Delaware State journal and statesman., 1865-03-31
BISHOP LEE;
OUR VICTORIES

Inc crushlng defeat OF Lee at Peters,
burg on the 25th, and the utter failure
of all his attempts to arrest the northward
march of Sherman complete the measure
OF disaster to the Rebel cause for last
week. We have abundant and reiterated
confirmation of all the essential facts in
both cases. The Rebel General-in-Chief
must survey with what complacency he
can the irresistible advance Of Sherman
and the impregnable strength of Grant
lie has risked two armies to make nm
impression on his two adversaries. and
both those armies are to-day the sullen
spectators of victories for the Union.
The hold of Grant on Richmond is not
to be shaken off. The approach of
Sherman cannot be stopped. Where
then shall Lee seek for relief to his des.
perate fortunes, or how much longer can
he postpone the abandonment of his
capital which every day makes more
necessary and every day grows more
periloHs?
Of all men on this continent it is
Robert II. Lee who knows best that the
fortunes ofthe Rebellion are past redemp.
ton and past hope-that as he declared
to q Committee of the Rebel Senate in
January, no human power can now save
the Confederacy-that to fight longer is
but the mad persistency of despair, and
an inhuman waste of brave mems lives
Why does he not abandon Richmond at
oncef Why, unless he knows that the
step which military prudence commands
him to take will be deemed all tbrongh
the Coniederacy the final confession that
all is lost, and that it would be followed
by such an increase of desertion as would
disperse his army?
Yet we do not believe it possible that
Lee should long defer his retreat from
Richmond. The battle for the possession
Of the Rebel capital is fought, not at
petersburg, but in North Carolina-nay.
it has already been fought and lost. 70
Johnston and Lee there was one single
chance of success remaining-to prevent
the junction of Sherman and Schofeld
That chance the last week has DESTROYED.
II might have been possible for the
Rebels by attacking one of the separate
HAANh AAN nOM uI AgOlQS-
borough, to have crushed it before the
arrival of the other. If Johnston had AN
army worthy of the name, he ought to
have been able to defeat Schoiield at
Kinston-but he tried with half his force
and failed. Then he tried the head Of
one Of Sherman's columns at Averysbo.
rough on the 18th and failed there. He
tried again at BentOnville on the 18th
and failed there. He tried again AT
Mount Olive on the 2lst and failed there,
Then he Tetreated to Smith6eld. while
Sherman, victorious in every engagement
pushed on TO join Schofeid and Terry
near Goldsborough, and the three armies
OF the Union melted into one at the VERY
point which Sherman had fixed upon
before he started from Savannah. Gould
there be a success more complete and
decisive than that? And if Johnston
could do nothing against separate column.
OF two separate armies, can he hope to
resist those armies when united and re.
enforced by a third
Gen. Sherman's whole loss since leaving
Savannah is less than 1000 men, and
against that he has to show 1000 Rebel
prisoners, plus an estimated loss of three
or four thousand more, while they have
failed in the object for which they fought,