Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1863-07-24
STATE OF THE WAR:

| their own ground, and ready and able as ever
| to meet and battle the enemy on our Northern
| frontier, Grant and Banks have discovered
that the capture of Vicksburg and Port liud-
son bY no means gives them command OF the
Mississippi, nor possession of that State.-
| They arc probably in no condition now to
commence any extensive operations at this
! deadly season, among the rivers and swamps
of the Southwest, in the midst Of hostile
| and exasperated population, and through q
wasted and thinly peopled country. The
Yankees are beginning only now to find out
what task they had undertaken. in subdulng
the Mississippi Valley. Certainly we have
not the Stree navigation" of the great river
but neither have they; nor ever shall have
without our consent. If wo could do nothing
more than plant the river thick with torpe-
docs, such us has just blown up the Dehalb, it
a sufficient warning tllat there is no free nav
ro,ion in our waters. Charleston is again be-
sieced most furiously by sea and land; and
again defends herself with cool desperation
worthy of her fame. If Beauregard has but
men enough he will drive back the enemy IN
another disastrous rcpulSe. Ifnot, he will make
Charleston cost them dear, and leave them
possession of u smoking ruin between the
Ashley and the Cooper, and they will be as
far from the subjugation Of this Coniederacy,
or even of South Carolina, as they were be-
fore. In Tennessee, Rosecranz seems at a
stand, like Grant in Mississippi; and although
the enemy muy waste and ravage Middle len
ncssee, they can neither govern nor enjoy it,
Meanwhile Morgan, with his four or five thou
sand riders, is sweeping over Indiana and
Ohio, burning bridges, tearing up railroads
aud making the Yankees of those parts feel
something of the stern realities of war upon
their own soil. He has already secured through
more than hallethe breadth Of the latter State,
as far as Piketon, on the Scioto, on his way
back to Western Virginia. Troops are gather
ny in great speed on his rear, to bar his way
on the very routes which he will not take; so
that We trust he will SOON be again within our
lines loaded with mis- spoils. This bold raid Is
mt this moment the only actively aggressive
operation in which our forces nrc engaged. 1t
is the only real movement we are making to.
wards restoration Of peace; for we repeat,
peace must bc conquered on the enemy's
ground OF it will not come at all.
The Florida and her sister ships, too, are
t1,,. u n
commerce begins 70 shrink and withcr before
the ycngeful dag of the Confedcrates; the
underwriters Offices are raising and still rails
Ing the rates of insurance; and the shippers
Of the world are sending forth their freights
in the ships of England, and of France
Herein, also, we arc making progress towards
peace; for it may as we'll be understood, once
for ALL that the proportion in which we can
hurt our enemies, is the exact measure in
which We can increase the pcacc-party in the
North, and aid in the overthrow Of their war
policy, and war administration.
We have but TO resolve on meeting their
war with unrcmtting resistance, at every
point; and carrying its calamitics, where as
wo can, home to their own doors; and our
cause is safe. But the new conscription must
be actively carried out; the stragglcrs and con-
valcscents must be gathered up; every depart
mcnt Of our military organization must in
crease its vigilance and activity. On that
condition. and on that alone, the Confedcracy
is invinciblc.