Randolph County journal. [volume] (Winchester, Indiana) 1864-1865, 1864-08-26
Vol. 3. No. $.

w hdl usA you EdlucU bA lul-
fratricidal war;" is the familiar in
quiry of that incurable partisan
whose hostility to the powers that
be " has carried him and his svmpa-
thies over to the enemy. What
have you gained from this unholY
crusade for the subiugation OF the
South How much nearer ere you
to Richmond than you were in the
summer of 1862 How much longer
can You sustain these annual drafts
of 100000 men, and this war ex-
penditure Of a thousand millions q
year 2"
Let Us briefly enieayor to answer
these questions in good faith, con
ccding the point that we have lost
much in men, time, means and money,
that might have been saved had the
war been more vigorously and wise
~ prosecuted than it has been. First,
then, we turn to the inquiry. What
have we gained by this WARP We
have gained in territory one half the
domains claimed as belonging TO the
so o-called Confederate States In
the last rebel Congress the States
represented were Virginia, Ken
tucky, Missouri, Arkansas, Tennes-
see, North Carolina, South Carolina,
Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Missis-
sippi, Louisiana and Texas-thirteen
when the whole section of country
now under the actual occupation and
authority Of Davis and his conGed-
crates has been reduced to the in
terror portions of the last eight
States above-named. The northern
military line of the rebellion, which,
in 1851, ran north-westward from
Manassas to Kentucky, and thence
through the heart of that State TO
Columbus, on the Mississippi river,
a thousand miles and more above the
sea, has been pushed so far down
into Georgia as TO threaten the com
plete isolation of all the 'Confeder-
acy" north OF the Savannah river
from the States below. From Co
lumbus to the Gulf OF Mexico, over
coming. numerous armies, and q
chain OF Notifications, armed aotillas,
RATS, rams and other distractions
in the defenses Of anv
other river Of modern or ancient
times, the Mississippi has been re-
opened and occupied, and is now in
.hc absolute and permanent occupa-
ion Of the Government.
Thus chat half OF the Davis Con-
'cderacy which lies west of the Mis-
'issippi is in the condition Of a wing
Of an army hopclessly cut Off from
he main body, so that, in a practi
;al military view, We have reduced
he vital forces Of the rebellion 20
ne interior portions of the single
ier of States, and parts of States,
wing between Richmond and Mobile.
So much for the territory recov-
,rcd, in n military estimate, practi-
ally. In the population reclaimed
rom the rebellion we have gained
wo- thirds Of its original strength,
md in the valuable resources for
)cace or war, wrested from the enc
ny. our gains have been correspond
ngly great Nor do these consti-
ute all our gains. In the beginning
IF this war the rebel leaders. from
he commercial power OF King Cot
on, confidently counted upon o
imely coalition from England and
France, upon the destruction Of our
Oh the high seas, and the
raising OF the blockade by 2 Iumer-
Gus feet Of foreign built pi1vatcers
and on-clads, and upon the active
armed cooperation OF powerful
division Of the Northern Democracy.
We have gained the neutrality OF
which secures the neutral
ity of France; there is but one rebel
priyatcer now lett doGging about
upon the high seas; the iron-elads
built for the enemy are ont Of the
way, and rs for a rising cf the North
ern peace Democracy, IN support OF
King JEFF. We dare sa. that they are
fully convinced it would not begin
to pay expenses.
All these things We have gained
one half the original area claimed
by the rebellion. two-thirds Of its
two-thirds Of its most
valuable military resources and lines
of communication, including the
whole line OF the Mississippi river,
the dcthronement OF King Cotton,
the neutrality OF England and France,
and the substantial unity Of the great
North and the loyal States OF tie
South upon this grand paramount
and supreme Jacks0nial idea that
'.the Union must and shall ne pre-
served" If we have changed the
Issue from l9,0O0,cc0 OF people
against l., 600. 900, 10 27,O0O.Oc0 oil
l. =