Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1864-11-17

| to foreign dUrfllna!lon. we nave Still great
er cause for ,devont gratitade to- Divine
Power, In southwes,ern Virginia, sue,
.cessive armies which threatened the cap
ture Of Lynchbnrg and Saftgii.e have been.
| routed and driven out OF ,ife couatrJ. anc
portion of Eastern Tennessee reconquer-
ed By our troops. sIu sNorthern Virginia
extensive districts formerly occupied by
the enemy are now free from their pres
ence. In the. lower Valley, their general
rendered desperate BY his iaaiiiity TO
maintain ahostfle occupation, as resor.-4
ed to the Infamous expedisnt OF convert
I ing q fruitful land into desert by burn
ing its nul|s, granaries, and honesteade,
and dest roy ing the food, standing crops,
live stock and agricultural implements Of
peaceful eil-combatants. The inan ar
my, after aseries Of defeats in which its
losses have been enormous after attempts
by raiding parties to break up our rail
road comnatn cations, which have result
ed in the destruction ef large part OF
the cavalry engaged in the work; after
co'5tant repu1se OF repeated assaults on
G. defensive lines, is, with the aid Of
say reinforceInen1s, but with, it is hop-'
(, waning pros. $ OF further progress
ylrs tlls% design, s ,rgaged in an efo~t:
G cS,4igzlelc ced II ole uaI. four months agos
ia capture the to-. of Petersburg
The army of Ge4 Sherman, althon :.
Fs..ece eding at the:e,a Of the summer IL
obtaining possession # Atlanta, has been,
unable to secure an ultimate advantage
from this success. Ths same General who
in February last, marched a largs army
from Vicksburg to Meridian with no eth
er result than being forced to march back
again, was able, by the aid of greatly in
creased numbers, and after much delay
to force passage from Chattanooga to
Atlanta, only TO be for the second time
compelled to withdraw on the line of his
advance. without obtaining control OF q
single mile OF territory beyond the nsr-
row track OF his march, and without gain
ing oaght beyond the precallous poss es-
sion OF a few fortified points III which he
(! is compelled TO maintain heavy garrlsons,
and which are n,eraced with recapfure.4
The lessons afforded by the ahistory of
| this war are traught with instruction and
encouragement. Repeatedly during the
war have formidable expeditions been di-
rected by the enemy against points s1gnor-
antly supposed to be of. vital Importance
to the Confederacy. Some OF these expe-
ditions have at immense cost, been snecess
! ful but In ITO instance. have the promised
i fruits Dbell Eedpeu.s A A5dtl III tIS ti 0oCHc
campaign, was he dension fondy cher
ished that the capture II Atlanta and
+ Richnoi,ds would, if effecs ed, end the war
/ by j,e overthrow uf oar government aud
tire submission Of our people,; We eau
now judg ge by@experience h",v3 unimport-
| az, sthe infaence Of he former event
upon orr capacity for defence, upon the
Econrage and spirit of ille people and the
stability OF ths government. We may, IN
Hike manner, Judge tn at # the campaign
against Richnisnd had resulted in, success
instead of fniiure !; if the valor OF the army
under the leadership nf its accomplished
commander had resisted ia vain the over
whellningssnasse which were, on the con-
trary, decisiyely repulseds five had been
| compelled to esacuafe Rcln1end as well
as. Atlanta,s the ConIederacy would hare
lremainedf as erect and defiant as ever
Nothing could have been changed i the
purpose esof It's .Governmea in the laiomi
| liable ralor Of it's troops. Or IN, ths un
Iquenchable spirit otis people. The DaH
ed and disappointed foe would in vain
1 have scanned the reports. Ct your proceed
ings, lat SOME new Iegisl alive seat, tor any
Tindicatienthats progress had been made III
i his gigantic task, Of cpnqnering q tree peo
fple. The truth, $50 patent to rs, must ere
| lonxsbe forced upon the reluctant North
/ ern mind. There are no vital points, on
/ the preseraations Of which the conlin uea
exisfence OF the Genfederacy .depend dss-
/ There issne military sHccass of4the enemy