Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1864-05-19
RUTLAND HERALD.
SATURDAY, MAY IA, 1874.
The FEELING In Richmond::


There is more quaking in Richmond
under the onset of Grant upon Lee, than
ever experienced there before. On Satur-
day last but little intelligence had been
received from the field Of battle by the
newspaper %. that city, and such as had
reached there purported to be Of char
acter favorable to their hopes. Their
latest news then received, was of Fri
days date, TO the effect that the enemy
"was pushed back to Charlottesville.
Everything looks well. 1t is believed
eve are driving them this morning"
Notwithstanding this favorable :"
news, which doubtless lacks "confrma-
tion," the Richmond papers then exhibit
ed an unusual anxiety, The Wing Of Fri
day last says;
I'VE should at once look on the other
side OF the picture and accustom our
selves to the idea Of temporary miscar-
rage OF our arms, and to the require
ments of such an event. While the aus
plces were never more favorable for Lee,
the chances Of battle are so various, and
so much beyond human control that it
is impossible to foretell with certainty
the issue of the pending engagement
We all know this, yet no one has asked
the question What are we to do If Lee
suffers reverse and is forced to fall
back upon this city? Still less have we
permitted ourselves to consider the con-
sequences Of a deplorable accident which
may happen any day. A year ago,
Stonewall jackson fell not far from
the spot on which Lee and Grant are
about to join battle. What if Lee should
fall May providence spare us this cal
amity, for the people of the Confederacy
are by no means prepared for it. They
have made up their minds unwisely,
that the war must end one way or the
other this year, forgetting, quite, that
there can be but one way. If Lee should
fall and his army be unsuccessful, we
greatly fear that the majority of the peo-
pie would begin to look the other way.
But neither the loss of Lee, nor the re-
verse of the army, nor the two together,
will justify the contemplation of that
other way. Let it be dismissed at once
and for ever Suppose Lee falls, we have
Beauregard. Suppose his army fails to
drive off Grant and has to retire, we
have re-inforcements, and many excel
lent lines of defense. Whatever betides
this is very clear. Our independence
must be won. Short of that we can
never stop. There is no middle ground
as Mr. Leach fancies between independ-
ence and subjugation. How often have
we proclaimed that the fall of Richmond
and of all our cities, would not, and
should not, end the war? Do we still
stand last to that proclamation, or are
we, indeed, ready to see the war end this
year, one way or the other ?"
The Wing of Saturday says "there will
be trouble about food, especially for the
troops near the city. The local troops
had but one days rations in their haver-
sacks and that will be exhausted before
regulations are furnished. =
Finally, the poor should not be neglect
ed. Very little meat and very few vege-
tables will be brought to market until
the battles are over The price of pro-
visions will rise, and the sordid and the
mean-hearted win begin to hoard. The
families of soldiers and the poor gener-
ally will suffer, unless special relief is
afforded them, above and beyond the
charities which they generally receive.
The Richmond correspondent of the
Charleston Mercury, wrote April 9Th:
Grant has returned from his trip to
Fortress Monroe, and Gen. W +. Smith
is to be placed in command of the troops
which will move upon Richmond from
that direction. Burnside will probably
land few miles below Fredericksburg,
unite his right with Grants left, and by
combined movement, force Lee out of
his strong position on the Rapidan. As
soon as Burnside's movement is disclos-
ed, Longstreet will probably make his
appearance on Grants right and rear. A
military man. high in the pictures, SAYS
10000 men can be concentrated for the
defense of Richmond in few days. Put
weeks in place of days and knock off |
10000, and the military man will be |
about right The reserve militia of the |
towns and counties adjacent will be
Joined to the local defenders and placed
behind the Notifications when the day of
trial comes. Non combatants will be
ordered away. Horses are already be-
ing impressed. That's what Reliable
says,
Our OF THE WooDs--Our army is now,
in one sense, at least, and that an i'm
portant one, tout of the woods" The
Wilderness" in which occurred the
battles of last week, is terrible coun-
try fer army operations, in which our
forces fought at much disadvantage
The country through which Grant has
now commenced to march is said to be
the finest portion Of the ''fine old Valley
of Virginia, His most serious natural
impediments will be the streams he will
be obliged to cross in his con to Rich
mond .
laA