Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-11-07
FRIDAY. NOV. a. 1899.


1t is not pleasant to reflect that the army
has been compelled to wait till the last colors
of autumn are fading into the dull gray of
winter before entering upon its fall campaign.
There was some active and creditable work
in August, on the extreme northern verge of
the rebellion; but it was discontinued at pre-
cisely the time when we ought to have been
strong enough to go forward and win decisive
results. August passed into September and
September into vain and fruitless October
while the army east and west, if not idle, was
wearied and disheartened in movements, ell
Their ill-devised or wholly without results.
The Notifying and discreditable campaign
in Kentucky, the protracted inactivity of the
army in Maryland till within the last few
days, the patient endurance of the admins
tration when patience was something differ
ent from virtue-these are things about
which men will think, and ought to think,
though some sense of propriety or of duty
may compel them to keep their thoughts shut
in their own breasts. But the army of the Po-
tomac is again advancing successfully, as it
appears. There is satisfaction in that. The
hope of its achieving results worthy of its
power is an Offset to the unwelcome thought
that two years have passed, this blessed week,
since the rebellion was inaugurated and that
it is still naughty and defiant from the Poto-
mac river to the passes of the Mississippi.
The advance promises well, and now indi-
Gates an early engagement with the retreating
rebel army in the valley of the Shenandoah
and with the advantage wholly on the side of
the Union army.
There are also signs of active winter work
at the west. The army which suffered so
fearfully under Don Carlos Buell-now a sup
pressed Don Carlos-suffered less from battle
than from exhaustion and general demoraliza-
tion--is 10 be led into useful service, unless
all signs fail, before snow falls. There is
Rosecrans, with that fine army of his in Ken
lucky, recovering from the shabby treat
ment of its late commander Grant, with
large force at Memphis and vicini-
ty, including the veterans who recent
ly distinguished themselves at Iuka and
Corinth, preparing with no
mean resources for quick and sharp work
down the Mississippi, and detachments in other
parts of the southwest to cooperate as circum-
stances may requ1re-all these will not suffer
the winter to pass without retrieving some of
the delays and disasters which the summer
and fall have witnessed. There promise is
yet unfulflled.
But the country cannot afford, the admin
istration cannot afford, that it should fail.
Time enough and more has been given-ex-
perience, sharp, bitter, and TERRIBLE has test
ed the capacity of nearly every officer
in the service The responsibility of
failure now would return with cumulative
weight to the administration if unworthy or
incompetent men should be suffered to lead
the last hope of the republic into the valley of
the shadow of DEATH We do not anticipate
such results. The president resolutely means
to do his duty. The army itself is strong and
confident. Their triumphs may be delayed,
but they will come in that sure future which is
reserved for every just and righteous cause.