Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1864-03-25
For the Delaware Gazette.
NOTES IN DIXIE


One of the most remarkable features Of th
war for the Union, is the wnderfuf al
plication which has been made {
the principles and discoveries Of sceince in tn
use of our military resources. Civilization
has been proven to be self-defensive. AS
advances our military power is not dininishe'
| but increased in a ten-fold ratio. The NOR
we know, the more we gain not only in mora
but in physical strength. The discoveries il
| Chemistry, Pharmacy, Mechanics and th'
| Mechanic Arts, have been found no less avail
able in crushing the rebellion and fighting
| barbarism, than gunpowder and projectiles.-
Steam and Electricity are as essential to the
successful carrying on of this war, a!
Saltpetre and the weapons adopted for its use
The physical supremacy of civilization ovel
barbarism, of human liberty over oppression
and of republicanism over despotism in Anne
rica, is no longer secure without these new
and powerful agents. Our armies advance
with the locomotives The railroads and riv-
ers are their strategic lines and they are the
vital arteries through which their life-blood
circulates. The electric wires are the nerves
which join them to the Nations loyal head
and heart and to its central executive pow
er. Over them its thoughts, feelings and vo-
litions reach the camps and bivouacs oD light
ming wings. Our hundreds of thousands Of
soldiers and our vast armamentB are obedient
10 the clicking of the magnet. Steam brings
the soldier his food, supplies him with raj
menr, and carries his messages of affection to
and from bis friends and loved ones. A mill
lion soldier tongues have learned to utter daily
blessings on steam. The sick and wounded bless
it, az it swiftly bears them from the hospital
and battlefield to the quiet comfort of their
homes. The SCARED and sun-burned veteran
blesses it as it gently sets him down at his own
loved ireside. and she bIesses it who with anxi-
Gus eyes has long watched for his coming.
To justly estimate the achieements Of the
army of the Cumberland it must be remem-
bered that it has steadily and persistently
beaten the enemy back into the interior of
his own territory, distance of over three
hundred miles. Three hundred miles Of rail-
road now joins that karmy to its proper base
of supplies. Much of that immense line pass
es through a country infested with guerilas,
who, if they could sever one foot of it, would
place the army at their mercy, and though the
road is well guarded, yet at many points the
enemy daily and nightly listens to the whist
ling of our passing engines and vigilantly
awaits his opportunity to obstruct or destroy
the track, and thus sever the thread upon
which hangs a nations hope and destiny.
At Bridgeport Alabama, the point at which
the railroad crosses the Tennessee, the river
is divided into two branches by an island
The bridges spanning these two arms of the
river were destroyed by Bragg when retreat
ing before Rosecrans. They have since been
beautifully and substantially rebuilt by the
Government. Another very large bridge
was also destroyed and has been rebuilt at
Ehiteside. To. destroy these bridges isY no
doubt, pet project of the enemy and one, to
accomplish which, he would be willing to sa-
erifce great deal. Fortunately, however,
they are greatly protected by the adjacent
through the passes of which the
enemy can alone approach them. A part of
the 11th Corps is now guarding these impor-
tant points, and it may be relied upon that
they will not be yielded to any attack the
enemy can make. The command on the
South side of the river has been entrusted to
Col. J. S. Robinson, of the 82d Ohio veterans.
He has force enough at his disposal, to make
the enemy rue the day that he attempts the
capture of this post. On the North side of
the river General Geary commands force
adequate to all possible emergencies.
There is a touch of beauty in the scenery
along the Tennessee which is just now made
aoubly charming by most delightful wealth
er. The climate of this region has been not
inaptly compared to that of Italy. But it
is now unusually fine for the season. True,
there are occasional gusts of rain. but they
are like the fretful showers of an Ohio April.
The sun smiles forth from the clouds ere the
rain-drops have ceased falling, just as a child
sometimes breaks into laughter in the midst
Of its tears. Morning leaps from her rosy
couch behind the. gray crest of Raccoou
as joyously and cOmplacently as
though the dreadful sounds of war had never
broken the quietude of these vallies. And
the nights, how surprisingly lovely How
Silly and grandly the dark shadows Of the
loom up against the gemmed dome
of the