The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1863-01-23
A Look Ahead.
FALMOUTH, NA.,(
January S, 1868. !

Mr.. EDITOR:
Now while our prospects are Frightening,
and our hearts are filled with glad hope
while our army takes new courage, and
thirsts for another opportunity of striking for
its country, let our friends at home do some
thing that shall show the world that they
Lave men and brighter hopes, that they have
formed new and strong resolutions, which are
bound to effect materially the cause We are
fighting to maintain. While they examine
the present state Of affairs, and study care
fully the prospects of our being able to put
down the rebellion, within a short time which
every faithful loyal citizen cannot fail to do
they must necessarily discover, that they
have very important duty, now to perform.
Let them then thoroughly examine, and pre-
pare to promptly discharge it.
All can be but mindful of the fact that
the term of enlistments of our two years and
nine months men, will very soon expire
Should the weather be as bad as is usual
during the remainder of this season render
ing the moving of our army impossible, (and
the excellent weather we have had thus far
leads US, greatly to fear iD how little would
they be able to accomplish, during the re-
naming part of their term, especially as We
may have to calculate upon moderate move
ments, even after good weather shall return.
1t takes large army some time to get under
way fairly, and then it moves very slowly
In discharslns our two years men, We lose
many Of our very best officers and men.
Couple with these our nine months men,
and it makes breech in our army, which
Will be felt severely, unless care is taken, in
| lime to provide for it. What is to be done :?
We are by no means sure we shall not want
as large an army after the month of May
next as We want now, and as there is great
chance for the army being prevented from
operating much this winter by bad weather,
and even II 1t can operate may suffer such
reverses as to require much time to recruit,
and thus rapidly consuming the precious
days, it seems to devolve upon US as faith
ful supporters of our cause. to take prompt
measures for preventing the above facts
proving an embarrassment to the county.
Perhaps our commander-in-chief expects
to end the war within the next three or four
months. Perhaps he will but as we are not
positive In regard to the matter, and as past
experience has taught US to make timely
preparations, for foreseen events, it seems ito
me that now is the time to begin to think
about filling the places of those soldiers who
are soon be mustered out of the service
1t must appear plain to all, that consider
ing the vast numbers We are losing and are
likely to lose in battle, together with the mum
Der to be discharged in the spring, our army
must be very much reduced, unless new reg
lments are organized and drilled in time tt
take their places. Surely but few such bat
ties as the battles of Fredericksburg and Mul
treesboro are necessary to reduce our army
to an hundred thousand, saying nothing o
the effects of disease and as our armv il
met by one equally as large at nearly ever,
point, it certainly seems to me, however i
may seem to others, that our army cannot b,