Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1865-02-23
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Ever since the commencement. Of this
" unnatural war against our Southern
brethren" favcrite text, for all the Cop
perhead journals, has been the interoga-
tory, WHITTIER are we drifting :" We
desire that some of them should take up
the query, at the present juncture, and in
form Us where they think they will drift"
to nexts They, or rather their Southern
brethren in arms, used to drift about pro-
miscuously frou the Ohio to the Rio
Grande, from Arizona to the Atlantic
ocean. Twice they drifted few miles
north Of Mason & Dixon's line; drifting
back again. however, at q gait that par
took of precipitation. They drifted out
of Charleston, Wilmington, Mobile, New
Orleans, Galveston, and a dozen other
ports, with vessels laden with cotton, and
drifted in again with those same vessels
loaded with guns, grub, gray uniforms
and other munitions of war. In fact,
they driftee around promiscuously and
pretty much as they pleased. For the
past twelve months circumstances, over
which they appear to have had but slight
control, have restricted the drift into
gradually narrowing channels. The vast
area of the Confederacy, over which rebel
armies, small and large once drifted un-
disturbed, is now covered with disagreea-
bic distractions in the shape Of Yankee
"hordes," destroyed railroads, and free
State Constitutions. The long line of sea
ports in and out of which pirates and
blockade runners drifted by squadrons,
are now filed with fleets over which
floats the Haunting gridiron, and the
forts which defend those harbors are
manned by the blue-coated hirelings
of the Ape at Washington" "Whith-
er are they drifting" nows- the
gay and gallant descendants Of the HUI
Hood drifted away from Nash
vile long time ago, with a shattered and
demoralized army, leaving his guns and
wagons in the hands of Thomas. Where
is he now: Hardee drifted out of Savan-
nah last Christmas, and has not been
heard of since. Peter Gustaye Toutant
of Beauregard, with his " Paixhan, NOR
tar and petard," drifted out of Columbia,
one day last week, and is drifting some
where at rate that keeps him Just out of
range of Shermans' guns. Somebody
drifted out of Charleston last Saturday,
and is drifting somewhere northward.
The Johnnies drifted out of Mobile short
time since, and proposed to westward hoe.
Where these several bands of cautious
cavaliers will drift to, what they expect to
do when they get there, and what they
will have to eat meanwhile, are subjects
for guessing society. The troops which
left Arkansas have but a narrow track
whereby to reach the Mississippi without
encountering Yankee armies, a sight
which their noble souls abhor. and from
which they turn aside with instructive
loathing. Equally narrow is the strip of
land which lies between tie brave evacu-
ators of the Southern cities and the
" Grand Army" of Virginia. To consoi-
date with that army, appears to be their
only possible destination. If that con-
solidation can be effected, what them 1t
is well known fact that Lee has been for
some time past cut of from his base Of
supplies, and the addition of the Southern
braves to his starving army would place
him in desperate straits. The only road
open from Richmond is to the westward,
and that to . country which affords no
supplies. If urged to desperation by star
walton he makes dash northward, the
Yankees east and south of him viii pour
into his abandoned works, and he can re-
turn thence no more forever. That he
might make a raise of one square meal
for his army, by one more dash into Mary
land is possible; but that he could main
tain himself there an instant, none will
suppose for moment. The future move
ments of the "uneonquerable armies of
the South" are to US puzzlep and we
ask of our Democratic friends, with deep
est curiosity, Whittier are You Drifting
Now: 4frE