The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1863-07-17
VIVA. has been Accomplished.

ton, are disposed to look upon the dark side
Of the war, and especially to those who. in
order to create dissatisfaction among the
people. by their public journals and speeches
are setting forth what they assumeas facts
that the war has been In operation two
years, and for the vast amount Of money ex
pended, and lives lost we are no nearer the
end OF the war than atfrst, and therefore
weshould give up tho contest Us futile and
impossible.
No man con appreciate tho vast undertake
en- Of preserving our National unity, who
docs not consider that before q gun was
fred at the dear old aag, the loyal States
were stripped Of oil weapons of offensive OF
defensive warfare save their brave hearts and
strong arms. Tho four years Of the outgo-
ing Administration had boon spent in filling
Southern arscnals with ammunitions ofwar,
reducing the regular army to the minimum
standard, bankrupting tho Treasury, ruin
ing our credit ut home and abroad, sending
our little Navy upon distant and impossible
missions, so that the Brooklyn was tho only
armed vessel at the command Of Mr.. Lincoln,
filling about every Office Of the government
with traitors or their sympathizers and hence
having tho matter so arranged that the rebel
States were completely on war footing be-
forc the new Administration was inaugerat-
ed. As far rs prepared armament is con-
ccrncd either on land or sea, there Is now
hardly a petty republic of South America
that is not better prepared to mako war,
than the loyal States wero at the breaking
out Of the rebellion.
As we before remarked II Is necessary to
understand these facts In order to appreciate
any success we may have gained. If tho
reader will consult the map, he will sec the
position Of the loyal and disloyal lines. Com
mcncing at tho extreme west we find tho
greater part Of New Mexico and oil of the
Indian territory held by the rebels. WcOc-
cupied only that portion Of Missouri north
Of the Hannibal and st. Joseph r. r. and
tho city Of st. Louis on tho east, and the
counties adjoining. The Mississippi was
completely in rebel possession fortified as far
rs Columbus. We held on the Ohio, Cairo
and Paducah only the rebels occupying oil of
Kontuoky except tho towns immediate upon
tho Ohio, all Of Virginia east of Prunty,
the terminus Of the N. Western railroad,
end their lines extended thence to the Poto-
mac and down to and around Washington
within nine miles.
Having thus in our minds tho cxtcnt OTTER
ritory held and occupied by tho insurgcnt
forces, let US see what territory We have TO
gained, and the position Of the contending
forces at the present time.
Two years have not passed without cur
failing tho area Of the South" This term
no longer includes Missouri. Kentucky Ma
ryland or Tennessee, territory in extent near
ly, il not quite, greater than England, Scot
land and Ireland, France and Spain. For
every foot Of this territory our armies have
fought, and conquered. while the insurgent,
have not permanently extended their lines
ono inch in sixteen months. Western Vir-
ginia, in area and population larger than
Now Hampshire and Rhode Island, is wrcst-
cd from their grasp, and is now sovereign
State in tho Union. Kentucky. which an
swcrcd tho call Of the President so contempt
ously and refused single man has now IS 900
soldiers In the National army. Tennessee
which was completely under tho rebel con-
troll, has now over 10000 troops fighting
the rebellion. They have lost control Of the
Mississippi, the Cumberland, tho Tennessee,
the Arkansas, tho Red and the Yazoo rivers,
thus laying bare the very heart Of tho rebel
lion to our armies, and seyering the Confeder.
acy in twain.
We have now In our possession the north
ern and northwestern parts Of Arkansas, one
third Of North Carolina and Florida, almost
the entire state OF Louisiana, and tho fall of
Vicksburg insurcs tho repossessiOn Of the
state Of Mississippi. We have driven tho
rebels from New Mexico and the other terri.
tories. We have captured Fort Macon, Fort
Pulaski, Fort Marion, Forts jackson and st.
Philip. We hold Norfolk and Newborn,
and Beaufort, and Pensacola. and New Or
leans, whilc wo trust Mobile, Wilmington
and Charleston will DO added to tho list in
due timc.
Grants army Of 100000 veterans is now
liberated to either cooperate with Banks at
Port Hudson, or form tho right wing of Rose
Grams victorious army already marching
along. Bragg's headquarters is now seventy
fvo miles south Of the northern Alabama
limo. Cut OF from Texas, their depot Of sup.
plies, and pressed by tho crushing Gordon
from the north and west, tho prospects of tho
the Gulf States are not entirely ercourag-
ing.
From the data above given the reader can
mark the position Of our daily advancing
lines, and from these he will draw oncour-
agement or rorow as no no may wish. The
contest on tho Potomac has not been decid-
cd, and we do not count that position in the
present aspect Of Affairs. II