The Smoky Hill and Republican union. [volume] (Junction City, Kan.) 1861-1864, 1862-02-27
The End of the War Near at Hand.

Over half a million volunteers are now
in the field to crush out the Southern Re
bellion and restore the Federal Govern
ment. They are well armed, and are bet
ter fed, clothed and paid, than any large
army has ever been in the history of the
world. They have enlisted for the war, and
arc for the most part we'll disciplined
Wherever they have been we'll led they
have been victorious. They are anxious to
fight, end the war and return to their homes
there to enjoy with their families the
freedom for which alone they enlisted tc
maintain. No better fighting material has
ever been got together in equal numbers on
the face of the globe; in all the more
recent contests-at Hatteras Inlet, at Port
Royal, at Mill Springs, at Fort Henry, at
Roanoke, at Fort Donelson-they have
achieved the most brilliant victories. AT
Mill Springs, the enemy, 5000 strong, were
routed and their entrenched camp, with all
their horses, arms, provisions and camp
equipagc captured by less than one-halt
their number. At Fort Henry our gun
boats, with force of about Eve hundred,
in one hours bombardment, captured the
fort, took the Commanding General and his
staff prisoners and put to fight the rebel
army 5000 strong. Gen. Burnsiac's Ex-
pedition has made clean sweep at Roa-
noke Island, destroying and capturing the
whole rebel force numbering three thous-
and, with the exception of about fifty who
made their escape. At Fort Donelson
another great victory has been won, one
that eclipses all :hat have preceded it, ad-
ding new lustre to tho arms already
bright with the glories Of victories achieved,
and sending a thrill Of joy through the
hearts of the American people that will
only be equallcd by the glad news of the
complete overthrow of the leaders Of this
accursed rebellion. Our troops here at
tackled the enemy in his very strong ghold,
posted behind entrenchments and breast
works planned with the most consumate
skill Of their best engineers, compelling
him to surrender Internationally. This
victory has thrown the rebels into conster.
nation hardly hoped for by the most
sanguine lover of his country. Already
it is proposed to evacuatc Columbus; Nash
vile has white flags flying and proposes
to capitulate, and it is reported that Gov
ernor Harris, of Tennessee, has convened
the Legislature in order to repeal all laws
inconsistent with the Federal Constitution.
The rebels have moderated our fighting
qualities, or rather over-rated their own.
Before iuaugurating this rebellion, they
calculated that one Southern man would be
match for four Yankees. In this they
have been sadly disappointed. They find
the reverse to be true. In some instances
they have fought well-worthy better
cause, but We can recall no instance where
they have offered us battle in the open
field, where our numbers were known to be
equal to theirs.
The rebel army numbers but little over
half that of ours, and in arms and equip
ments is far inferior. And just at the time
when We are ready to commence the war
in earnest, the term of the enlistment of
their troops begin to expire, and BY the
6rst of May two-thirds of their best regi.
ments will be entitled to their discharge
A few will be forced to re-enlist, but the
larger portion, broken down by exposure
that their habits and mode of life lily pre-
pared them to Withstand, will return to
their homes, there to contemplate the wreck
of their fortunes, and their folly in attempt
ing the overthrow of the best government
on.earth. al ase ge-.
The advance of our army, so long
looked for, has now commenced, and will
be followed up as rapidly as the weather
and roads viii permit At every point We
have been victorious, and our troops vel
coined in many quarters where We itsls
expected it. In West Tennessee and
North Alabama our gunboats we're welcom,
ed at every point. The people are at heart
for the Union, and as soon as the black
cloud of terrorism and violence is removed,