Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1863-03-27


have, from the first, had great advantage over
the federal armies,-iu their ability to trans
port troops and supplies with rapidity from
one point TO another. BY the well-arransed
system Of railroad communication which they
hold. Ne war ever waged was 20 dependant
as this upon railroads such immense
armies as havr been mustered, on both sides,
could not have been subslsted by any les
effective means Of transportation. And to
supply them. even the power Of steam has
been severely taxed. There is, unfortunately
for them. a limit to the durability Of ears,
engines and rail-. however. and the rchcls
begin to fear that their o,cr-ta,kci railroads
win f,il altogether. Richmond PAPER of
the 18th, rcosrkius chat the armies now dc
pend for their existence upon -upplic~ from
distance. says
Tie rcIror9s o. the Sfctr are oa fr griHtel
giriaJ ou'. They have decreased their speed TO
20 miles an hour as maximum rate. and are
carrying - 10 % rer cent. less tonnage than
formerly This change in theirrate Of speed and
quantity cf freight has been made through ne
oessitv Tho woodwork Of the roads has rottei
and the machinery has worn cut. and owing 10
the stringent enforcement If the CONSUMPTION law
rs to railroad employees, the companies have no,
been allie. with all Their efforts. 10 supply either
the one r- the other We are not informed Of
the actual condition Of the railroads in the more
southern States but conceive that they are little
better oft than our ovI. except, perhaps, m the
matter IS negro labor The slaves along their
route, may mot have hal the same facilities ioT
escaping to Gre cueuF ss IN this State.
We have ycriurcl to call attention To- this
subject because Of its vital importance, and from
= knowledge that owing TO the great measures If
finance impressmont, sc. now weighing upon
the Government, 1t has been overlooked. II IS
not necessary for the Government 20 take PCS
session Of the roads Blu, it should -upplv them
sbundantly with the necessary labor end iron
and then insist on their being kept IN frst-rate
order, and being worked efficiently. To this
end Government should appoint an inspector Of
railroads Railroads are a part, and an indis-
pensshle part, Of our military system; and u
they are allowed To- fall through from any causes
Government and peopl, may prTare for fhe re-
treat O. orr GrRics. and The s-rreHdeF ~ urei
q hc yairails country nor i7 orr possession.
Probably most Of the rolling stock, and all
the iron Of the Southern railroads. came
from the North The WIZ and the enforce
ment Of the blockade hsvc no doubt turned
their rspair-shors into cous,ruction-shors,
to some extent. But TO- build without ma
tcrial and machini-'- l. iupa-.illc; and os
the rebel armies have failed tn capture rail
. road for some months Te-', there appears "a
+ he nothing left hut slow hut sure death frr
b every Southern linz.
With tho ability To- transport men and
SUPPLE, rerishes the strength Of the rete
+ War Department In desperation they may
make the attempt To- seize some point that
viii furnish a supply oi needed material
But our armies viii guard well every point
/ So exposed and hcotcu hack o., riel-
>ta7iu- sul cut "a from relief, must dis
rer@e.
pfstEuEs-That tho-- who have ,o'1r
teerel @ rescue th,ir country in TIE ha1r O.
peril should vilfully de.ert from her ssryi,'
seems improbable There &. an iu. .n,p-snc,
in surprising tlli freeman, w}a l,su prompt
Is. and .f his own cIlic-. undertaken Pos
i'io' e. arms 90 c11eII those jaws ami i.a
government "hl.n are ni- I1l'r. 1nd vhie.
re-t upon The win rr the -1s.rc'-n people a'
a"ih"rit'- -h'aia o'1nd2n 10 manner Chat
may ne termed criminal t.o r'-' and The
antir v.i"' 'f7e .o7n '-i-nei lim- .n.
"m.'' Dee H'r with 500 much readiness aooeI,
oi- ln any cases which have seemed Ike de-
-eIi'"' therefore, ''r I.,-'ml i'" ..1- been
very ua'' " favor 90. 'f' -'.-Ior-a'- thai
which WOULD 1"-'r "iaer Circumstance
an- r'''r different l.Tm ". government
h''o 'c.n deemed conclusive against hmm
.a, VIII u- been deemed capable a' ez
ri'n7u"n. Tie government ha- 'acit.- nh
mit'ed that D, was MT % 10 slpp7sed. that
loyal citizens determined o. maintain 'e-ifi
mate authority ~ any ac-lrco. could in th'
proper srn-c ot Che term ds-srt th" curc tho,
n'' en- eager. y l--.''i
But other influences have been al "orl
against those which tend 70 i'v'itv' and onr
worst FOES are now found IN our very midst
IhegoTemmeni is compelled to assume differ
ent attitude and 70 pursue different course
\ ccnseript IA" has been enacted sna ser
wee though Involuntary must now he ren
deTed It Tlll n longer re- possible o. as
-dme that soldiers are Co patriotic that any
seemIne deielletlon can be explained as aris
Inc from necessity and not from choice ITue
and loyal rs well o. I'eryerse and disloyol
men, must 1ear the severity Of the discipline
which a Il no" imperative upon the govern
hundred thousand soldiers are reported sb.
sent without leave, that the majority IF this
urirn1sr lz-0 thinE te1l q 70 1o---i al