Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-11-21
woRCEs TER:
FRIDAY. NOV. Ell. 1850.
Christmas Day IN richmond.

The most hopeful prophets give the army of
the Potomac possession of Richmond before
the holidays 1t is not safe to rely on their
prophecies absolutely Many castles of hope,
apparently as well built as this one, have
.crumbled since the war begun. 1t as true,
however, that, while Gen Burnside'e cam
paign must from the nature of the case he
watched with painful anxiety, those who know
his plans best are most confident of his sue.
cess.
He has been in command scarcely two
weeks-he took the army from general who
had moved reluctantly and disposed his forces
upon peace principles-he has reorganized
the army and placed it upon a war basis; and
is moving upon the rebel capitol according TO
the plans agreed upon between himself and
the general in chief. There is, of course, not
the slightest foundation for the reports of dis
Sension between Gen Halleck and him; for
theyare both soldiers, and both believe in
knowing on the enemys works"
The present condition of the army in Vir-
ginia affords a cheering and hopeful contrast
with that of four or six months since, when
defeated, disappointed, almost in despair
grieved by the loss of many brave comrades,
sustained by none of the consultations of sue
cess-ther dependency deepening day by
day into utter darkness = the army was
waiting to be conveyed from its dreary camp
on the Peninsula to the safe covering of the
Notifications before Washington. thas in
great degree recovered from the effects of
that wholly bad campaign. 1t has been
strengthened by the generous country on
which 1t called for help. 1t is commanded by
generals whose hearts are in the war, and
from whose hands golden opportunities Of
victory have never yet escaped.
Nor is Burnside left to contend alone with
all the rebels in the field. The enemy will
have an abundance of winter work laid out for
him besidsT looking to the defence of Rich
mond. Grant has business for him down the
Mississippi. Rosecrans wants him in East
Tennessee. Hunter and Banks will hold out
inducements for him down the coast The
new iron-cads, as soon as they are atloat,
and the arms of freed men, as soon as their
loyalty is quickened by the inspiration of their
newly-found liberty, will give variety to his
occupations during the winter months. If
the anaconda" does not dsappoint the just
expectations that are reposed in it, Burnside
will have to fight and conquer only that por-
ton of the rebel army which legitimately be-
longs east of the Blue Ridge
1t is too early to reflect upon the conse-
quences Of success in this important cam
paign. They touch the untried questions of
social and public policy that stand like wait
ing shadows behind the veil of this war Yet
with Richmond in our possession, with the
principal coast cities at the mercy of our
Monitors, with the great rivers and their trib-
utaries carrying the old flag into the bowels
Of the land it will begin to be loyal, to think
of restoration and plans of peace. The loyal
arm of the nation is nerved with power for
safety and not for revenge. Whoever returns
Internationally to his allegiance will find in
the old government kind mother, quick to
forget and forgive the wrongs that have been
done in the Joy of their return to her fold,