Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1862-02-20
WEAKNESS OF THE REBEL
49, LION.


If the confidence Of the loyal masses o.
- North in the speedy success OF the
,l,.s Of the Administration and Gen. Nc
Clellan for the crushing out Of the rebel
lion we're only proportionably as strong as
the hopes of the rebels are weak there
would not be 90 much fault-6nding as We
now hear. There is throughout the South
al the present time. pretty general ao-
laowledgement Of our strength, and Oh
che consummate strategy Of our generals
While the weakness of the rebellious sec
ton of the country is openly confessed in
tim Southern papers. Thus, the New
Orleans Delta eonfesses that with the cap
ture Of Columbus by the Federal troops
there will be nothing to prevent the trl-
umphant march Of the Union army to New
Orleans. Such-a result, it is conceded,
cannot, in all human probability, be avoid
ed, should the position at Columbus be
stormed and taken. Hence the Delta
frantcally calls for requirements to be
despatched forthwith to Gen. Polk.
But since the article in the Delta was
ui.ten, Fort Henry has been taken, and
Fort Donaldson surrounded by 5000 brave
troops who, without much doubt have ere
this taken that position, the last defensive
work between our victorious columns and
Nashville The position OF the rebels at
Columbus thus becomes of secondary inn
portance. The route to New Orleans is
az practicable for the land forces by way
Of Nashville and Memphis, as directly
down the Mississippi. This fact gives
plausibilitv to the rumor that the rebels
were about to evacuate Bowling Green,
and falling back upon Nashville, with a
view of making stand there against the
Federal columns. The important move
ments up the Cumberland and Tennessee
rivers, aiming at the very vitals of the re-
bellion, have rendered both Columbus
and Bowling Green no longer the strate-
gic points that they seemed to be few
weeks ago.
But there is another thing which may
call back the armies of the rebels from
Kentucky, as a-sheer military necessity
We mean the loyal sentiment which is be-
ginning to be manifested in Tennessee
and Alabama. The recent reconnaissance
Of our gun boats, upon the Tennessee
River, as far as Northern Alabama, with
out firing gun, hailed as they were by
the inhabitants all along the route, not as
conquorers, but as deliverers, the cheers
for the Union which rent the air, the cor.
dial greeting which our officers received
who went on shore unarmed, and mingled
freely with the crowd this indeed is tht
most inspiriting news Of all. 1t is mos
convincing proof which nobody, even il
=. ,beldom, can successfully dispute, tina
.Io government of the Confederacy il
hatefnl to at least large portion of the
Sonthem peo,, le, and that there is no sucf
nnan;m;tv there as is claimed. 10 ade
ouately conceive C. the full force Of Thu
evidence of weakness on the part Of the
rebels, suppose two or three rebel CUR
boats were TO proceed up the Mississippi
one hundred miles into the heart of thu
great North West. Would they be al
lowed to 90 and return without firing |
gum Would they be greeted with cheer
by the inhabitants? Would they be al
lowed to 60 ashore unarmed to receiv
the congratulations Of the people ?
Would their rebel rag be cheered?-
Would they return with three or fou
hundred volunteers for the rebel army
And yet, the case reversed, all this occur
red in the very heart OF rebeldom.
We have been among those who hav
believed from the outset, that our arm
would be hailed with JOY by majority
the inhabitants of the seeded States
with the exception, perhaps, of two {
three. All we want is to break throue
the Tim of arms which encircles the reb'
States, in order to demonstrate the fact I
the existence of the loyal sentiment I'll
apparent unanimisy has been constraine'
by usurpation and bold tyrrany. Let Il
word be onward then. until our triumI
Is complete. 83Ae H)
-fs - tn XII -:u - "a 4, a Al