Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1864-11-11

EGLfUctS from me IL SSdy6 81 UOO. D|OtCH
to the Legislature Of Georgia, n'o'0 an
session.
CONFEDERATE RELATIONS.
The war is still waged against the peo-
pie of the Confederate States, by the gov
eminent of the United States, with Il vim
dictiveneSs and cruelty which has few par
alels in history. For nearly four years we
have met the mighty assaults of the Fed
eral armies, and have repulsed and driven
them back on many hard fought field
We have lost important points, but none
which we cannot temporarily surrender to
the enemy. and, with good management,
finally succeed. Atlanta was probably
the most vital point to our success that has
been won by the superior numbers of the
enemy. Its fall was a severe blow, and
for a time caused great dependency
among our people. am happy to see,
however, that they. are fast recovering
from depression, and confidence is being
restored.
At the time of Gen. Sherman's march
from Dalton to Atlanta we had large
force west of the Mississippi of as gallant
troops as ever faced an enemy, which had
been almost in a state of inactivity since
our splendid victories in Louisiana last
spring had driven the enemy, except few
garrisons, from that department.. Major
Gen. Early is said to have force of 90
600 men, of the very best of the army in
Virginia, with which he had driven the Fed
eral General out of the valley of that State,
and pressed forward into Maryland and
Pennsylvania, and remained there till his
presence provoked those and the adjoining
States to organize force sufficient to drive
him back and to threaten Richmond in
the rear. Gen. Forrest, with large cav
airy force, was operating in North Missis-
sippi, repelling raids from a country that
had been overrun till there was but little
public property for the enemy to destroy !;
and Gen. Morgan was raiding in Kentucky.
While our forces were thus scattered from
Pennsylvania 10 Texas, General Sherman,
strengthened by concentration of the
cnemy'S forces from different departments,
was steadily pressed forward to Atlanta,
the very heart and railroad centre Of the
Confederacy, with force sufficient, by
reason of superior numbers, to continually
flank and drive back the gallant army OF
Tennessee. During this whole campaign
Gen. Sherman's base Of supplies at Nash
vile and Louisville was hundreds of miles
i'll his rear, and he was dependent upon a
railroad constructed through an exceeding
ly rough country, with bridges, culverts
and curves along its entire line. In this
condition. more than three hundred miles
from the border of Kentucky, in the midst
OF an enemy's country, he was permitted
to 90 forward, without serious interruption
in his rear, and to accomplish his grand
design.
Georgians. whose homes have been
Overrun, property destroyed and tields
laid waste, have naturally inquired, as
doubtless the future historians WILL why
part of the large force unemployed west
Of the Mississippi was not brought to aid
the army of Tennessee during the summer
months! And why, when the enemy were
driven from the Valley of Virginia, the
key points were not garrisoned and helt
by part of Early'5 force, and the balance
sent to Georgia, instead of the whole be
ing sent upon the campaign into Maryland
and Pennsylvania, which only served to stil
mp and unite Northern sentiment agains
lis, and to enable the Federal government
to raise an additional force sufficient to drive
back the expedition with disaster to oul
arms. If this whole force could be spared
from Richmond to invade Pennsylvania
might not part of it have held the VALLEY
of Virginia, and the balance been sent t(
Georgia? And could not Forrest, even a
the expense Of temporary loss in Missis
sippi, have been sent to destroy the rail
roads in the rear, and stop the supplies O
the Federal army? If we had adopted
the rule by which most great Generals il
such emergencies have succeeded, of thu
evacuation for the time of all points no
absolutely vital, and the rapid and vigor
Gus concentration Of every soldier in the
Confederacy not necessary to hold Rich
mond and probably one or other key
points, and fastened the whole to Atlant;
and to Sherman's rear, and hurled then
upon him in his exposed and critical con
Gition, the repulse and rout, if not the de
rtruction or capture, of his army coult
scarcely have been doubtful. And, as hi
army was the only defence provided By
tne Federal government for the Western
etates, such q contamination would no
EHly nave relieved Georgia, Tennessee
North Alabama and North Mississipp
from the presence of the enemy. but
S @TGia y nave nave thrown open the "greel
aeloS OF Kentucky, which have GheeI