Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1865-04-04

No words can add to the significance OF
Ele three which hesd this s-siclsi Their !
scope includes everything. They mean the |
browning and concluding conquest of the
var. the triumph of Union, the snnihils-
tion Of rebellion, the destruction of sla-
yeryi They mean Pesce-secure, substan-
tial, permanent, honorable peace-peace
won through war, never sgsin to be dis
hirbed by secession.
Richmond was the heart of the rebellion.
For IFS capture the Union has marshalled
its strongest armies for its defense the re-
fellion has put forth its final eforti the
I.rugglefor its possession hss been the most
determined, the most ssDguinsry, and the
most loug g-coniinued ofthe war. Its capture
Low, after every colder of the rebellion has
been rallied to proteciit-fcr Joe john
Eton's forces were as really defending Rich
mend SIS the garrison of Petsrsburg-com-
pletes the ruiz sf she aConfederacy." Their
capital captured, their every seaport in our
possession, their flying, disintegrated, and
5Aily lessening forces confronted every
where by msglc circle of Union baye-
tets, the trsitcrous leaders Of the rebellion
will have no resource, no hope, no saliva
lion lefs. The rebellion, like wounded
Ieorpion, will sting Itself to desth.
At the present writing we have no e1-
tended details of the circumstances imme-
Lliately preliminary TO the occupation Of
Richmond. Nor does the public care for
zhsm. The simple fact that the rebel cap
stsl is in cur possession-!hat the rebel
army is routed and fying-is enough. Let
US however, stop to lote, as most signih-
cant, that Richmond, like Charleston, was
occupied by colored troOps-W Weitzeps di-
vision being composed partly if not entire
1y Of negro soldiers-snd that the inhsbi-
4ants greeted these black men with snthu-
siasm, as their liberstors.
What remains? Grant whose grand
genius has brought about this crowning
and concluding triumph of the war, is resdy
20 meet its new exigencies. Should Lee
retreat upon Lynchburg, he will be met
by that old hesrt-Of-osk, Thomas, whose
vetersns are now bearing down upon
Virgins from the West. Should he
s,ttsmpt TO resch Danville, Sheridan
and the army of the Potomac can inter-
cept and annihilate him. Sherman, who
has had q recent talk with Grant, undoubt-
sdIy understands how to keep jos Johns
ION busy. Moreover, now tina. Lee is
driven from his intrenchments, his army
will crurnbls into atoms. His men know
that their cause is hopeless. They are but
human-ihey will not struggle against IN
evisable fate They will scatter to their
homes. For every mile that Lee marches,
he will lose q thousand men. We doubt
if be will ever risk another battle. Bands
of guerriIlss will, it is true, still devsstste
certain pO-tions OF the South; Union gar
Tisons will st Il be required ct all the i'm
portant points throughout the rebellious
territory; but the hard fighting is over,
and the war is substantially at 81 end.
The time of the fall of Richmond is
1ncst auspicious one. Another week, and
four years will have elapsed since the cap
ture of Fort Sumter inaugurated the rebel
lion. How fitting that its death knell
should be sounded now, and that the can
non fred over its grave should echo in the
ears and gladden. the hearts Of those who,
IN Charleston hsrbor, on the l4th inst,
celebrate the recspture of Fort Sumter.
Richmond is ours The last, the long
est the fercsst battle of the war has been
won. The last hope of the rebellion has
been crushed. Peace and its blessings are
near at hand. LET Us THANK COP!