The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-10-14
FROM THE SOUTH.
Tie Final Struggle.
From the Richmond Examiner, Sent a

From the Richmond Examiner, Sept "a.
The final struggle for the possession If
Virginia is now near. This war draws to
close. If Richmond is held by the South
till the LIST of November, it will be ours
for evermore, for the North will never
throw another large army into the abyss
where so many lie the war will conclude,
beyond a doubt, with the independence of
the Southern States. Events have made
this city, in itself insignificant, the key
stone of the arch. Probably the last inn
mense effort which the enemy is about to
make, would not be attempted had not At
lanta fallen into the hands of Sherman.
But Sherman's triumph compels Grant to
match it or sink into insignifcance.
According to their well-settled custom,
the enemy proclaims one intention. Grant
himself, in a public speech made during
his late journey, has notified the country
that, whereas "Sherman had scotched the
tail IN Georgia, he was on his way to crush
the head of the rebellion in Virginia. {"
What is of more Importance, he has brought
up the James River fifty thousand new
troops. 1t is true they will hardly do more
than make up the depletion of the last
two months. 1t is also true that they are
troops of the very meanest description
substitutes, the crimped levies, the refuse
OF the Yankee army. But they are not
brought here now in mass, except to be
employed Immediately. The blow must be
struck within the next three weeks, or it
cannot be struck at all Even success
would he useless for the election. unless
obtained in the coming month
But it is useless to enumerate the proofs
OF the proposition, which no intelligent OBJ
server can treat as doubtful, that the final
struggle for Virginia is about to be made
below Petersburg, and perhaps, too, in the
valley. Only one fear clouds the reflect
ing mind. 1t is not the fear that our Gen
erals will be found unequal to their duty,
or that our armies are insufficient. 1t is a
fear arising from the past conduct of our
central military authority on every such
crisis. Just when the scale trembles, Just
when the tiger is about to spring, Just
when the enemy's columns are about to
emerge from the mist, that has hitherto
been their chosen moment to disintegrate
our forces, and to attempt insignificant
conquests hundred miles away. Long,
street was sent to threaten Knoxville when
Grant was about to bound ON lookout
Mountain.
An army was distinguishing itself before
Little Washington while Butler was land
ing at Bermuda Hundred Breckenridge
was ordered out Of the valley while Hunter
was about entering it. Recollections like
these crowd upon the mind and painfully
Cypress it now. This species of strategy,
so often occurring, is the sole fear of the
army and country at this moment. But at
this time, at least, we tremble before shad-
ows. Some personages in history have
been styled worse than untaugbt, because
they were unteachable; but their existence
may be doubted. By such stern lessons
as the Confederate authorities have re-
ceived, they must have learned at least
this much-that troops must be concen-
trated in country at stake, not sent
out OF it,