Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1864-12-29
Dark Dvy. or the Conscderaoy.

The Richmond whig of December 22d, has
the following:
How often since the fall Of Doneson have our
affairs been of so gloomy all aspect as TO make
the faint hearted predict the impossibility of
escape. Every considerable disaster brings re
petition OF these predictions. Now" exclaimed
the weak kneed, " the worst has come 10 the
worst This is undoubtedly the darkest hour
We have ever seen. How We shall get out of the
present difficulty no nan can tell" Aud yet.
over and over again. we have emerged from the
difficulties ia a manner aud by means which
were surprising only in consequence OF their er
IRENE simplicity
If il be contended that all previous troubles
were as nothing compared TO those which nov
surround Us. We shall not take the trouble to re-
flute so gross an error. Ii il should be affirmed
that our cause Is in more peril than IL has ever
been since the beginning of the war. We shall dis
pute the proposition, because we have no desire
10 overrate any evil, however great It's magnitude
We counsel patience, and hope, and a recurrence
20 the lessons OF the past.
To go no further back than the campaign Just
ended IN Virginia, We may recall several occa-
sions when the fate of the Coniederacy, so far ss
its capital aud its chief army were concerned.
was, to say the least. doubtful Within two
weeks after the campaign opened every railroad
leading into Richmond had been cut Sheridan
ions jenkins had been defeated the Virginia
and Tennessee railroad had been terribly. am-
aged, and Butler, advancing from Bermuda
Hundred 20 Chester, interposed his army be
tween Richmond and Petersburg
Two weeks afterwards this whole network Of
difficulties had disappeared Again. after
Breckinrdge had left the valley, and William
l. Jones had been defeated near stanton. the
whole OF Virginia seemed open to the lcgions OF
Hunter and Averill few days elapsed. and
Hunter vss seen fleeing Tor lite beyond the Allie
ghany Mountains So again. when Early was
defeated az Bunker Hi. and again at Cedar
Greek, II seemed that our resources. SO far. 81
least, ~ this State was concerned. had been ex
hausted, aud that there power to stay
Sheridan's advance. without depicting Lees
prey Of Grant Yet. after the Hrst fash Of De
spondency was over. u was discovered that We
bad ample means. rot only 10 arrest Sheridan.
had he attempted To advance. but were able to
force him back TO his Entertainments az Winches
ter
Hood hs- been badly defeated His army was
larger and more important than tarly's, but Il
may learn q lesson Of endurance from Early =
campaign. and Hood NAV profit nv Earlys er
ample of obstinate courage We never knew
until this summer how many reverses an army
could stand without being destroyed, OF even
virtually injured ~ it. defensive and offensive
capacity Now that We know THE. IL would be
folly 90 despair because Hood has lost number
OF cannon and prisoners II Hoods defeat
proves o. he worse than the Yankees. as our
own f,ars VI hsst led u to believe IL will be the
hrst instance Of the kind which has occurred dur
ing the war. Let us be palent aud hopeful. aud
the cloud which now hangs over u viii soon pass
away