Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1865-01-17
Re0uIts Of enc oampalgn of1se4.

Supposlng that the campaign has closed
with the last year, we may properly con-
| slider the results in thus bearing upon the
great proposition of Southern freedom
SO far as the campaign of Virginia is con-
cerned, We doubt whether the warfare of
the world has ever displayed more cour4
| age or greater success against the unparal-
leled odds and perseverance of an enemy.
The battle rolled from the banks of the
Rappahannock to Richmond. Not stream
that was not Redeemed with the blood, not
field that has not been streWn with the
bodies of our enemies. The murderous
impetus of Grant exhausted itself, and his
shattered army rests in front of fortifca-
tlons which they will not assault. This
campaign, which has calmed the Yankee
lion into q lamb, taken as q substantive en-,
terprise, establishes the character of Lee
and his army as equal to any emergency
Did the cause Of Southern freedom depend
upon the achievement of this army alone it
would have been placed beyond a doubt.
Unfortunately, however, the defence of our
territory has not been as efficient else
where. We have no intention to impute a
dereliction of duty to our army and people
IN 70 other nnarters. The defence of the con-
tederate capital has, of oouroo, commanded
the best ability of the government. But
there are other reasons for the successful
defence of Richmond. Perhaps no people
have ever endured the worst raVages of
war with more resolution. The people of
the valley have been stripped of all their
movable properly, yet they are defiant and
uncomfortable. The people of the Pied
mont region have suffered equally; yet
their fidelity to the Commonwealtb.5 of Vir-
ginia cannot be broken by trial or temp
tation, The people of Virginia everywhere
sustain the government and support the
army without complaint. This endurance,
this determination, we consider the main
reason why the campaign in Virginia has
been so glorious.
The progress of our arms elsewhere has
not been so satisfactory. Something of
our military failures in Georgia and Ten
nessee must be attributed to the public
discomfort in those States. We may OF
viudicate the removal of the brave and ju-
dicious Johnston, aOe may not approve of the
course of the President in other respects but
we are satisfied that the time and talents
devoted to opposition and complaint is so
much deducted from the great duty of re-
sisting the enemy. 1t is the duty of pub
lie men to cultivate the spirit of resistance
in people. To teach them what they
must apprehend from the success of the
enemy. This spirit is the surest guaran-
tee of peace. 1t will compel the enemy to
respecta people who oppose them. With
submissive spirit what have people to
expect2 Why should the enemy make
even the concession ofjustice to a craven
people2 They are already at the mercy of
the enemy. They will be despised and
trampled under foot, What have the in.
famous seventeen" in Savannah gained?
Present ease, perhaps, aud the temporary
nf ri P1t hnu
has it been gained2 By unspeakable deg
radation-by a submission which the en-
emy will never respect. They have agreed
"to bury bygones," and contemporary
we'll asks whether this agreement by these
wretches, who have suffered nothing in
the war, will satisfy the wronged women,
plundered farmers and mutiiated soldiers
of Georgia. 1t is the spirit of dogged and
indomitable resistance which must weary
the enemy, teach them the folly of their
enterprise, and secure, US just terms of
treaty.
While such is the condition of the por-
tions of the Confederacy referred to, it is
gratifying to know that the country be-.
| yond the Mississippi has been rescued
from hostile possession by the indomitabIe
courage of the people and army within
that district. The wave of war has thus
rolled over the land; but it has in most
Instances revived aud refreshed the deter
mination of the people to resist.
Every war must make its own strategy.
The enemy commenced with a strategy
borrowed from other nations. They pur-
posed to encircle and crush the infant
confederacy in the folds of vast military
and naval force. This theory failed sig
nally II was next attempted to transhx
the confederacy by deadly thrusts with
heavy columns marched through the land,
cutting our communications and destroy
ing the productive energies of the people.
These thrusts have not been mortal. They
have injured the narrow tracts traversed,
but the strength of the States is uuim-
paired. We are organizing counter pol
icy. Our roads are being rapidly repaired.
| Our public stores are not SO much exposed
to raid. Congress has bestowed its care
upon preparing the country to resist this
system of robbery. In short time we
shall be enabled to adapt our strategy to
that of the enemy. In the meantime, to