Delaware State journal and statesman. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1855-1870, 1863-03-06
A Rebel View of the military Situation

A Republican contemporary recommends the
following article, from recent number Of the
Richmond Enquirer, TO the particular notice of
those gloomy men who think that the rebels
have the advantage of us in the military position
lie thinks if they could look at facts from the
Southern point Of view, and see how our i'm
mepse forces by land and water are crowding
down upon the rebellion from every side, they
might come to more cheerful conclusions:
THE THIRD STAGE OF THE WAR.
We have fairly entered upon the third stage
indicated by the President in his message,
namely, that Of war for suhugaton and ex-
termination. The people of this Confederacy,
isolated and shut up from all the world, have
now to encounter the most horrible and demonac
effort for the assassination Of whole race that
history has yet recorded, or we believe will ever
have 10 record Till history grows grey. For it is
not every century, it is not every 9on that
shows the world Yankee nation Yes, the
Confederate people has now at last to strip for
battle 1t is people that must this time very
literally conquer or die.
No doubt 1t would be agreeable to believe that
this last stnge of the war will be soon over, and
must end in the speedy destruction of our in.
tending murderers, But look round the map of
the Couiederacy, and judge if we can soothe our
selves with this belief. In the very heart of the
country of our gallant Gentine Of the Aississippi
heroic little Vicksburg-has sustained indeed
and bafiied two tremendous siPges but a third
time her citizens see pouring 10 around them
:. from the north and from the west enormous
masses Of the beeagurng foe; iron floating
batteries again crowd down upon her; and.
even us you read these words, two hundred heavy
guns may be laundering upon her lefences, Il
hundred thousand men may be pressing to the
storm of her ramparts Again she will drive
them off perhaps, md remain the famous maiden
city Of this hemisphere, the bulwark of the West.
So be il But the vision we see on the Missis-
sippi does not look very like exhaustion or despair
on the part OF the foe just yet
And again, look TO the mouth of the mighty
river. New O,leans is not maiden city, alas |
the base rag that has 20 often been rent and
trampled before Richmond and before ViCksburg
flies from all the towers Of that deiloWered CITY.
Hordes of hungry Yankees, armed to the teeth,
sit IN the shade OF her orange groves, and station
negro guards over the mansions of her noblest
citizens. AL her best and fairest have to lament
every day that their gOOdly city had not been
laid in ashes before it became haunt of obscene
creatures. No sign Of relaxation there! And
but a short way off, Mobile, by the shores of her
spacious bay keeps diligcnt watch and ward
expecting in the light of each morning sun to sec
the thrice accursed stars and stripes cleaning
through the smoke of a bumbardiup souadron
I
ida, this onnipresent enemy, who is said to have
just been playing his lust card is sbutlinu ut
every river and planting his guns on every siront
> place. Savannah, shut in from the sea by Fort
Pulaski, in the hands of the same inyeternt,
Yankee, listen for the first boom of the artillery
, that is TO level her walls with her sandy soil
aud Charleston, grimly calm, but with beatin,
heart, stands waiting the onset Of the grea
, armada. Those few acres OF old Oyster Point
It seems, already swept and devastated by con-
aagrallUns, are to be the object and the prize
the most potent armament by far that America,
waters have ever seen. This very moment, i
may be, the black Monitor batteries are steaIninf
= between Sumpter and Moultrie No signs o
relaxation or Of encouragement and despair il
the enemy here Pass further and you will
find the whole coast, from Charleston 10 Norfolk
and every river to the head of tide water. ani
every creek aud sound formed by the sea Islands
swarming with their gunboats and transports
!, ready TO pour IN masses Of troops wherever
; there IS chance Of plumber, bridge burning
u and general havoc
from Norfolk all around Chesapeake and Pr
tomac we are guarded by gunboats, and nc
= living thing (save skulking smugglers) suffered
: TO enter or go out. Ga the Kappahaunock two
> hundred thousand men wait for a drying wind IN
move fon TO Richmond" once more. led Inv a
: genuine apostle Of determination. And
Northwestern Virglnia is desolated by Nlilroy
aud his men, and Kentucky and the half of Ten.
nessee, the richest and the farest land of all the
West, are entirely in the clutch of the enemy
while the rivers bring them up fleets of trans.
1 ports, and Roseurans, with another large army.
a threatens to sweep all opposition from his path
r aud Join the other brigades who are oIoEdinO
{ upon Vickssurg
Q Where in all this wide circuit, does the inya.
! sion seem to be fainting or giving ground An