The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-12-09
The War News.

Gen. SHERMAN's grand army, which has
90 sorely perplexed the newspaper CAM
paigners, for a fortnight past, would seem
now to be cleared, or to be clearing up.
The " collective point, ," if We may rely ON
the reports this morning, is neither No
bile, Charleston or Savannah, bu. Beau
fort, South Carolina, where our forces
already have a foothold. A small force
sent out from the latter place to open
communication with SHERMAN was met by
superior confederate force, and badly de-
feated. The rebels acknowledge that
SHERMAN will succeed in reaching the sea-
coast. Interesting details are given ofhis
march through Georgia, and the devasta-
ton inflicted On the country.
The situation at Nashville is not ma
terially changed. No general engagement
has yet taken place. The rebe 8 are en-
trenched three miles from the city and
skirmishes are reported. Johnsonville
has been evacuated by our forces. 1t
looks az If Cur forces were pretty well
hemmel in, but it may all be "strat-
egy" from which VIII spring success.
Predictions vcril;e<l---AnOther Draft
- ~ EaE,i.
We have from time to time endeavored
to moderate public anticipations ola speedy
suppression of the reb llion and the return
of the insurgent States TO loyalty. Agein
and again we have shown that if LINCOLN
was reelected we should have draft upon
draft until nearly all the able-bodied pop
ulatiop were swept into the army, and that
under tie policy Of absolute subjugation,
the rebellion would not then be ended.
We had no faith in the prediction of Mr..
SEwARD, that "abundant evidences of the
exhaustion OF the rebels would appear inn
mediately on the announcement Of the re-
election of ABRAHAM LINCOLN, or in the
assertion attributed - Gen. GRANT, that
the Confederaoy was a mere SHE'LL
Our predictions regarding another draft
and our estimate Of rebel strength and de-
termination are in process of verifcation.
The New York Times, the leading Or
gan of the Administration, in its issue
of the Goth ultimo, contains a remarkable
article which not only foreshadows anoth-
er draft. but strikingly exhibits its own
duplicity during the presidential campaign.
We should lie glad to print the whole ar
ticle, but have room only for few ex-
tracts. After stating that tie people of
the North have pronounced AGAINST all
compromise. and that the war must 60 on
under the present policy, the Times says:
The Sammer battles in Virginia We're. for
both sides, among the most destructive of his
tory Ii has been supreme error to suppose
that this campaign was commenced with great
" preponderating forces on our side. Not
withstanding the hopeful and popular belief
the armies of Meade and Lee have not been far
from evenly matched. even in point OF num-
hers. Somewhere about &c, GOO infantry cross
ed the RaDidan-thcy were confronted by a re-
bel force ofS0 GEO TO $1,000. Butler assembled
the James with 81 000-he was met with an
equal if not even superior force.
Grants policy. the offensive. the only lrue
powerful North, compels the enemy every
where to the defensive
Exhibiting the advantages OF being on
the defensive, which are well understood,
the Times adds:
With great advantage of place and central
ity on the side OF the rebels it will require
greatly superior Numbers for us to accomplish
very decided results. And, in fact the policy
~, r.
az ..s lone as possible hat interior POSITION from
which the science of war teaches US so many
advantages are to he expected. And so long as
our armies are compelled to act exteriorlv, we
must keep in the field a largely superior force
at every point.
And then comes this extraordinary
statement regarding the late draft
doubtless such has been the design of the
ADMINISTRATION But the Summers draft we