Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1862-03-11
From the Richmond Christian Observer
ViciScifujas Of War.

ring some of our outposts, and obtaining tempo
rary footholds upon our soil, have inspired the
Federals with brilliant anticipatiOns the SPEEDY
suppression of the 'rebeon" and the suoJuga-
tion cf the South. They have also caused grave
apprehensions on the part of some amongst Us,
which the history of the past will not justify.
There is striking parallel in the causes OF the
wars of 1776 and 1861. Our fathers were suo-
iect to ty,annical oppression; but among thelr
grievances they never complained OF the opera
ton of wrongs which would of necessity bring
upon them, at no distant day, the horrors OF
servile insurrection, unless averted by revolu-
| ton. They complained of unjust taxatlon-ou'
their burdens were small in comparison with the
tribute which the South has been paying to the
North under the operation of prohlbltory tari1s
and fishing bounties and legislative enactments
that built up the manufacturing and commercial
interests of one section at the expense OF the ag
ricultural pursuits of another. The necessities
for a revolution were not 80 great then as now
Yet the American Revolution has an honore
page in history.
The Colonies had scarcely eighth OF the one
population of the nation arrayed against them
Their Indifferent arms and scanty military stores
were contemplate when compared with thf
equipments of the armies they encountered; ane
they were almost destitute both of manufacto-
ries to make them and ships to bring them from
abroad They had no Navy to meet the Mis-
tress of the Seas. Yet, actuated by stern pur
pose and upheld by firm conviction OF the jus
tice of their cause, they entered upon the une'
quail contest, committing the issue to the decl
sion of a just Providence.
Then, as now, the anaconda" scheme was th'
means resorted to for "suppressng the rebellion.
Navies on the water and armies on land sough
to crush it, as between the upper and nethe
mill-stones; while the royal forces could be rap
idly transported ships, our fathers had not, a
we have, the advantage of railroads for the rapl
concentration of their troops. Steadily the cell
of the anaconda were contracted upon them.-
The conquerors banner was unfurled in ever.
rebel Iroyince Defeat followed defeat. Vlcto
rous hosts captured or occupied almost ever.
ciry or town in the whole country. The roys
armies overran New England, New York, New
Jersey and Pennsylvania they took Boston, an
Concord, and Lexington and Newport, an. Ne'
York, Princeton and Philadelphia. Garylar
and Delaware were urder their feet.
Il Virginia suffered sever ly f.om their ravage
The British fleet bon barded and captured Ports
mouth, Norfolk and Gosport, with imlnens
quantities Of stores, ammunition and cannon
which were carried away or destroyed. The
!, took Suffolk, and burned it to the ground. Pt
tersburg fell into their hands Warwick, on th
Y James River, then town larger than Richinont
and very important to the prosecution OF the wa
was burned with its magazines and stores-i
warehouses-its ships on stocks-its tan-house
and its Touring mills. Richmond was capture
: Gy Burnside Expedition under Benedict ArGol
: and its cannon foundry and magazine, and man
: public and private buildings and warehouse
were destroyed. Williamsburg, the former caI
ital of the State, was also taken. The Legisla
ture OF the State fled from Richmond to Char
. lottesvllle, whittier they were pursued by th
u terocious Tarleton, and some of its members car
l. ;ured; the rest escaped to Staunton. Virgini
seemed doomed to the alternative of submissio
or desolation. In the meantime North Oarolin
:, was devastated by victorious British arm!
: highly clated by their grand achievements 6
Charleston and Savannah, who were marchin
through its very heart, committing the most is
gitious outrages in their course.
South Carolina and Georgia suffered more tina
. = their sister States. The seige of Charleston
Of fha cad1aot off tho Provis
l. ions in the city were becoming scarce. The 10y
:, alists were busy fomenting disaffection anon
e the distressed inhabitants. A fire from the flee
l. was opened upon the city. Bombs were fallin
IS in every part of it, killing men, women and Chi
Il dren, and setting houses on fire. The town mi
arms, and at length, after gallant and desper
ate resistance OF forty days, the city was surren
, dered. The enemy obtained between five an
v six thousand prisoners and about four hundre
% cnnnon-an appalling loss to the enteebled Col
onies! The fall of Charleston and the loss of th
army paralyzed the Republican strength; i'm
d menss numbers accepted the offers of pardo
l. that were proclaimed, and gave in their alIeg
# ance to the crown, and even entered the roys
: service. The British commanders conidentl
d believed that the finishing stroke of the war ha
: been given. Garrsons were placed in the inte
: rior, and the voice of the rebellion was hushe
This was in May, 1871.
But our determined fathers, though conquered
were nos subjugated. The menaces of bayonets
the obligations of extorted oaths and the threat
of tyranny and cruelty could not suppress peo
pie determined TO be free-and in the following
August there was another army to be met ant
another desperate battle to be fought: and a
Camden we suffered another disastrous rout, an.
another of our armies was annihilated. The
! victory of Cornwallis on that desperately con
tested field was complete, and for moment tn
hopes of the patriots, particularly at the South
were crushed; their only chance of success
seemed to be the intervention of European ma
tions.
Within the space of three months two armie
had been annihilated, and our most active mill
tary corps scattered to the winds. Cornwalli
considered the subjugation of South Caroin
accomplished, and, confident of fnture success
moved to the North State, to establish Roya
rule there. Then followed his march to and re.
} treat from Charlottesville defeat of his detach