Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1865-01-03
1904.

lOOt
The year just closed has, ike its three pgedo-
cessors been marked a. another year d the creos
rebellion against Tree government and free Trin-
ciplts n the Unite1 S4tc.. Toe events Of the
year abroad, have had for Us far ess significance
and interest, than the shifting sc.acs 10 the
great tragedy being acted on our own stage and
indeed it is probable that, with few exceptions,
the civilized world has watched with more eager
interest tho progress Of the contest IN America,
tban tho occurrence of any event at their own
doors. We have continued to be a tpectac!e
to the nations and lot US hops not wholly in
vain for their permanent welfare, as well as
our own.
And while ths war for our nationality still
continues, and the rebellion yet romans unsub-
dusd We have during the year made grelter prog
ress toward the end than IN any previous year
Our arms have every where been advanced, and,
with unimportant exceptions which have had
little influence on the general result, have been
everywhere successful Sherman's command in
tile west has been pushed to victory at all points,
and that peerless general has crowned the labors
Of tho war with march Of three hundre miles
from tho Gate City to tho sea, completing and
rounding this groit military achievement by tho
| capture Of Savannah with its imm5Gss supplies
Thomas whom he left in command in tbs west,
has jus! vindicated his right to be ranked among
tho best generals Of the wlr, by blow which
has crushed defiant and confident rebel army
at Nashville, and is now pursuing tho utterly
routed and flying fragments Of the only csnsid
cradle force treason had west oil the Alegh aniesj
Sheridan has inscribed on our flag a series OF
brilliant victories Ia the Valley Of the Sheuan-
doah, and has shut that high say FOR rebel raid
Ors into Pennsylvania by making it dosolatloui
tho Army Of the Potomac has fought rs way,
inch by inch with persls Cnc} aid rss1IutJ
courage never before parn.lyle ~ any military
campaign from the Rapidan to Petersburg, and
now bcsleges tho capital of r belllon Farragut,
by respondent daring and brilliant achievement,
has carried the outer offences OF Mobile aud is
olatcd that rebel city from the sea in East Ten
ue'see, and along the Cult, our cavalry haye
visited and destroyed rebel communications and
sup plies OF immense value to treason and, as
the year ended there was not along the whole
Inns ANY talk OF winter quarters, but instead the
note Of preparation, OF work, OF advance at all
points, our armies closing upon the rebellion
everywhere Oar military successes have never
been 30 decisive as during the last year the
situation was never 3 o hopeful sS now. As
the year went out victory iluminsd our bar
ners on almost every contested field, and the re-
bsllion reeled beneath the blows of Sherman in
the East, and Thomas in the West, and gave
signs Of voc that all is Lost, even at Richmond
itspli.
And the nation may well DO proud Of its mill
tary achievement for the year, and the splendid
herolsm with which the annals of tho war have
been illustrated 1t is no. alone that Grant aud
Sherman, Sheridan and Thomas, and that grand
old naval hero Farsgut, who have proved their
right to rank at the head Of the military chief.
tains oil this or any age, have added a new lussre
o the name OF Americans but it is as much
that hundreds OF thousands, as noble soldiers az
ever stood on battlefield or died in defence Of
an imperillcd country have illustrated and gluri-
fed the American name by a persistent, tensc.-
Gus, unlagging courage, noble sell-sacri6ce,
and lofty herosm unparalleled in the history
Of the world. people who can fight, as did
the Army Of the Potomac from tho Rapidan
along that terribly bloody way through the Will
dcrness to the james, will lose nothing which
faith and endurance and courage can win Tho
quality Of American manhood, has been proved to
DO " heart OF oak the stanchest OF all the ages
Aud while the nation has thus in the roar Of
battle given proof Of its blood, and spirit, aud
temper and determination, it has in the peace
full contest OF an election expressed again, and
more emphatically than before, its solemn pur-
pose TO preserve American nationality, to" fight
i. out on this line " let ii cost what it nav
and to maintain the republic, from tho lakes 10
the gulf, heritage Tor American lreemen for all
coming time Republican government, genuine
Democracy, nave INDICATED themselves ftom the
sneers and supercllious criticisms of arstocracy
} aud de'potrm, aud proved to all spectators, that
an intelligent people need neither kings nor
ords ~ think tor them, s.sLo laws for til, ua, OF
take care Of them, We can fight our battles Nv
ballots or bullets, as Nay beet pca,c cur enc
mics, and maiuIaia our principles and our rcpu-
tailor, at the same time asSiug bo odds Il any
q nation On catth.
And what may We not hope for in the ear
upon which We have just entered? We have
o found chittalus Who have proved their i;tcs,
l q. leaders by actual uial ard success, and from
whom We can hardly t&rcct too much Tee
lndomitable Graat, the brilliant Sheridan. tie
steadisst Thomas, tn magnificent Sherman, the
. grand old Fstrasut, ure leadus uuder whom
disaster cannot u,er,oke us, 1t We ale true 10
A ourselves u our pledges aud to our causa. And
t 10 We enter confidently upoa the new year. with
hIner faith IN thu iutelll1 fence aud loyalty Of
the people, with an abiding confidence in the
justice OF our cause, W N a s.eadAst houe ol the
, hear and c,mF letc triSmrh Of our arms, aud
with rsLesed pledge OF our devotion to li1cr.
~ a. the sure and lasting foundation Of just aud
Z beneEeent government on this continent And
lie. US labor, every man in his pla e, that, before
!. another year, rebellion may be crushed beneath
the iron heel Of natiJnrl authority, aud white.
robed peace once more dwell 10 all our borders