Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1865-02-03
The Asnects in The south.

!
| The strong confidence which has lately sprung
up IN the public mind, not only Of the alttaate
suceess of the Union cause, but Of the final and
glorious triumph Of our arms within a reasonable
time, continues to be justified This confidence is
net based upon any one victory, or its results,
nor is it based alone and exclusively upon
/ field victories Nothing, indeed, could be
more inspiriting and grand than the three
] campaigns Of the last three months, under
Sherman, Thomas and Terry and nothing
could be more hopeful Of important and decisive
military results than the new campaign OF Shcr-
man. which has already begun, and the other
/ great movements which are on the eve Of execu-
| ton under the eye of the Lieutenant General.
| The chief value Of Thomas victory was IN redu-
cling the rebel military power in the Southwest 70
such feeble condition that he not only leaves 1t
noEerless for offence In the future anywhere, but
! that on the other hand, he can eithersweep south
/ ward through Alabama and Mississippi. and, by
seizng upon the remaining strategic positions and
railroads. reduce the war in the Southwest to the
o1,,ria stage which win probably for brief time
praeede its final close or, on the other hand ne
can furnish from his army large reinforcements to
the main body operating on the Atlantic seaboard-
Ii would not be surprising indeed, considering the
present ASPECT Of affairs, if the veteran army OF
Gen. Thomas, insteed Of spending its entire ener
qies this winter in campaign to Mobile, were 60
furnish heavy detacements Of troops to be concen
trated with the two great armies (Grant's 1and
Sherman 81 which may now be said to be conjolnt-
lv operating against Richmond This view Is con
frmed by the published news Of this morning,
which sets forth that, in addition to ihe troops
brought East from Tennessee by Gen. Meagher'
the Twenty third Corps, under Gen. Schoheld,
with this gallant commander, have already arrived
IN Virginia This splendid body OF troops has
history unsurpassed by that of any corps IN the
West for deeds of valor and if the Lieutenant
General intends that, with their Western compa-
riots under Sherman, they shall now take part
in the closing scenes Of this great war, on fields
thousand miles blatant from those upon which
they have heretofore fought we may be sure
that they win sustain the reputation they have al
wavs borne. II is certain that there Is no danger
whatever in taking a large body ofIhomas troops
from the West for Hoods army IS so badly
.pIaved out. that we have no doubt two-thirds
of Thomas present force could whip and disperse
il and then pass on to Mobile Whether Seho-
fields corps reinforces the army on the James, or
the army on the Savannah, it viii in either case
reinforce the armies operating against Rlchnond
IF the December victory of Thomas has been
proved by this time to be great in its value, and
50 comprehensive in its bearings, we begin to see
also wider scope to Sher1nan's Georgia triumph.
Its purely military bearings and It's influence pre-
sent and prospective, can hardly be overstated
but Its principal significance lies in It's demonstra-
ton ofthe fact now so clear, that the Confederacy
is but shell = that there is no reserved militia
~ force in its interior and that after we break up
the one great organized army which it now has,
our military work Of large character viii be ac-
conpished Gen. Grant perceived this before
Gen. Sherman set out from Atlanta he sees 1t
stil, and is now directing his combinations by the
light which it casts npon the situation.
While thus discerning the value Of our recent
victories estimating our present position and pro
gress and looking forward for the development
of events at this nour under way, the nation can
but feel its confidence justified and its triumph
assured.
Moral successes have kept pace with military
victories When Savannah fell into Sherman's
hands, the citizens of the place eompaceptly 'ac
eepted the position and other parts of Georgia
are giving evidences of ike spirit. We believe
that brief time now viii give us the two chief
cities and seaports Of the two Carolnas and in
one of these States at least we expect to see both
the people Of the city and of the surrounding
country exhibit the disposition of Savannah.
The political chaos, and personal and party
wrangling, which now exist throughout the South,
are also all in our favor. We have new signs of
their increase every day. Whether it is in the
fight of Foote the resignation of Smith, the
breakup Of Davis cabinet, and the exit of Sed-
don and iamin-whether it is the virulence of
the press, the quarrels of sections, or the numer
GUS efforts in the rebel States to get some sort of
peace-aIl are signs that the boasted and very
prevalent unity of sentiment and unanimity of
opinion in the South, have passed away. It's the
great compact moral force that for four years has
existed in the South, which, after ALL constituted
the really formidable character Of the rebellion
which gave vitality to their armies, endurance to
the soldiers spirit ferocity to his temper, and
power to his arm.
When both the military and moral power of the
rebellion are giving way before our eyes thus rap
idly we may regard the public confidence as just-
fed that its moribound day is approaching ~
T. Times.