Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1862-01-09
Jhe @ntlaaa Asrala.
THURSDAY MORNING, JAN o 1862
THE REBEL ARMY.

z-e THE hEDT-lt
The article which wepublish TINS morn
inc from a Richmond paper, in relation
10 the condition of the rebel army OF the I
Potomac, is worthy of an attentive peru
sal There can be no question that the
represenadonofthe decentralization when
neryades the ranks of the rebels, made
by the Richmond editor, is true, so far as
il goes, and the probability is that the halt
has not been told. Nothing but the most
glaring necessity for radical improve
ment of the military arm of the seeded
States could have induced the editor to
publish to the world such facts as are set
forth in the article alluded to.
With the decentralization of the army
will come defeat and disaster. The whole
power of the Confederate States consists
in the strength of the bayonets 1t can
bring effectively to bear against the Fed
eral forces. The government is not
strong in the principles upon which 1t is
based it is not strong in the affections OF
the people upon whom it has been impos::
ed; it is strong only in its military forces :;
in its guns and its forts, and military stores
If the Southern army is demoralized, it
has been brought about by the impover-
ished condition of the Confederacy, and
the waning enthusiasm of the men OF
which it is composed.
We have no idea that the condition of
things which the Richmond editor de-
plores will ever be improved. On the
other hand it is reasonable to anticipate
that the condition of the army will be
worse and worse as the season advances.
This rebellion had its origin in an unrea-
soning and unnatural passion. As that
unhealthy feeling subsidies, as it inevitably
must, and calm reason re-asserts her right
to the throne from which she has been
temporarily banished, the ardor of the
troops will subside; the war upon the
government of the Union will become I'M
popular " Southern Independence " will
be seen to be an impossibility colonial
vassalage will stare the Southern people
in the face as the alternative to the re-es-
Enlistment of the Union and the rebel
lion will subside from its own absolute in
ertia, and want of vitality. The Rich
mond paper confirms, and deplores the
fact that every means is resorted to by
the Confederate soldiers to get discharged
from the army, and extraordinary bounties
are offered for substitutes under the sys-
tenn of drafting which has been resorted
to. Why this reluctance to fight, if the
belief Is, as alleged, universal that the in
habitants of the South are fighting for
their homes and their liberties? Is it not
apparent that the fact is dawning upon the
minds of the Southern masses that by
fighting for the jeff. Davis dynasty they
are fighting for their own enslavement and
degradation :? Do they not begin to APP
prehend that the leaders of the conspiracy
are fighting for the overthrow not only OF
the Union, but of Republican institutions
Do they not see hateful aristocracy,-a
despotic government,-looming up to the
view as their bitter inheritance, if the re-
bellion succeeds? So it appears to U.s.
Let us hope for the fruits of returning
reason on the part of our misguided South
ern brethren.