Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1863-02-28
Twelve Months Aeo.

| t"eivo auOutub ASO v0'Oays says tine
Sacs nento Usiox of the 7th inst, since the
tieet4 Commodore Foots attacked and re-
ducs4 the rebel Fort Henry on the Tennessee
river Five days later. Roanoke island with
its Ratification and two thousand FIVE hun
drsd iebel defenders were captured by the
fleet md army of General Burnside On the
fourtesnth. Fort Donelson was invested, and
after @ri6c fighting surrendered to General
GraikAn the sixteenth. A few days after,
1s1n Qsen and Nashville were occupied
by Union troops. The month Of February,
1862, was month of activity aud glorious
success on the part of the Union forces. When
Forts Henry aud Donelson and Nashville fell
into the power Of tho Federal arms, It ap-
peared as If the main power of the rebels in
Kentucky and Tennessee was effectually do.
stroyed. But they rallied at Pittsburg Land.
ing, fought a desperate battle, were defeated.
and finally forced to abandon Corinth. It,
was then claimed TINT the rebel power in Ten.
nessee was certainly broken. 1t must. though,
be conceded that during the twelve months
succeeding the capture Of Forts Henry and
Donelson, the rebels in Tennessee and Mis-.
sissippi have exhibited energy, determination.
and resources not anticipated. They proved
themselves during tho summer not only able
to hold the Union armies in check, but abso-
lutcly 10 invade kentucky tho second time.
They were, of course, driven from the State,
but not until they had plundercd the people
of an immense amount Of property.
The turning point in tho fortunes of tho
Union cause last Winter was the capture Of
Fort Henry. From that date victory after
victory crowned the Union arms in the West,
and the tide was never turned until the seven
days battles were fought before Richmond
Much Of the ground gained in the West and
South was unfortunately lost before Richmond
and Washington. But notwithstanding these
drawbacks the Union cause has been very
greatly advanced since the 4th of February,
1869. Tho majority Of victories is largely
on the Union side, while the territory gained
is oil on that side. When Fort Henry fell,
the rebels held considerable portion Of Ken-
lucky, over one-half of Missouri, all of len
nessee, Arkansas. and Louisiana. They Oc-
cupied the Mississippi river from tho Gulf
to Cairo. and had fortified nearly every point
susceptible of defense. Forts Jackson and
Phillip, below Now Orleans, were theirs, and
that city was occupied by large rebel army.
Forts McRae and Barancas. aud the Navy
Yard at Pensacola, were in rebel possession.
So were Fort Pulaski. near Savannah, and
Others along the coast Of Florida. Opposite
Beaufort. North Carolina, Fort Macon was
under the rcbel flag; 90 was Norfolk aud the
famous Navy Yard nt Gosport, while the
Mcyimac was nearly ready to defy the
whole Federal feet Of wooden ships. The
rebel flag. too, Aoatcd defiantly at Manassas
and at Centrcville, and tho Potomac was
blockaded by rebel batteries Since the 4th
of February, 1862. the President of the Uni
ted States has. in accordance with his first
proclamation, aud with the aid Of the gallant
army and navy, possessed" Norfolk. drs-
troyed the Merrinac, " possessed" Forts Ma
con, Pulaski, Nlcliae Barancas, jackson, St.
Philip New Orleans, and with it the Mint
and Custom House Of that city. These
achievements, Of themselves, are sufficient to
stamp campaign of year as one of glorious
successes which vastly outweigh any tempor-
ary defeats to which the Union arms have
been subjected. but they constitute only
fpart Of the achievements Of tho year. Mis-
souri, and Kentucky have been cleared Of reb-
el armies; important points in Arkansas
have been captured and occupied or des-
toyed, the Mississippi river has beon
cleared of rebels, and every important point.
including Memphis-except Vicksburg aud
Port IIudson-is under the protection Of the
Stars and Stripes. The two points excepted
are now invested by Union fleets and armies
of such force and number as to render their
reduction a mere question of time. Within
the year. too, Western Virginia has been re-
deemed from rebel rule ); hor people have Or
ganised their territory and population into
State which has been admitted iuto the I'm.
u. ~v~v nA.>rI
the loyalty Of her citizens. but she has gone
further. and declared herself decidedly in fa-
vor Of esnancipatimg her slaves, and thus rid
herself Of tho cause. as the majority Of her
people believe. of this wicked and slaughter
ing rebellion. This Of itself may be consid-
cred social and political victory Of moro
real importance than any half dozen military
victories of the war. 50 far, then, q the ad-
vance of the Union cause is involved. the
loyal people have great cause to bc thankful.
If the hopes Of the most ardent have not
bsen fully realized, still We have evidence aud
facts in abundance Of tho progress of events
to call forth our deepest gratitude. But tho
advantages gained have bsen at . fearful sac
rifice Of lite and treasure. Tens Of thou
sands Of loyal hearts which beat expressive to
loyal sentiments and devotion to the flag Of
tho Union, have ceased their pulsations
through the agency Of this worse than Satan
ic rebellion. Thousands of men have volun-
tarily laid down their lives for tho cause of
tho Union and their country. and thousands
mors must fall before tho rebellion can be
subjugated. But their noble and heroic sac.
riice has not been lost upon tho country.
Their example will stimulate others to rally
to the support Of the National Government