The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1865-03-10
General Lees Army.


1t IS now generally believed, not only NORTH
but South also, that the strength of the reoei-
lion is concentrated in Lees army, ana oTp.
Lee himself has the same impression
knows 1t better than wa do, and governs M.
self accordingly. On The scroll OF the fanny
arms of Gen. Lee IA inscribed the motto, Won
incnutua flt,,ri.n which means literally ~.
unminafuI 90 the future. To this arlnoilai
dav,ca lac now gives great heed-rnore, prop
sbly. than he ever did before lnele 40 au-
other maxim from Sallust which ID Eaghsn
rims thus: "The safety Of kingdom does not
Demand 40 much upon its armies, or its treas
ures az on its alliances" When Sallust
wrote. this maxim was especially true, and it
holds true at the present day. We believe
Lee would not question its truth, although he
might wish the Confederate treasures" were
more valuable, if less abundant, and "allian-
ces" the rebels have been seeking in all eiviliz-
ed countries, and plying all the arts of diplc-
macy to obtain them, but yet without sue
cess. - $50, --sA-e b.. fsftsts+,
In spite Of the teachings OF the ancient his
torian. Lee and the Confederacy now depend
on their army, and not ON treasures or allan
ces, for their salvation. 80 this complexion
have they come at last. When Lees army is
destroyed, or its power broken, the rebellion
is virtually at an end. Another army in rebel
dom can never be raised, and Lee knows it;
aud hence the necessity of his needing
the armorlal device of his family. Grant has
long had his eye on Lee, and his gaze causes
much troublein the rebel ranks as well as 10
their commander. Grant is no idle observer
Of Lees movements, and waits patiently and
persistently for the opportune moment when
he can do most with the least sacrifice of the
blood and the lives of his brave and patriotic
soldiers. That time will surely come
The Richmond editors have much to say
about the pluck, proves and patriotism of
Lees army. They think much more OF these
qualities in the soldiers than they do of the
people who are out OF the ranks, aud especial
ly of the people in the Gulf States where
Sherman is teaching them lessons which are
not easily forgotten. h0s tb&l
But how does the matter stand2 Are Lees
soldiers so full of courage and fight as these
editors represent them2 Do the daily occur
ring facts warrant the expression of such an
opinion9 Facts are stubborn things; but reb-
Of editorial speculations are quite another
thing. se58 1 ay0 eli sHs zsfs
1t is now conceded by even Northern jour
mails OF Southern procllvities, that desertions
from Lees army have become really alarming
to the rebel leaders. Lee knows all about it,
and hence his earnest call upon the negroes
for help In this crisis of rebel affairs. But it
seems to us that arming the slaves and putting
them into the ranks would not help the mat
ter, bnt only increase the number of the de-
serters. Lee has some power left, and his pop
ularity Is now, In our opinion, a. its highest
elevation. He could not exercise such power
over armed slaves as he exercised over his
negroes while living in splendor on Arlington
Heights. That power has essentially waned,
and is growing less every day.
Lee and his officers, assisted by Richmond
editors and other rebel leaders, have exhaust
ed all their powers in attempting to make their
soldiers believe that the Federal officers would
abuse and Ill treat them most shamefully If
they should fall into their hands. They have
succeeded in impressing the minds of the
rebel soldiers with such fear, and no doubt
thousands upon thousands have thus been
Kept in the ranks who otherwise would have
deserted. But this restraint has recently been
much weakened, and assertions have greatly
increased. The rebel soldiers begin to learn
that they are well fed, well clothed, and kind
ly treated by our officers. This knowledge
Is derived from a variety OF sources over
which Lee has no control.
These assertions are not confined to their
meanest and poorest soldiers, those placed on
the outposts Of duty-the pickets, their best
trained and most reliable, use their legs to
md the Federal lines. And what is worse
for the rebel cause, they come over to us
"armed and equipped for military duty"
There is quite general impression in the ar
my of Lee that the rebellion cannot, succet
and hence the immense number of de,sertions.
II these desertions continue 10 inci ease az
they have for the last few weeks, Lees army
WILL be very much shorn of its power. Ne
groes cannot save 1t, however loudly and earn
estly they may be called upon for help.
There is much speculation on the subject Of
the evacuation of Richmond. 1t is said by
Baltimore correspondent of the New York
World that there is really a serious misunder-
standing between JEFF. Davis and Gen. Lee,
which grows wider aud wider. Davis does
not hesitate to declare publicly that he is in
favor of giving up Richmond to the Yankees.
Mr.. Benjamin, his Secretary, sides with him.
I'M
time to look out for the safety of their own
necks, while Lee is for holding on, arming the
negroes and making the best fight within lis
power.
From the above facts the inference would
seem to be that Lee is not disposed to move
his army from the vicinity OF Richmond, but
20 reinforce it and defend the capital to the
bitter end Hta coll for lvagro troona IL lord