The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1862-02-20
Progress of the War for the Unisn.


Progress of the War for the Uni5n.
Much of our space this week is devoted to
details of the dongs of our army. The spell of
naction that has so long brooded over the forces
of the Union, almost every where, seems to have
been. all at once broken, and from almost every
department, has come up withn the week past,
glorious acc cunts of victory following victory.
We give quite full details Of the capture of
Roanoke Island and the subsequent operations
of the Burnside expedition. The success ofour
arms in that direction is complete Almost the
whole of North Carolina is now within cur grasp
The occupation of all the principal cities and
norts of Importance in a strategic point OF view,
is but question of time. There will probably
be no more hard fighting in that State. The
rebel soldiers true to their principle of rule or
ruin, make it point to destroy, if possible all
that they canno: hold. The inhabitants of towns
and villages have appealed to the Federal forces
to extinguish fires that have been set by the
rebel soldiers in one or two instances.
Com. Dupont has added another laurel to his
brow by the capture of Savannah, the metropo-
lis of Georgia. This is another severe blow to
the rebellion. The following up, of this advan-
of all the strong places in that State is only a
matter of time. We should say, tet it be done
quickly, but we are content to watt not without
some impotence perhaps, the motion of those
who have the matter in hand.
But the grand event of the week is the cap
ture of Fort Donelson, extended Geographic ac-
counts of which we give elsewhere. The value
of this glorious victory 10 the Union cause, can
not be over-estimated 1t was the key to the
whole southwestern country. The rebels had
expended labor and skill and money upon its
construction aud had gathered there the flower
of their western army, under four of their most
experienced and most successful Generals
Buckner, Sohnson, Pillow and Floyd. The two
first named were taken prisoners, white the lat
ter two managed to escape for the present. We
have now the entire navigable length of the
Tennessee and Cumberland rivers in our pos
session. True we have to take Nashville, but
that Is considered an easy job, when we get to
it. 1t is thought that the Stars and Stripes will
wave over Nashville and Knoxville in less than
week.
| The capture of Fort Donelson has been no
boys play. The enemy defended it with a
vigor and desperation worthy better cause.
1t has cost US over a thousand men in killed and
wounded. While this heavy loss, testfes 10
the prolonged and desperate defense of the
position, it shows also that our men were de-
termined to conquer or die. They had prede-
termined that there should be no more Bull
Runs, and uobly and bravely did they carry out
that determination. No veterans of the Regu-
lar army could have gone at the work more
coolly, and Systematically, nor stood up to the
work in the midst of death and carnage, more
bravely and perseveringly, than did our western
volunteers-the glorious boys of Illinois and
Iowa. The double-dyed Traitor and Coward,
| Gen. Floyd stole off under cover of the night,
and thus addee a few more days to his ingorI-
Gus career He carried out the old maxim of
"Hell aght, they say, another day
Who saves himself by running"
1t is useless, yet to speculate upon the effect
these several victories will have upon the rebel
| lion 1t is evident that it has received Il most
severe check. True it still holds out at Aanass-
as, and threatens the Federal capital yet, all
along the Petomac, but that position is fast be-
| ing surrounded and rendered unteuable, by our
southern and western armies Supplies and
achievements cut off from the South and South
west, the holding of Manassas, will! be not only
useless but soon impossible. We should not
be surprised to hear that the Rebels within a
few weeks should be asking for cessation Of
hostilities, for the purpose of arbitration, com
promise or some other mode of settling the diff
| fculties. 1t has already been reported that q
Flag of Truce has been sent to the President fol-
an arbitration by some foreign power, but we
cannot see any business of an arbitrator in the
premises There is nothing to Grbitrate upon
Rebels and traitors have only TO lay down then
arms, and return to their allegiance as good ano
loyal citizens-ask mercy of the magnanimoui
government they have attempted to Destroy
The matter lies entirely between the govern
ment and its own citizens, and there is no room
for foreign arbitrator to get into such a case
The only arbitrators that are necessary, are
Mercy and Repentance. There is also repor
that Mr.. Falkner has declared in public speech
to the people Of Martinsbulgh, Va; that the
rebellion is a failure-and the cause Of the reb
els hopeless, and that he advised the rebels tc
max Q the best terms they can with the Govern
ment. We expect to hear of other leaders o.
the rebellion making such speeches in other
places ere long
All over the loyal States, the news Of the cap
ture of Fort Donelson. has been received with
the most extraordinary demonstrations Of joy
In all the large cities, business was almost sus
pended, and bontires, illumination, ringing Of
bells and firing of cannon, was the order of the
day We publish Geographic dispatches ofthe
reception of the news in various places, and the
consequent thereon.
-~O~-----
One More Correction.
The Kenosha Times has so long been addict
ed to Misrepresentation and prevarication, that
faIseLood has become chronic with it. 1t seems
to be utterly impossible for that sheet to speak
of ANYTHING or ANYBODY without living even