American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1865-03-29
from tho London Times, March ~
Failure of the Rebellion.

war, the EederalS have gained victory
which will recompense them for many
labo-s and encourage shem to pursue with
renewed yigor the conquest of the South.
Charleston, the cradle of the rebellion,
the focus of secession, the real metropo-
lis of the Confederacy, has at last sue
cumbed to the Fedora arms and Is IN the
possession of Northern army. This
event seems not to have been unexpected,
even at the South. The tone of the
Richmond journals indicated that some
such catastrophe was at hand. There
was an exhortation to resistance which
seemed to be inspired rather by apprehen,
sion than confidence. The South thought
perhaps, that Charleston might be saved
by rising of the people of South Caro-
lima. The event has shown that this
Judgment was incorrect, and the chief
city of the rebellion has fallen as easily
as New Orleans or Savannah. On Feb.
18th the Federal army had arrived at
Orangeburg, and the Confederate forces
fell back in the direction Of Columbia,
the capital Of the State. The Federal
forces pursued, and in very short time
had succeeded in occupying this impor-
tant though not extensive town. Ot the
actual evacuation of Charleston which
followed we have but meagre details 1t
appears that the surrender had been ex-
peeted hy the Confederates, and that the
more opulent inhabitants of the place
had taken away their families and their
goods, and left the city ready for burn
ing. On the night Of the 18th of Feb
ruary the place was abandoned, and the
Fedcrals entered without resistance, two
hundred pieces of artillery falling into
their power. Part of the Federal troops
crossed from James Island in boats and
took possession Of the city without find
ing any opponents, but the upper part Of
the city had been fred, and nearly 5000
bales of cotton appeared to have been
destroyed.
The influence of this victory can
hardly be exaggerated. Although the
Federals may not gain military adyanta-
gcs by it, although the blockade may not
be more effective now that they possess
the town than when they controlled the
entrance to the harbor, yet the moral eff
feet of the capture of this celebrated city
cannot but be most powerful on the con
duct Of the war, Not only during the
four years of the way, but during the
long political struggle which proceeded it,
the people Of the North have constantly
looked upon Charleston as the metropolis
of separatist opinions. 1t is against
Charleston that the most feryent apostles
of abolition have inyeighed, that the most
eloquent preachers of negro rights have
harangucd. At last the fortune of war
has placed the hated city in their power.
This third Iate town-fOr such it would
be considered either in England or Amer.
lea has been Unidentified with the opin-
ions of a powerful political class in the
old time, and of late years with the sue
cess OF an anti-national insurrcction, 1t
is natural to suppose that when the news
reached the northern cities that Charles
ten had surrendered without striking a
blow, they thought that the crownlng
victory had been granted to their arms
The breaking of the blockade is at an end
as far as regards the chief port Of the
Contederacy, and the assurance which
was obtained by gaining the command OF
the harbur is made doubly sure by the
capture of the city itself After having
captured New Orleans, Savannah and
Wilmington the Fcderals could not have
gained more acceptable prize than the
city of Charleston. the taking OF
which seals their supremacy at sea
and imprisons the Contederates within
their own territory, to carry on the war
from the resources which nature has Civ
en- them.
1t is not 50 much, however, the actual
loss to the Coniederates by the capture OF
Charleston which is of Importance as the
proof which the event gives that the pop.
ulation of the South eastern States are
no longer able to oppose the march of the
Federal armies The advance from Sa-
yannah to Charleston seems to have been
as easy as the march from Atlanta to Sa-
vannah The Federals have now sever.
al armies in the field, large in number,
well disciplined, accustomed to war, well
supplied with all the necessaries of a
campaign, and to oppose these the Con-
fcderates have on y the obstinate courage
of their population, who seems resolved
to bear every extremity rather than re-
turn to their alles siance to the old Repub-
lie How, then, shall they continue the
struggle? That they are determined to
continue it can hardly be doubted. The
meeting the other day between President
Lincoln and r. Seward on the one side,
and some Confederate delegates on the
other, has had no other result than to
make the people Of the Southern States
more resolutc in their policy. What,
then, is to be the new plan Of defence
We are told that the Confederates are
ready to abandon the seacoast towns and
trust their destinies to the Getenccs OF
the interior. Undoubtedly this is now
their best, and indeed their only policy -
But whether they will be able to arrest
the progress OF the Northern armies by
these means is very doubtful. The fed
erals by improving their means of trans
port, by gaining knowledge of the
country and by being able to make then
way unmolested by the diminished bands
Of the Confederates, have now the power
of penetrating every part of the South