Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1864-11-09
The Military Campaign of 1864.

ySii'" lctiNtS uTHtiLS W thS Siouuu, 'ho
cold winds and shifting temperature, ad-
monlsh us that we are on the verge of
winter. Summer went long since, and
autumn has passed its meridian, so that
but brief space separates us from the
SHOWS and rigor of the winter months
50 near is the latter season that, so far as
military operations are concerned, we
may consider it already here, and that
all further operations of Importance must
necessarily be postponed until the spring
OF the coming year. The prominent
events which will give character to the
campaign of 1864 have already occurred.
Those which may follow in the brief
interval between to-day and winter
will not be of character to materi-
ally alter the present characteristics of
the campaign.
A careful retrospection of the events of
the campaign of 1864 forces the unpIeas-
ant conclusion that we have made no ma
terial progress. Il we have gained at
any one point, we have lost an equal
| amount or more at some other; in fact,
| careful weighing of our gains and losses
Will, we think, show considerable pre-
| ponderance In the case of the latter. In
| this connection, reference is had to terri
| torlal acquisitions or otherwise The
balance with respect to this is easily
struck Sherman has penetrated to At
lanta, and exercises a precarious tenure
over narrow strip of country lying ada
cent to the railroad leading from Atlanta
to Chattanooga This, with the capture
OF the forts guarding the entrance to Mo
bile bay, is all the territory that has been
wrested from the confederacy during the
present year, and this, owing to the pres
ent disposition of the rebel armies, is a
barren victory. We are Obliged to use
a formidable force Of men to guard these
acquisitions, while at the same time we
are unable TO use them for further advan-
ces.
The footholds that we had in Texas
and western Louisiana have been given
up, as have the points held by US in
southwestern Tennessee, all of which con-
stitute an area very many times larger
than that captured by Sherman and Far
ragut. Regarded as acr,s, the number
held by our armies at the present time is
very much less than that which we pos
sessed in the opening of the present cam
paign.
Nor have we been more fortunate in
other respects. We have not improved
the ability of our leaders, the value of
our currency, our prospects for ultimate
success, or succeeded in dispiriting or de-
moralizing the rebels.
Terrific and useless as has been our
losses in proceeding campaigns, they have
, been still greater and if possible, still
more useless, in the season which is
about closed. The history of modern
warfare furnishes no parallel of greater
sacrifices and fewer results than those at
tending the march Of General Grant from
the Rapidan to Richmond. The rebel
capital is to-day as much in rebel posses
sion as 1t was in May last, so that the
one hundred and fifty-fve thousand men
; who have fallen in the attempt to take
that place have been just so many lives
t completely, absolutely wasted. From all
indications, Richmond will continue TO
defy Our efforts for an indefinite period
We have thus far made no impression
upon 1t, and, as it has been able TO sus-
; tam itself thus far, there is no reason
why 1t may not continue to do so for
months, or even years longer.
I In the Shenandoah valley, Sigel and
! Hunter, have both suffered overwhelming
defeats. Sheridan, it is true, has won
several victories, but, despite these, he
holds less than half the valley, while q
r rebel army still in his immediate front.
E Our attempts in Texas, western Louisi-
ana and Florida have all been costly fail
ures. we have been driven ignomin-
lousiy IRON all these States with enOr-
nous losses III men, material and reputa-
: non. On the ocean, we have captured a
t single rebel war vessel, while at the same
t 'ihe' our losses in shipping are even
r greater than the enormous losses of any
1 pfeCeedinS year. On land, the rebels
hoiq hichmond, Wilmington, Charleston,
Mobile, and, In short, every place and
railroad OF Importance which they held
al tne beginning of the campaign, with :
single exception of tie railroad and posi-
ton of Atlanta.
A We are forced to the conclusion tha
e we have made no PROGRESS towards ac
S complishing the objects of the war. Sucl
Y a conclusion may be humiliating, bu
> 1t is inevitable. We commenced til,
campaign with the largest and best appoint
ed armies that were ever marshaled upoI
4 the theatre of modern warfare We hav,
gwen those armies ceaseless employment
we have sacrificed their life with pro
=, fuse hand ; we have re;nfo-oo5 +bon, wifi