Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1864-02-24
Signs of storms.

Signs Of storms.
The signs of the times indicate that with
the breaking up of winter we shall see again
the collision of Union and Rebel armies, and
hear the crackings of terrible storms. just
where the collisions are to occur of course IT
is in vain to surmise, but. that therefare to be
terrible onslaughts on the part of the Union
forces, and desperate defences by the enemy,
cannot be doubted. The Administration ap-
parently aims to bring on the final crisis, and
have it well passed by the next Fourth of Jn-
ly. The enemy are crowded into corner,
where they must fight quickly or give up their
game. In and concerning Virginia theee has
been an ominous silence Of late. Still,
enough has leaked out to justify the belief
that Meade has been largely reinforced.
Some entertain the expectation that with the
opening Of spring Lee will attempt another
raid into Pennsylvania. Others, doubling
any SO reckless folly in Confederate counsels,
imagine that the Army Of the Potomac,
strengthened beyond any former condition,
will early take up its march Southwark.
While nothing is in progress we hear perpet-,
ually of preparations; latterly, every grand
advance is preceded by period Of marked
| silence.
Grant appears to be at Knoxville with not
less than $4,000 men, leaving Chattanooga.
into which supplies have been pouring all
winter, and which no enemy seriously threat
ems, as q base of supplies for his next CAM
paign. Some 20 or 80 miles eastward from
Knoxville is Longstreet, with perhaps 40, 900.
Johnston, who superseded Bragg, has been
far down in Georgia. To-day he is heard
from at Dalton, as if figuring an early advance
on Chattanooga. The rebels have been busy
for months putting the East Tennessee and
Virginia railroad into order, and SO making
junction of Lonestreet's and Lees armies
practicable. II Lee is to abandon Virginia
and with Longstreet assail Knoxville, Grant
b there to meet him. If the Confederate
policy requires Longstreet to leave Tennessee
and Join Lee for q dash into Pennsylvania.
Grant probably will not leave Meade to fight
their joint forces alone. One thing is GER
tain, that Grant, undisturbed by the intoxica-
ting incense of the President-makers, is busy,
and after the glorious issue Of his busy days
before Donelson and Yicksburg, none can
doubt that the next campaign under his direc.
ton, supplied and supported as he is, will
give results worthy Of his fame and matching
our greatest expectations.
To all appearances Mobile is soon to be
ours. Farragut who recovered to the Union
New Orleans is on his way to Mobile with a
fleet. A while since we were assured that 4
force had gone out from New Orleans
toward Mobile, and had reached the
mouth of the Pascagoula river which
is but few miles to the west of Mobile Bay,
and is already in our possession. Then,
Sherman-the General famous for turning
up in all sorts of unexpected places just
where his command is wanted-was last
heard from south Of Meridian, E" Mississippi,
and Johnston and Polk were marvelling
whether he heads for Mobile or Montgome-
ry. Unless the enemy choose to surrender
chaaply, the only port of consequence, ex-
cept Galveston, that they still hold on the.
Gulf, Johnston and his conscripts will have
little time to hover about yainly threatening
Chattanooga and small force to spare TO
meet Longstreet's demands.
Dahlgren appears yet to keep watch over
Charleston. The city itself, like Fort Sum-
ter, is so battered and knocked to pieces
that there is little to gain now except pres
| tige by taking it. To gain that is obviously
| a task that will cost many lives. It is the
crown of the Confederacy, bauble of no
| practical use, but with it goes the pride of
| naughty South Carolina. Gilmore seems
| suddenly to have suspended his daily dose of
shot to the doomed city, and reports him
self in Florida, an expedition under his
command having landed at Jacksonville and
| pushing into the interior, from which it has
not vet returned, taken many prisoners
and several pieces of artillery. Whether
this is simply diversion for the entertain
ment of his gallant men, from which he will
return to Charleston, again, or whether that
city is to be left in its present half-ruincd
state, only threatened enough to keep Beau
| regard and his force maintaining its costly
defense does not appear. But this does ap-
| pear. The people have job of President
making appointed for next fall, to which
they like to give undivided attention, for its
importance, never disregarded, has, since the
Buchanan batch, been more than ever appre-
ciated as vital. To give to that job the un-
distracted attention that It's deIicacy deserves
the rebellion must by the middle Of summer
be so far crushed out that it can be managed
with one hand. Moreover, Europe is busy
preparing for war on a large scale. TheUnited
States must needs get its affairs into easily
manageable shape before that explosion oc-
ours, for their Intervention may possibly be-
demanded by our good friends across the
Atlantic, and We would not willingly be too
busy to do justice to any one who calls. At
home all parties are anxious to push things
through to their end-the Government 10
finish up great work thus far well conduct
ed, the Confederacy to get in another blow
before exhaustion brings on collapse. Sn
we may well expect memorable spring, and
that the early summer will teen with events
which in history will figure as most import
ant and conclusive.-S. +. Bulletin.