The Portland daily press., 1863-03-02

their goodly city had not been laid in ashes
before II became haunt of obscene creatures.
No sign of relaxation there, And but a short
way of, Mobile, by the shore of her spacious
bay, keeps diiigent watch and ward, expect
ing In the light of each morning sun to see the
thrice accursed stars and stripes cleaning
through the smoke of bombarding squadron.
All along the gulf and round the coast of
Florida this omnipresent enemy, who is said
to have just been playing his last card, is
shutting up every river and planting his guns
on every strong place. Savannah, shut in
from the sea by fort Pulaski, in the hands of
the same inveterate Yankee, listens for the
first boom of the artillery which is to level her
walls with her sandy soil and Charleston,
grimly erect, but with beating heart, stands
waiting the onset of the great armada. These
few acres of old Oyster Point, it seems. al
ready swept and devastated by copfagration
are TO be the object and the prize of the most
potent armament by far that American waters
have ever seen. This very iioment, it may
pc, the black Monitor batteries are steaming
between Sumter and Moultrie. No signs Of
relaxation, or of encouragement and despair
IN the enemy here. Pass further and you will
find the whole coast from Charleston TO Nor
folk, and every river to the head Of tide wa
tiers, and every creek and sound formed by the
sea islands, swarming with their gunboats and
transports, ready TO pour in gasses of troops
wherever there is a chance of plunder, bridge
burning and general havoc.
From Norfolk, all around by the Chesapeake
and Potomac, we are guarded by gunboats,
and no living thing tsave skulking smugglers)
suffered to enter or 90 out. On the Rappahan-
mock two hundred thousand men wait for
drying wind to move ION TO Richmond" once
more, led by genuine apostle of emancipa-
ton. At last the savage Abolitionsts OF Mass
achusetts have the right man in the right place
Heretofore they have rather wished the defeat
of Lncols generals on the Potomac. because
they seemed to be soldiers and not thieves or
assass&s but with Hooker they feel at home
under Hooker they count upon owning south
ern plantanons aud giving law to southern vas
sails. To possess himself Of the property of
Others genuine Yankee will perhaps even
fight.
And northwestern Virginia is desolated by
Miiroy and his men, and Kentucky and the
hall OF Tennessee-the richest and iairest land
OF all the west-are entirely in the clutch of the
enemy, while rivers bring them up fleets of
transports, and Rosecrans, with another large
army, threatens to sweep all opposion from his
path and join the other brigands who are
crowding upon Vicksburg. Where, in all this
wide circuit, does the invasion seem to be fail
ing or giving ground? All around the border.
and in the very heart Of the Confederacy, the
foot of the enemy is planted and his feon flag
flies; and il means sulugdtioR and egte,mina-
ton II is, indeed, the third stage of the war,
and we believe the last; the struggle will be
desperate. Ifit be the "last card, = Ii is one on
which the stake is life or death, honor or shame
either our name and nation will extinguished
in night OF blood and horror, or else new
sovereignty, the newest, fairest, proudest, win
take her seat among the powers OF the earth,
with the applause ofman and the blessing OF
heaven.