, 1864-12-26


The military situation is ccrtainly,brightcr
and more cheering than at any former
period Of the struggle. The rebels exhibit
unmistakable symptoms Of exhaustion and
dependency. Tire lank and file Of the com.
mon people fell that they are whipped, and
the leaders l1ao,o that sooner or Inter they
must succpnb. The tone Of the Richmond
papers is no longer braggadocia and,insolcnt,
defiant swagger. Their editorials are cries
of distress and despair. The triumphant
march Of Slcrman's 0rmy struck them with
Consideration what uow must be their feel
ings when they learn of the routa and dcstruc-
tim of Hoods army? The rebel chic Is have
but one army left, worthy the name of.army,
viz: The force under Lee defending Rich
mnnd, and that Is held as in d vice by Bull
dog Grant, who intends !" to fight it out on
that 1ine'' if it takes to the year 1909.
able to invade Maryland and Pennsylvania,
and bcsiegc Washington, but gallant Phil.
Sheridan has sent TINT hostile host to thu
bourne whence no traveller returns. Early's
army exists only as fragment Of d;spirited
skulkers, and Washington L. safe 4 little
while ago, Daddy Price, at the head Of p, ,0oo
g1eybacks, invaded Missouri in all the pomp
and D, ,ile of war. Where is that army now
Echo answers where. Onelcgged, daredevil
Hood with army number three, Al, Geo strong,
crossed the Tennessee River and marched to-
wards the Kentucky border. Sherman con
cludcd to let him march, while he with his
bays in blue explored the mysteries OF the
his course North, and went straight to de-
struction, butting his bruins out asains. the
rear guard Of western warriors under
Thomas. left to the care Of just such inadlnen
as Hood. must not omit to Illustrate tho
present condition Of Hoods army BY relating
little "story" told byFather Abrana1n last
evening. dropped m on hin IN beioae be-. .as the
when, after few remarks, the following con-
yersation occurred:
"Well, Mr.. President, the military situa-
tion seems quite cheering; good news comes
in from every quarter; victory follows on the
heels Of victory.
any time since the war began. 1havc strong
er hope IN q speedy and successful tcrmfna-
tion If this causelcss and unnatural rebellion
than at any time since the first gun was
fired"
army left. Hoods army, as military organ
ization, is pretty enrctually destroyed. It is
even worse used up than Prices invaders,
md there is not'much left Of thcm."
"That is true. The present condition Of
Hoods army reminds me Of the story Of
Bill! Sykes, dog e ..! pid y9n ', eyer hear 1T"
"We]l. the thing happened down below
Beardstown. on the Illinois river, a good
many ycnrs aro. sykes owned a long Legged.
wn1f;si'' Hyeilar' dog. that was in tic
hahit, of prowlins about and breaking
INTO the ncighbors' meat houses,
lii1fnr s1,ccp and Committing other dcpreda.
tInnst Pcop}e had tried to shoot and noison
him Int eomehow thcy failed to dispatch the
1uute. Atlast q neiehbor, named John Hender-
son' Concluded he Would try an experiment On
lin The ;lor ilad piuadcTcd bis mill. .house.
eatrn % his cream. and upset The crooks Of milk,
So he took toe a coon's bladder, which one of bis
hora 1,oi dried filled il With powder. scooped
an fhc ~ snft nart Of q biscuit. slipped in the
bae @ or Of powder. @ and when the dog next came
in sight he stuck piece Of punk IN the mouth
If tFe hinder set fire to Il. closed m the
H;sc,it 1 , VIII hn,tter TER a and laid Il down. In n
minute The tdore' came along, smelled the
bread, and gobbfed 1t down al i single gulp.
sea o." ha;r nt th;nss vii Wnrt Tn minnie q,
two t. The there tu Tas "" Tremendous explosion A.