The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1864-02-06

THE FINA, STRUGGLE OF TIE REBEL
lL1oN.-Stories told by contrabands and de-
serters from the rebel ranks nave not gem
orally proved trustworthy. 1t is their cue
| Of course to tell what their new friends and
| hosts like best 10 hear. but the accounts
now coming from the South DO not depend
upn.. their testimony for credence. Let
tors from foreigners resident in rebeldorn
and friendly 10 the rebel cause, intercept
cd letters OF repels. and indeed the hall
concealed facts published in the southern
nep-snapers. all agree with and confirm
each other; and many OF the refugees 10"
/ coming within our lines are from the pe.-
ter classes OF The South, people OF wealth.
and education, who bring with them ali
-he nroperty they could convert into specie,
ard who frankly confess that they Wou!o
not desert the southern cause il they could
saa . chance FOR is success. The reports
81. . gradual evacuation OF Richmond have
th;s much Of truth. that the conteGefates
are removing their machinery lor the man
facture ofgEns and munitions - Coiuin pa.
This does not prove that they intend to
abandon Virginia Immediately, bot only
that they recognize the fact that such a
contraction o. their lines may become nee
essary. an! ina. they mean 70 make thelr
t;nal stand in the central cotton states.-
Nor vii, their position there be as desper--
ate as has been supposed, ior there Is GOOD
evidence that these states are sui flcI IN
supplies, and Georgia and Alabama are
riebe- in cotton than ever before, having
two years stock on hand, il they can but
get It to market at present prices.
Il is 20. essential 10 the life OF the rebel
lion through another season that it should
hold Virginia ard North Carolina. but it is
essential tha. il hold Georgia, Alabama.
and South Carolina, and it is therefore OF
the first consequent that they drive back
a
.anooga and Knoxville, and they seem TO
have already begun formidable move
yneut 10 that end IL East Tennessee. The
time IS probably the most favorable they
will ever have, as if they wait till spring
our veteran regiments now absent on fur
,oughs will he in the field again in full
numbers, whereas our armies are now
greatly depleted Ivy their absence and are
weaker than they will be again. There IS
therefore or TO apprehend some tempo
ra-y success o. the enemy in Tennessee,
possibly sufficient to embarrass our armies
and disarrange the contemplated spring
campaign.
A partial success in East Tennessee at
this time would be Of quite as much moral
as military advantage TO the rebe. leaders.
4 would PROBABLY aver; the storm Of dis
cord which threatens 20 break into open re-
sistance % the cespo:ic measures promul-
gated q. Richmond, and enable them TO 81
lence all clamoc and establish sabsianti-
Il military despo,ism. And we must not
over-:4te the dissatisfaction with the rebel
government. The weak are always the
t.rst 10 give signs Of the failure OF any
cease, while Il IS the strong We are obliged
10 NEE. in the field, and all experience
shows that soldiers iigh. better for having
suffered a certain degree Of restitution and
hardship, and when inspired by despera-
ton 10 the determination 10 Go OF Gle. Not
wi,hstanG.nG the numerous assertions from
he rebel armies and their reported demon
alizatior, we fear we shall find them larger,
better appointed and IN more vigorous
lighting condition than We had expected.
II the Government IS counting upon the
easy and almost Dloodless crushing out OF
The rebellion IN the spring campaign, we
.eari Il vii experience disappointment. and
& 4 has not prepared 70 meet the most de-
.errlined efforts Of The enemy il can hardly
fail 20 safer disaster, that will shake pop
ular confidence and bring back another pc
ROD of gloom and DOUBT. II is trae That
nothing can NO" happen which Will ac-
complish anything worse than delay OF II
MAJ success, but that IS an evil 70 be ayerted
# possible prtacneld R,pN5lcdn.
Colonel Granville Moody's rebel broth
or, formerly g. lawyer Of Port g bson, Miss,
ard lat.er,y Longstreet's CHIEF Of Artillery.
IS low prisoner at Camp Chase, suffering
from intiammatOry rheumatism. The Col
onel is anxious 10 get him q Through that
he NAV take care Of him.