Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (Charles City, Iowa) 1861-1864, 1863-07-09
The New Element in the War.

The war is full of strange develop
ments. Surprises follow without in
termission. To look back to the be-
ginning of the contest. and compare
the opinions of men on both sides with
subsequent events, and the effect is
most singular. Many Of the calcula-
tions then seriously INDUCED, now
look like the vagaries of children.
proving how thoroughly we were
novices in the business Of war. We
all remember the boasts of the rebel
leaders about the effect of the rebel
lion upon the business and social con-
dition of the North, and clearly see
how the result has falsiied their pre-.
dictions. In nothing, however, is the
war likely to differ so widely in its
developments from the course antici-
pated by the rebel instigators. as in
the tests which have been and are now
being applied to the fighting elements
Of the country.
The Southern leaders at the outset
expected nothing more than trial of
fighting capacity between the white
people of the North and the South,
counting confidently upon the superb
ority of the former. in connection with
their advantages Of situation, to more
than compensate for the disparity in
numbers on their side. Hence they
talked freely about one Southern man
being equal to their. five, and ten
Northerners. So far they imagined
the test would go-no further. They
never dreamed of another element
coming into the strife. They never
supposed il possible that one class of
Southern men would be found pitted
against another class of Southern men.
Such, however, to considerable extent
is already the case. and is likely to
prove much more so through the intro
duction of negro soldiers into the
ranks Of the Union army, and hence
the evident surprise and confusion in
to which the rebel chiefs are thrown |
by the appearance Of this enemy in |
the field. Hence there buster about |
giving no quarters to negroes taken
in arms, &c, &c. A contingency has
arisen for which they were not prepar-
ed. Besides merely testing the ques-
tion of superiority in the field between |
Northern and Southern men, the war
is likely also to raise the question be-
tween the Southern masters and their |
own masters.
There 10 now no longer . doubt of
this question being tried to its fullest |
extent. The negroes have themselves
determined their status as belligerents
in the war, before Port Hudson, in
Gen. Hunters Department, aud at Nil. |
liken's Bend. The world recognizes
their bravery. il their late masters
are not prepared to recognize their hu-
mauity. Even the latter will not long
be delayed. A man with a loaded
musket in his hand, knowing how TO
use it. will command respect, without
reference to the color of his skin.
We know of nothing which affords |
such ample ground for substantial
hope as to the termination of the strife,
as the developments recently made in
relation to this question of negro sol
diers. They solve several problems
Of great intricacy involved in the war
mot only 80 far a. concerns its pros
ecution and termination, but as to
what 10 to be done with the conquered
country. The rebel South will con-
tain at least one decidedly loyal ele-
ment when the war is over. The ne
groes who have fought for the Union
and their own freedom at the same
time. will constitute no uncomfortable
power in the rebel States when the
conflict is over, aud may. and doubt
less will. exert great influence for the
permanent restoration Of order. What
ever may be the political issue, il is
theory which would seem to possess
poetical justice, .. least, that south
Carolina. the leader, aud, in great
measure, the cause of the rebellion,