The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1864-12-29
The Military Situation.

WASHINGTON, Dec. %.
The military situation is certainly bright
er and more cheering than at any former
period of the struggle. The rebels exhibit
unmistakable symptoms of exhaustion and
dependency. The rank aud file of the com
mon people feel that they are whipped, and
the leaders knoN that sooner or later they
must succumb. The tone Of the Richmond
papers is no longer braggadocis and inso-
lent, defiant swaggsr. Their editorials are
cries of distress and despair. The triumph
ant march Of Sherman's army struck them
with CONSERVATION what new must be their
feeling when they learn Of the rout and de-
struction Of Hoods army The rebel chiefs
have but one army left, worthy the name of
army, Wig The force under Lee defending
Richmond, and that is held as in vice by
Bulldog Grant, who intends 'to fight it
out on that line" if it takes to the year
1900. ~ = --@
Three months ago the rebels had an army
able to invade Maryland and Pennsylvania,
aud besiege Washington, but gallant Phil
Sheridan has sent that hostile host to the
borne whence no traveller returns. Early's
army exists only as fragment of dispirited
skulkers, and Washington is safe! little
while age Daddy Price, at the head of rs, :
900 greybacks, invaded Missouri in all the
pomp aud pride of war Where is that army
now? Echo answers where One-legged,
daredevil Hood, with army number three,
40, 900 strong, crossed the Tennessee River
and marched towards the kentucky border.
Sh erman concluded to let him march, while
he with his boys in blue explored the mys-
teries of the Empire State Of the South. -
Hood pursued his course North, and went
straight to destruction, butting his brains
ont against the rear guard of western war
riors under Thomas, left to the care of Just
such madmen as Hood. must not omit to
illustrate the present condition of Hsod's
army by relating little "story" told by Fa-
Their Abraham last evening. dropped in on
him before the crowd had taken possession
Of the anteroom, when, after few remarks,
the following conversation occurred:
"Well, MIR. President, the military situa-
ton seems quite cheering; good news GENES
in from every quarter; victory follows on
the heels Of victory.
Yes, things are looking better than at
any time since the war began. | have
stronger hope in a speedy and successful
bsrminatien of this causeless and unnatural
rebellion than at any time since the first
gun was fired" ....s -.s.....l
g ! am glad to hear you express yourself
so confidently. The rebels have really but
one army left. Hoods army, as military
organization, is pretty etfectually destroyed,
1t is even worse used up than Prices
invaders, and there is net much left Of them. u
That is true. The present condition Of
| Hoods army reminds me of the story OF
Bill Sykes dog. Did you ever hear it ?".
mo, don't think | did,"
'WeIl, the thing happened down below
many years ago. Sykes owned long leg
ged, wolfish, yallar" dog, that was in the
habit of proving and breaking into the
neighbors meat houses, killing sheep and
committing ether depredatiens. People had
tried to shoot and poison him, but somehow
they failed to dispatch the brute. At last a
neighbor, named John Henderson, concluded
he would try an experiment Ola him. The
dog had plundered his milk-housc. eaten bis
cream, and upset the crooks of milk.
So he took coon's bladder which one of his
boys had dried, filled it with powder, scooped
out the soft part of biscuit, slipped in the
bag of powder, and when the Jog next came
in sight he struck piece of punk in the
mouth of the bladder set fire to it, closed
up the biscuit with butter, and laid it down.
In minute the 'dorg' came along, smell ed
the bread and gobbled it down at q single
gulp. All right says Henderson we
shall soon see how things will work In q
minute or two there was tremendous ex-
ploson, one of our gunboats. The head OF
the 'yelar dorg rolled down the hill; the
hind legs flew some distance, catching en- a
fence stake; the fore quarters fell ON the
! porch, and the intestines scattered around on
(, the GROUND for couple of rods. l8at yaf b
"Well says neighbor who happened to
come along, | guess you have got rid of that
cussed dog at last? Yes, says Henderson, |
reckon that that dog as a dog, won't be of
much account hereafter. So with Hoods
army; reckon that that army, as an army,
won't be of much account hereafter"
The Presidents story described the pres
ent condition OF the rebel army Of the South
west to protection. This, | believe, is Old
Abes story, and submit that it is a good
cue. - ,@ ag8
The conversation next turned on the
operations of Sherman's army and its grand
march. The President expressed himself
sallSulbS LudI OlcfifldH WOuId b0Cu Dag Tile
10000 rebel soldiers in Ssvannah-with all
the artillery, and munitions Of war, and was
proceeding to illustrate the condition of the
rebels within the city by another capita
story, when we were interrupted by the COM
ing in of a Secretary, three Senators and
two Governors, when seeing NO chance fol
q continuance Of our exceedingly pleasant
conversation, | took my departure, promising
to return some time and hear the conclu
sion Of thestory.
The president is in splendid spirits. He
is feeling fine, OVERLOOKING with good humol
and the milk of human kindness, and very
hopeful that the carnage of blood and war.
desolation will soon cease by the rebels lay.
ing down their arms and obsying the con
stitution and the laws, just as do all the
rest Of the people.
Gen. Grants grand and profound military
combinations are now beginning to develop
themselves. The anaconda" in his keep
ing is not dormant, torpid sarpiut, but {
regular old squeezer and crusher. j. M.
From Admiral POrters Fleet.
WASHINGTON, Dec 24.-Rear Admira