The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1863-06-05
VOLUME 10, NUMBER "A.
Rebel View OF the Situation.

There is evidently to be an active summer
campaign. The plan Of the enemy seems to
be to keep our attention constantly excited
at every point at once, 30 that no part OF our
whole width Of frontier may bo freed from
the urgent immediate apprehension OF IN
attack. Then they can strike where they
think our line is tho weakest or where our
defenders are least prepared, and if repulsed,
they can retire and direct blow at some
other quarter. In the meantime they can
bag much plunder and cause much sorrow
and heart break to our people by expeditions
through thinly peopled regions, destitute .of
troops. They can also force more and moro
on our people within their lines the hated
oath for quiet life and TO save their pro-
perty from confscation. Thus they can
both demoralize and rob us within our own
borders, preparing all the whilo for serious
assaults and delivering them just when they
are ready and where they choose. Il is
hard to say ut what point they are most
active Just now. II one looks Southwest
ward Il would seem that the State OF Missis-
sippi is the region Of most extensive opera.
tions. Immense armies are gathering around
Vicksburg, and while preparations are in
tho back country is devastated and tho pco.
plc pundercd by cavalry raids; but at tho
very same moment Charleston Is kept on tho
qui pirc byenergctic preparations for another
attack, BY sea or land, or both at onco Tho
object may be only to prevent General Beau
regard from sending away any Of his troops
which now defend Charleston,
At tho Same instant Gen. Burnside threat
ems East Tennessee, and Gen. Hooker largely
reinforced Is expected to cross the Rapphan-
mock somewhere or anywhere from Culpcp-
per to Port Royal to keep some Of our forces
employed in the defence Of Richmond. Ro-
nforcements are sent to Fortress Monroe
The gunboats are harrasing North Carolina.
Five or six thousand Yankees arc reported to
bc in Plymouth, and several gunboats arc in
the sound. There is no enemy at Edenton
and Elizabeth City. They recently burnt
mill on Cliawan river, tho property OF MIR.
Hayes, situated milo below Winton.-
Some persons entertain tho idea that tho
force at Plymouth mediate mn expedition up
tho Roanoke river. The great numbers OF
tho cncny's forces and tho multitudcs Of
their shipping make II easy for them TO car.
~ on, simultaneously, all these operations.
and thcy do not caro- for delay, for 1t is our
people who are suffering, not theirs. Tho
longer this style OF warfare lasts. tho greater
will be tho mass OF plumber carried North.
the more Of. tho mills, machine shops, and
railroads they will have destroyed, the moro
of our national resources they will havo
ruined and wasted; and tho better chance
thoy will have for an irresistible advance at
last. I'D.
They arc in no hurry. Last year indeed
there was urgent haste to get the rebellion
crushed In 30 or 90 days. Now We hear
much less OF that vehement urgency, and tho
whole Yankee nation seems to have laid out
its accounts for war as the settled business Of
life, rather than consent to peace and separ-
alton. They are perfectly willing to fight
upon the present system for 20 or 40 years.
They arc willing during all that time to 60
on submitting to such defeats as they have
sustained at Fredericksburg and on tho Rap
pahannock. because by these defeats they
lose not foot Of ground. They lose moth
ing but men, and men are OF less value to
them than us: to kill 1000 Southern soldiers
they would be willing Mt any time to sacri-
fco 5000 Hcssians to sustain q rcpnlsc.
which they would, however, represent as
mere retreat for stratagetic reasons. and
rather honorable than otherwise, and they
would regard the transaction as rather
paying one on the whole. One thousand
gallant Southern lives lost to us arc III bal
anced by the killing of 5000 Of their base
hirelings. jackson alone is dearer loss to
us than Gen. Hooker and his whole 10000
would be to them, and then speculate that IL
may bc Lees turn next, or Longstrect's, and,
that, at any rate, they are killing us slowly
of. and they are, in the meantime, stealing
much and running moro. and their women and
children are safe at home-many OF them
dressed better than cv n before. in the spoils
Of our homes; while tho Confederate women
and children are routed out Of house and
home, and dressedlike wild beasts. In short.
il we can endure this war Tor tho next half
century, thoy can and will wish US joy OF our
victories and our glory. We urge nothing.
suggest nothing, want nothing, only state
the iacts. Such is the policy Of the enemy
Such is his calculation, such is his interest
and intent.