The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1864-11-16

desert by burning its mills, 1granaries, and
homesteads. and destroying eae food, stand
ing crops. live stock and agricultural i'm
plements Of peaceful non-ccnbatants. The
main army, after series of defeats in which
lts losses have been enormous; after at
tempts by raidlng parties TO break up eur
railroad communications, which have re-
suited ~ The destruction Of large par, at
the cavalry engaged IN the work; after
constant repulse OF repeated assaults on
our defensive lines, is. with the aid Of
heavy reiniorcements, bnt with, it is hop
ed, waning prospect Of further progress in
the design, still engaged in an effort, com
menced more than four months ago, 10
rcapture the town Of Petersburg.
The army Of General Sherman, although
succeeding at the end of the summer 10
obtaining possession Of Atlanta. has been
unable to secure any ultimate advantage
.rom this success. The same General who.
in February last, marched a large army
from Vicksourg to Maridian with no other
result than being forced 10 march back
again. was able, by the aid Of greatly in
| creased numbers and after much delay, To
force passage Tram Chattanooga to At
lanta. only TO be for the second time com
relIed 10 withdraw on the line Of his sd-
vance. without obtaining control of sin
gle mile Of territory bevsnd the narrow
track ot ais march, and without gaining
aught beyond the precsrious possession Of
lew fortified points in which he 10 con-
PEELED 10 maintain heavy earrisons, end
which are menaced with re capture.
The lessons afforded BY the history Of
this war are fraught with instruc tioa and
encouragement. RspTstsdiy dsriag ths
war have formidable expeditions been d.
reeted by the enemy against points igno-
rantly supposed to be oi vital i'm mportance
to the Conlederacy. Sene Of thsse expe-
ditions have, at immense cost, been sue
cessful; but in no instance have the pro-
missed fruits been reaPed. Again. in the
present campaign, was the deusisn fondly
cherished that the capture Of Atlanta and
Richmond would, ii effected, end the war
by the overthrow Of our Government and
the subnissioh Of our people. We can
now judge by experience how unimportani
is the influence Of the former event upon
our capacity for defence. upea the courage
aad spirit Of the people, and the stability
Of The Government. We may, in like man-
ner. Judge that il the csmpaiga sgsiust
Richmond had resulted in success insteah
of failure !; il the vilor Of the army 0nder
the leadership Of its accomplished CEN
msnder had resisted in VAIN the over.
uhelming masses whish were. en the con-
trary. decisively rspulsrd if we had been
compelled to syacaste Richmond as well as
/ Atlanta, The Confederacy would have re-
manned as erect and defiant as ever. No
thing could have been changed in the pur.
pose Of its Government. IN the indomitsble
valor Of its trseps. or in the unquenehable
] spirit Of its people. The baffled aud dis.
appointed Zoe would in vain have scanned
the report Of your proceedings, at soms
new legislative seat, tor any indication
that progress had been made in his gigan.
tic task Of conquering a free people. The
truth so patent 10 usmust ere long be f"rc-
ed upon the reluctant Northern miad.
There are no vital pouts on the presersa.
linn Of which the esntinaed existence ol
the Cosfe,leracy depends. There is nc
military success Of the enemy which eau
accomplish its destruction. Not the fall ol
i Richmond. nor Wilming.on, nor Charles:
ton. nor S,vsonah. NOR Mobile. nor all
combined. can save the ssspy from the
constant and exhaustive drain Of blood and
treasure which Gust continue until he shall
II discover that no Deace is altainabIe unless
based on the reesgai,iOn Of our indeieasi-
bic rights.
Before leaving this subject il is gratify-
ing to assure you that the military supplies
essentially requisite for public defence
will be found. as heretofore. adequate ta
our needs ]; and that abundant crops have
rewarded he labor OF the farmer. and rea-