The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1864-09-24
THE PACIFIC
Commercial Advertiser.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER "a.
and Pence

America, and TO bring q restoration of peace,
may be called " cheering news, " for this war has
probably had greater effect in disturbing the
commerce of the world and the great questions of
supply and demand. as we'll as labor and its re-
Y ward, m erery country on The face Of the 9lo5e,
: than any war that probably ever existed. And
2 no matter how long it may continue, that dis
turbance will exist, TO the same, if not q greater
! extent, than at present.
: As We view the subject, peace can only be
. brought about by the restoration of the sove-
reignty Of the National Government over its re-
bellious sections, and consequently every victory
gained by it is a step towards peace. We know
there are many who sympathise warmly with the
rebels, and who are sincere in their desires 10 see
the Confederacy established as a separate and
rival power, based on slavery and cotton. But,
even were the Confederacy TO be recognized to-
morrow on it's own terms, peace would only be
transient, and war would not only soon break
out between the rival governments, but continue
with varying success and changes of boundary
from year to year. Two separate governments,
based on two such opposite foundations as
slavery and freedom, can never exist peaceably
side by side in North America.
For these reasons, we rejoice in the victories at
Atlanta, ar Fort Morgan and on the Weldon
RailrOad-we rejoice over them as tokens of the
ultimate triumph of the Government, and Of the
ultimate restoration Of peace. That may be n
long way off yet we have learned not to be TOO
sanguine. 1t may be two years-Or it may be
FIVE years hence-but follow it must, if such sue
cesses as these are in store.
There has been most terrible fighting on the
Weldon Railroad, south of Petersburg, extend
ing from August 10th to 25th, attended with
haor- Loco - L-.l- Il. IN
bered that the railroad was captured at Reams'
Station by Grants forces, about the 10Th. On
the Dist, the rebels made u most desperate on
slaught to recover it's possession, but retired
without being successful. During the interval
between the fighting, Grants forces were busy in
destroying the rails. and have rendered the road
worthless from Petersburg south a distance of So
or 40 miles. Again ON the 18th, a large rebel
force under Gen. Hill attacked Grants forces,
which appear to have been extended at the time
over a considerable line of the road, engaged in
destroying it. Nothing was left for the Union
soldiers but to retreat and concentrate behind
their entrenchments, giving up the possession Of
three or four miles Of the road which had been
destroyed. The losses that day were 5000 rebels
killed and wounded, and 1000 Union soldiers =
IN the same condition. Grant telegraphs that
the rebels had lost in these three engagements
over 10, 900 men-a loss from which they cannot n
easily recover. At the latest date, Grants forces l
held the railroad. s
The Importance of this road to the rebels is q
shown by the desperate efforts made to regain its =
possession. 1t has been the main artery of sup .
ply for Richmond. and once wholly given up by -
the rebels, the field may be said to be lost to .
them, for the DanviIIe Railroad will soon be de- =
destroyed by Grant, thus virtually cutting off all f.
Lees avenues of supply as well as retreat, except ST
by common turnpike roads. Whether he will "
staying in Richmond under those circum-
stances, with the prospect of q seige, is a ques- ii
ton. b
Still more cheering is the news from Central al
Atlanta, the citadel of the State, the "
centre of its business and railroads, is captured. Is
AL honor 10 the gallant Sherman and his SOL !"
diers. who can now rest awhile within its en- "
.rencbments, and recruit, after one of the most .
-emarkable~ campaigns that the annals of war re- g
,ord. The city was taken by strategy, but the
i, was done is none the less deserving Of
,raise. Sherman. it seems, divided his army, alb
Withdrawing 4 small part to the river, some BE-
niles to the west, and with the bulk of the army
a flank movement to cut off the Ma sh
on Railroad. This drew out Hoods army from va
he city, and while the battle was raging, the re- -,
erve marched from the river and took possession
{ the city. Hood was defeated, and his troops :,
while Sherman's army marched in and -
,ined that portion that was occupying Atlanta. .
was completely outgeneralled by Sherman. 7
# the Importance of this victory, it is difficult GU,
make an estimate. 1t virtually controls the ca
tate, for there is no point where a rebel army 1t
it can now make a safe retreat. Hood may P
,ntinue to hover around Atlanta for some time, of
1t can do no great mischief. new
Not less important is the victory of Admiral bic
lrragut at Mobile, in capturing Fort Morgan, a g
hIch is said TO be the best and strongest fort pla
the United States. 1t had 1900 soldiers and -
" F Fra
and provisions-all which were I'M -,
additionally surrendered back 10 the govern a.,
INT from which they were taken, and 10 which si,b
belonged. The possession of the city of yess
Dbile is of secondary Importance. as the forts bavi
mmand Its commerce., and nothing can pass of,
cir guns. Their capture relieves a large feet poss
45 blockadings ships. =
Thus, from ali quarters, the peace movement
1gresses, and ere long must bring its results. r"y
e greater its cost, and the more severe the t
ching-the longer the lesson of peace will be ~
rendered. Better sacrifice a million of
e. now 20 secure II, than to have twice that -.
nber sacrificed during the next fifty years. -,
% Constant "a'iHiv LIZ pace "a VIII ling
this civil war will not soon be broken.
So pressed are the rebel leaders for soldiers, z