Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1863-07-01
WHOLE NO. 2439.
"The Bell Of Desolation." /"

~. /.
Under this appropriate heading the
Richmond Wing thus bewails ''the abom-
nation of desolation" in rebeldom. Dark
as is the picture, it is not oyerdrawn.-
The traitors have suffered terribly for
their treason, and yet they continue to
wage war of disunion so causelessly, so
deliberately, and so wickedly begun by
themselves. Their madness to extend
human slavery and make it the corner
stone of Southern Confederacy, has al
ready brought unutterable woes upon the
seeded States. If the madness contin-
ues, they will be protraeted and multi
piled until the cause of the rebellion IS
utterly crushed out by the devastating
tread of hostile armies. Such IS the will
of Providence, and
The mills Of the gods grind slowly, but surely.
THE BELT OF DEsOLATIoN.-Day by day
the track of the destroyer becomes broad
er. Two-thirds of Virginia, two-thirds of
tennessee, the Coasts of North and South
Carolina, part of Georgia, nearly all of
Florida, Northern Mississippi, Western
and Southern Louisiana. great part of
Arkansas and Missouri, have already been
laid waste, and every hour brings tidings
of fresh destruction. Dispatches of Sat
urday informed us that the enemy had
destroyed million dollars worth of prop
erty on the Combahee and stolen thou
sand negroes. 1t was but few days ago
that they ravaged the county of Mathews,
in this state, and even while we write IT,
dings come to US that they are burning
private houses and destroying every grain
of corn they can lay their hands on in
the counties of King and Queen
Enough has been said of the barbarism
of this mode of warfare, and too much
has to be confessed of the entire impuni-
ty with which it is carried on. Our out
cries and our admissions of the weakness
or the imbecihty of our forces in the field,
but add to the hellish joy of the foe,
without stimulating troops, Government
or people, to the pitch of retributive VEN
geance. The belt of desolation widens
hourly, nor is there much prospect of an
abatement of theeviI Citizens complain
of the Government, which, in turn, COM
plains of the citizens Meantime, com.
mon inquiry is made as to the existence
and present whereabouts of the organized
forces of the Confederacy. -.7s l-ss....
We may be sure this state of things
will continue so long as the war is Waged
exclusively on Confederate soil Every
day the enemy remains in our territory
will add to the width of the belt of desc
lation, and they who now fancy them
selves out of danger, will soon discover
their mistake. If thousand Yankee
cavalry can ride entirely through the
State of Mississippi without molestatiOn,
what is to hinder like number from ge-
ing through Virginia, North and South
Carolina, to Port Royal? Certainly, un-i
armed and unorganized citizens will not
hinder them. -i-.,. ..r.. 4
The belt of desolatiOn serves many puF-
poses of the Yankee nation. 1t opens a
way TO free labor and Norther settlers, it
diminishes production and concentrates
Southern population within limits made
quate to their support; it prepares place
for Yankee emigration, if peace on the
basis of separation is declared. But this
is not all. 1t answers the purposes of war
as well as peace, by interposing country
destitute of supplies between our own
and the Yankee border. Thus it is a safe
guard against invasion. If Lee would
advance, he must move through desert,
dragging immense trains of food behind
him. The case is the same with Bragg,
with Johnston, with Price, ID. 8 .5s-.1. -
Indeed, we hear that Price will find it
difficult, if not impossible, to enter Mis-
souri,. In front of all our large armies
lies waste, where there is food for neith-
er man nor beast. Girded by belt of
desolation, the North is safe fIom inva-
sion the broader the belt the greater Sc
curity. As the months wane and the
years roll on. the South, unless something
be done, will become, IN the language of
Scripture, '.ther abomfnation iof desola-
tion" We believe that something will be
done The necessity of the case demands
it imperatively. Would that we could be i
sure that it will be done speedily. The
cup can be returned to the lips of the
North, drugged with tenfoid bitterness
Mercy to ourselves demands this act of
retributive justice to them. se7