the Union
cause is immensely in advance Of what it was
twelve months ago. Then the rebels held the
most Of Western Virginia. were in force in
front of Washington. had the Potomac under
blockade, were in possession Of Yorktown, Nor
folk, Roanoke Island, Beaufort, and Fort Ma
con at the mouth of that harbor; they also
held Port Royal, Fort Pulaski, and the forts
on the Atlantic Florida coast; they also were
in possession of the Navy Yard and Forts
McRae and Barancas, and had Fort Pic kens
under siege at Pensacola; Ship Island and
forts east of New Orleans, and Forts Jackson
and St. Phillip-supposed by the rebels to be
impregnable-w also il rebel hands; New
Orleans was under rebel rule and the Missis-
sippi, from its mouth to Columbus, in Ken
lucky, was defended at every point, and in
their undisputed possession, but all the points
named, including the Mississippi, from its
mouth to its sources, with the single excep-
ton of Vicksburg, are now in the possession
of the Federal army and navy. and have been
won from the rebels by deeds of valor which
will not soon be forgotten. The rebels n year
since had several piratical privateers aAoat;
they were working with the energy Of dispair
to create navy of iron-clad ships and rams.
and their labors resulted in equipping consid-
erable fleets at New Orleans and at Memphis,
and in putting aAoat the Merrimac and Ar-
Kansas; but they have all disappeared before
the attacks of the irresistible Union naval
officers and seamen. There is not single
ship of a formidable character remaining to
the rebels of which we have any knowledge.
West Of the Mississippi, the rebels a year
ago held Arizona; they captured Fort Fill
more and invaded New Mexico; they had by
means OF elnissaries poisoned the minds Of the
Indian tribes south of Missouri and Kansas,
and induced a good many Of them to join
them in their fendish assaults upon the Un-
ion; Missouri was pretty Well overrun by
Price and his army, and Fremont was tortiy-
ing St. Louis. Now Arizona and New Mex
leo are in the undisputed possession Of the
United States; the Indians have been most
ly brought back to their allegiance to the Un-
and Gen. Price and his marauding army have
been completely driven out OF Missouri. With
the exception Of an occasional outbreak by
guerillas, the State is free from rebel soldiers,
and We hear no more Of the dangers which
threaten St. Louis. On the east bank of the
Mississippi the rebels, only few months
since, occupied with their armies Bowling
Green, Columbus. Island No. 10, Forts Don.
elson and Henry. Nashville, and the rivers
Tennessee and Cumberland. Memphis, Cor;
inth and Huntsville, with the line Of the
Memphis and Charleston Railroad-and Cum.
berland Gap was also theirs and strongly for
tilted. Now these positions are all in posses.
sion of the Union soldiers, and the navigation
of the Tennessee and Cumberland open for
gunboats and transports as soon as the stage
of water will justify. The cities. town, forts.
rivers, harbors, before enumerated, and hun.
dreds besides, have been captured and garri.
soned by the Federal army, assisted by the
fleets aud gunboats. within the past twelve
months. The occupation in force Of SO many
points explains, to considerable extent, the
location aud position Of a large portion of the
army of 100000 men, raised last year.
They are doing garrison duty from Fortress
Monroe along the coast to New Orleans, and
from the latter city to St. Joseph. on the
Missouri. at points which year since were
not in possession of the Federal army. In
view Of these facts. can any man deny that
an immense work has been accomplished
within the past yearl Has not the rebellion
received blows from which it can never ~.
covert What ground exists for asserting, as
some faint.bearted. or falsehsarted. individu-
ais do. that the Union cause. by the repulse
before Richmond, is thrown back where it
was in the Fall of 1861 There is none If
all has not been accomplished that was
wished for. vast work has been accomplished
by the army and navy. and the rebellion has
suffered immensely from the loss Of harbors.
forts, cities, towns and rivers, and the Union
cause has been advanced in proportion. The
campaign Of the last year with the exception
Of the operations Of the Army Of the Potomac.
was q splendid success. The fruits Of it can
only be calculated BY making an estimate Of
the lives and treasure il would cost to capture
the points named, were they now in the hands