Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1863-06-17
The Belt of pesolation.

Day by day, remarks the Richmond Wing,
the track of the destroyer becomes broader.
Two-thirds Of Virginia, twothirds of Tennes-
see, the coasts of North Carolina, part Of
Georgia, nearly all of Florida, N,rthern Mis-.
ssissippi, Western and Southern Louisiana, q
great part Of arkansas and Missouri have al.
ready been'laid waste, and every hour brings
tidings Of fresh destruction. kilograms OF
Saturday informed us that the enemy had
destroyed o million dollars worth of property
on the Combahee and stolen a thousand ne
groes it was but a few days ago that they
ravaged the country of Mathews in this State,
and even while we write tidings come to US
that they are burning private houses and de
stroying every grain of corn they can lay
hands on in the county of King and Queen.
Enough has been said of the barbarism OF
this mode of warfare, and too much has to Dc
confessed of the entire impunity with which
it is carried on. Our %outcries and our adj
missions Of the weakness or the imhecility Of
our forces in tue field but add to the hellish
jy of the foe. without stimulating troops.
Government or people to the pitch Of retribr-
tive vengeance. The belt of desolstion W.
dens hourly, nor is there much prospect of
IN abatement of, the evil. Citizens complain
OF the Government, which in turn complains
of the citizens. Meantime commo- inquiry
is made as to the existence and present where
ab'uts Of the organized forces Of the Con-
federacy.
We may be sure this state of things will
continue 80 long rs the war is wnged exclu
sively on Confederate soil. Every day the
enemy remains in our territory will add to
H. r,I.h of tha h.lt &c 1ooa1,f,.o ord thnU
who fancy themselves out of danger will soon
discover their mistake. If o thousand Yam.
kee cavalry can ride through the State OF
Mississippi, without molestation, what is to
hinder a like number from going through
Virginia, North and South Carolina to Port
Royal? Certainly unarined and unorganized
citizens cannot hinder them.
The belt of deaolation serves many pur-
poses of the Yankee nation. 1t opens a way
to free labor and Northern settlers it dimin-
ishes production and concentrates Southern
population within limits inadequate to their
support it prepares a + place for Yankee emf
grafton if peace on the basis of separation is
declared. But this is not all 1t answer the
purposes of war as well as peace, BY iuterpos
ing a country destitute Of supplies between
our own and the Yankee borGet::
Thus it is a safeguard against invasion. II
Lee would advance, he must move through a
dragging immense trains Of food be
hind him. The case is the same. with Bragg,
with Johnston, with Price. Indeed, we hear
that Price will Oh this account find it difficult
ifnot impossible, to enter Missouri. In front
of all our large armieslies awaste, where there
is food for neither man nor beast. Girded
by q belt of desolation, the North is safe from
invasion the broader the belt the greater its
security. As the months ware and the years
roll on, the South, unless something be done,
will become, in the language of Scripture,
{" The abomination Of desolation." We believe
that something will be- done-the necessity Of
the case demands it imperatively; would that
we could be sure it would be done speedily
This cup can be turned to the lips of the
North drugged with ten-iold bitterness. Mer
cy to ourselves demands this act Of retribntiye
Justice to them.