The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1865-01-02

army of the Potomac had been defeated for
the third or fourth time, and lay dispirited not
far from fredericksburg; no commander had
touched it without losing his reputation;
q nong the Western soldiers .'the army of the
Potomac" had become a by-word; the Shenan-
doah was called the "Valley of Humiliation !"
DOT one telling blow had we ever struck in it;
we had marched hundred miles up the valley,
and as many back, many times; crossed and
re-crossed the Blue Ridge; surrendered and
re-occupied Hsrper's Ferry number Of
times, but had gained nothing; the Mississippi
was blockaded at Vicksburg and Port Hud-
son; an army almost equalling the present or
ny in Richmond lay stretched along the great
river; vain had been all the efforts OF Grant
aud Sherman, by assault, by ditching, and
aanking;z and all the modes Of attack
kaown or dared by competent and brave men
had failed; "Vicksburg. = said the rebels, dis
rs safe as Richmond" For more than year
the seige had lasted; and when we were re-
pulsed there just two years ago, the whole
South boosted that in that spot, at least
hey could bid us defiance.
The rebel army west of the Mississippi was
Dearly 10 large as ours in the same neighbor-
aood. Thirty miles beyond Nashville, Bragg
had an army Of 10000 men, which was to
fight Rosecrans and his Western hosts for the
possession of Tennessee. The shock came,
aud for three bloody days victory seemed nm
decided on whose banner to perch. The
brave Thomas gained no reputation In that
battle; his orders were disobeyed, and the day
seemed lost gs5s ssssa 81 kr1
How it was gained need not tell, though
my own eyes saw the heroic conduct Of true
man now under . cloud. Stone River was
crossed, and Murfreesbcro, the great centre Of
spider web work of Macadamised Pixies for
Central Tennessee was gained. But at what q
fearful costl Regiments, as for instance, the
l01st Ohio, going into battle 700 strong, and
coming out with some 1901 Six months
elapsed before another effort was made; after
this, we had to mourn over Chickamaugs.
Nor is this all. Morgan with his 5000 dar-
ing troopers was ubiquitous; In Kentucky
cutting the railroads, sinking or capturing
steamers on the Cumberland and Ohio, raid
ing at pleasure into Indiana and Ohio!
But how changed lie the aspect of affairs
nowl The Army Of the Potomac has leader
who has taken IL to the very gates of Rich
IN md; and though some are impatient, aud
ask why he does not 60 in, one truth Is pail
pable; he does not change his base and leave
in a hurry. When he has been there as long
as he lay before Vicksburg, without taking
that place, little Impotence among the
people may be pardonable; but not at present
should there be any repining. Could we, In
reason, ask that the work should go on more
rapidly. We prayed for the taking of yicks-
,urg and Port Hudson; they both fell Then
Chattanooga was the great point to which all
syes were turned; that fell, and so did At
anita For twenty days the nation almost
held its breath till Sherman's army could be
heard from. The timid trembled, but even the
stoutest of heart, and the most hopeful, could
lot have pictured more glorious results. 81a
Thomas, with o part Of what was Sherman's
army In Tennessee, almost annihilates what
was once Bragg's powerful army. Even after
its defeat at Stone River, it came and thunder
ID at the gates Of AEurreesboro, and but for
rhe wise precaution. of Rosecrans, who imme-
diately after gaining the place erected chain
of elaborate defences, the battle of Stone River
night have been repeated with results like
those of Chickamauga. @4k sstao
In future years, our soldiers who were for
innate enough to take part in the battles of
he valley, in the Autumn Of 1864, will talk
and sing of the days when 8 ~ 81 Il CT
They fought bssids PhIl Sheridan aa,ss
.sS'' In Shenandoah valley. s.,r .sasS "a.
John Morgan is dead, and there is no one to
take his place; neither is there a Stonewall
Jackson left ia all the cenfederacy. Their
best leaders, excepting Lee, are dead. Stew
arts and Ashby's saddles are yet empty The
South had their leaders; they had been select
ed with great care. We had to hunt up ours,
and at fearful price. - - 's~
We did not dream oflooking into the tan
neries of Wisconsin, or among the unambi.
tious and unknown Captains or Lieutenants of
our Army and Navy for leaders. But we
have found them at last; and the nation, has
made their names household words. lis
For long time we boasted that we were to
put chain about the confederacy; but somt :
how the end that we attempted to cast over
or around rebounded. But the work is done
at last; Its links lie not only along the James,
bat through the Shenandoah, Tennessee and
aeVrgia; and while Grant holds one hook,
Sherman passes the other to Foster at Fort
McAlister. o. 5ia-H9 'iilaat saisFfe luifsa.5