Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1862-12-11

RAIGHs-WE t8nC VIZ .
tbe New York Evening Post. The
cheering tone Of the article plesses US
becsuse the prospects" are not foun-
ded ON speculstions but upon the gen.
nine enthusiasm and vigor which seems
TO marx The movements Of the War and
Navy Departments. The Post says:
The grand opening day Of the win
ter campaign draws near. and lockers
on at home consider. with daily grow
ing interest. the prospects of success
during the next one hundred and twenty
DAYS. 1t must be useful to compare
this winters preparations with those
which accomplished last winters work.
A year ago we had not yet won great
battle on land; the navy had fought at
Hatteras and at Port Royal, but the
great operations of the war. on land
were as vet scarcely begun. Our Gene
rails were untried and inexperienced;
they were chosen for supposed and not
for proved merits; and, from the Gene
rsl-in- Chief down, there was not man
in active command except General
Sigel, who had ever an enemy, or
planned and carried out campaign.
So, too, our soldiers were untried; they
had met the enemy and beaten him in
some minor engagements in Western
Virginia: the Western men had fought
well at Wilson's Greek, but the defeat
and panic at Bull Run cast a gloom oI
doubt over all our armies.
These we've the circumstances under
which the campaign opened. We had
not only to beat the enemy, but our
generals and soldiers had to learn the
business of war. The winter campaign
was most brilliant. Roanoke, Newbern,
Pea Ridge. Fort Donelson, Shiloh.
New Orleans, the brilliant successes Of
Mitchell, the bloody fields of Williams
burgh and Fair Oaks, New Madrid and
Island Ten, Cross Keys, and other ac'
tons, not only showed the bravery o.
our soldiers, but made veterans Of them
As for their commanders, the long and
brilliant campaign enabled the govern
ment for the first time TO know who
were the most capsule, the most ener'
lgetic the most trustworthy among them,
TO lead our armies 10 the next campaign
We began, last winter. with new
troops and with inexperienced Generals
We begin this winter with veteran sol
diers, and commanders who have wou
their places by the only true trial. the
trial BY battle. Among so many Gene
rails, all unprsetised and strange to the
field, it was to be expected that some
would prove to be lacking in the quail
ties which command success in the field
it was the duty of the Government
wisely to weed these out and put at the
head. as fast as they proved themselves
the most jealous. the most capable, tht
most enterprising. the most successful
This duty the Government has so fsI
fulfilled, that we see the new campaign
opening, with men as leaders Of oul
armies who have developed those quail
ties which promise to achieve success
Burnside, Hooker. Sigel, Banks. Rose
Grams, Grant, Sherman, McClernand
Foster, Hunter, these are the men Il
whom, this winter, we lock to lead ou
armies to victory. They have all in th'
, past year of war gained the admiration
Of the people for energy and success
They have all shown daring and en-
terprise as we'll as technical skill; the,
have all gained, in actual war, the repu
tation Of jealous and courageous lea
ders; each has won his present position
by successful operations against the enc
my; each enters upon the new campaigI
with the experience of year Of battles
and with the help Of armies who hav
learned in dozen fields that the bayo
net is the best weapon 10 use agsins
the enemy. More than this, thu
delays, the caution which have durin!
the past summer, lost us so many ad
vantages, robbed us of so many Of tn
fruits of last winters victories. will &C
as lesson to those now in command
will teach them that in war caution is
bad master; and that vigorously Il
follow up success is the only way Il
turn it into victory.
But il the prospect on hand look
well, on the water it is equally promis
ing. Last winter we were forced t
risk our wooden ships against the enc
my's forts, and our gallant tars covered
themselves with glory in the attacks oil
Hilton Head and New Orleans. Blu
they and we ran frightful risk; in les
daring and skillful hands, the best par
Of our feet might have been lost; anc
while the splendid success Of Dupon
and Fsrrsgut show that it is Away
safe to hazard much, if you have brav,
men, and that, to use the words OF Sec
retary Welles to Admiral Farragut. 81
is the first duty Of "a commander in wa
to take great risk for the accomplish
ment Of great ends" we may rejoic,
that the present campaign is 10 be car
| riad m nm uafar With D,aono foi