The Evansville daily journal., 1862-01-01


pie, appalled,, stood with uplifted hands,
seemingly impotent to break the terrible
spell.
On the morning of April 18th, at 44 I
o'clock, Fort Moultrie opened fire on Sumter,
followed by Castle Pinckney and the vari
GUS batteries which had been constructed |
around the ill-fated garrison. During that
day and night the little garrison struggled |
against the fearful odds, until blinded
by smoke, their ammunition destroyed, and
provisions exhausted, they surrendered.
When the news of the first gun flashed
across the country, anxious groups crowded
the telegraph Offices night and day, until
the last gun ceased, and it was known that
Sumter was no longer ours. A feeling of
relief ensued. Sumter was lost, but the
nation ard the Union was saved. On light
ming wings the proclamation of the Presi-
dent, calling for 200 volunteers to sup
continent, and everywhere was heard the
roll of the drum and the tramp of armed
men. On the 10th, four regiments had ap-
peared in Boston, ready for duty; on the
18th, one passed through New York city,
and on the 10th; Massachusetts volunteers
sealed their devotion to their country with
their blood in the streets of Baltimore, as
their ancestors had done in the streets of
Lexington on the same day, eghty-six
years before.
The dead point of danger seemed past.
No more sickIy talk about coercion was
heard in the loyal States. The nation and
nations flag had been insulted, and the
insult must be avenged. While this feel
i1g was predominant in the North, the op-
posite was manifested in the South Vir-
ginia, North Carolina, Tennessee and Ar
kansas withdrew from the Union in rapid
succession-leaving behind, OF all the slave
States only Maryland, Delaware, Kentucky
and Missouri. The armed hosts of the two
sections were soon fronting eacn other on
The Potomac and in Western Virginia.
The triumph of the Union troops in the
latter section was rapid and complete The
rebels were driven out of that portion of
the Stat, and new government estab-
| lIsned. IA the Potomac, however, the hrst
| struggle resulted disastrously to the Union
army, and it was driven in confusion from
the battle fed of Bull Run. What hours
and days of anguish followed that inglori-
GUS defeat Quickly the North rallied un-
der the shock and the rebels failed to reap
any substantial advantage from their tri-
uraPh- While these contests -ruArA talzirs
place on land, the navy was encircling the
Southern coast with blockade that de-
prived them of all communication with
foreign nations, and many of the neces-
sariea of life, and an expedition seized one
of the most important harbors on the South
ern coast, as basis for future operations.
/ 1t is well, to thus briefly run over some OF
the events of the past year, to properly ap-
preeiate our present position. At its open
ing, treason was entrenched everywhere-in
I" every department and in every bureau,
in every regiment and in every ship of war,
in the Post-office and in the Custom house,
and in every legation and consulate from
London to Calcutta To-day, the hideous
monster is banished from all these strong
holds, and confined to the States over whom
it has nominal control while five hundred
thousand loyal men, armed with all the
engines and implements of war, are in the
field to drive him from those States. The
|, opening year found us without an army
} and without navy. Its close witnesses
one of the most magnificent bodies of men
upon whom the sun ever shone, while g
navy second but to two powers on the globe
in the number of its vessels and guns, and
second to none in the daring and skill o.
| its sailors, has been spoken into existence as
by the power of magic.
The old year has not departed without
witnessing some instances of just retribu-
ton. Charleston-haughty and defiant
the plague spot of this continent-the insti-
gator of these troubles--proudly sneered
and scoffed at the efforts of the government
and with Sumter and Moultrie in her
possession considered herself impregna-
bic. To-day a blaekened mass tells
where the proud city once stood
! while 8 harbor filled with sunken hulks
ungladdened by ought save fisherman;
. sail, will be all that remains of one of the
proudest cities on the continent.
: No loyal heart can sit down and run oveI
the events of the past year, without being
: filed with gratitude to overhowing. While
many diseouragements have fretted and
I
work that has been done, take fresh courage
and move onward While it is sad to re-
; feet that hands SO impious were found in
this heaven-favored land as 10 attempt it:
: destruction, is it not comforting to know
; that stronger arms were thrown around it,
: for its preservation2
Let the old year departi It is rich in
history, and its lessons will not be lost upon
. humanity. Let us welcome the new year