Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1865-01-11
For the Standard.
FORr MoULrRIE. Dec. lS. 1864,

Well, the "grand raid has finally eliminated,
and We are informed, Qor the most part through
Yankee channels of communcation) that Sherman
has penetrated through the sovereign State of Geor
ga, even unto the seac0ast, almost without molesta
tion, certainly without general engagement unless
it were strictly of his own choosingl What does
this gratifying q fact demonstrated That the
cles at Richmond are endowed with wonderful pow
ers of presciencel That they are indeed eminenlly
talented and by all means amply qualified to rule
the destines of this young Confederacy even under
the critical emergencies Of the bourP How unctu-
Gus and tatterng too is the assertion that Fort Nc
Alister was "amply prepared to take care Of itself
and uphold the honor Of the cause to the last terri
BILE extremity" and, behold the next telegram
brings the astounding intelligence of its fall Not
that Fort McAiser was Of the least intrinsic value
to usl No place ls-afser it falls into Yankee
hands! And Ipresume, if Savannah was to surren-
der to the victorious Sherman to morrow, would
be complacently informed that, in strategic point
OF view Savannah had never been considered by our
military sauans of the least proximate remote
importance to the cause of Southern independence.
am by no means disposed to place priceless value
upon Sherman's late unexpected change Of BASE
In effect, am somewhat inclined to the belief that
he was indeed much more advantageously posted
at Atlanta, when his communications renamed still
intact, than nov with his new base upon the bread
Atlantic. Only it furnishes the North with some.
what reasonable ground for another grand jubilee
the people will be informed that the rebellion is on
its last legs-can easily be subdued by another vi
gorOus campaign-with q fair show of plansibilty
in fact for have not the victorious legions Of Yam
keedom marched unmolested through the fines: ae.
ricultural region of the South; the most thickly
populated; and one which has furnished the rebel.
lion with some of the best and bravest troops And
Abram, how fippantly he assures his dear consti.
tuents that the war can be carried on indefinitely
What account does he the incarnate demon, take
of those myriad cold and ghastly forms which are
now sumberiDg the eternal sleep beneath the blood.
stained sod which they have rendered sacred with
the vain hope that this demoniac war waves to-
ward its termination? What progress has been
made toward our su6jugation during four years of
relentless, mercess bloodshed four fearful cycles
Of horror, devastation, misery and woef Or, again,
where or at what point have we efectually beaten
back those azure vandal hosts by decisive victory
Where dsmped their infatuated ardor by crushing
annihilating defeatf Do we not stand mutually
confronting each OTHER now as at the beginning
burning intensely with the fierce lust of revenge,
the deponiac passion of vindictive hate still more
bittesly excited? How silly, how absurd, how
preposterous, how ridiculous to hope that this terri
Die carnage can be stayed by the reckless effusien
of human blood! Have we statesmen, d,plomatists,
talented earnest sincere Christians who are capa-
ole Dy the mere force of reason to still the fierce
tempest and stay the sickening tragedy ere its ter.
rihle pail cover US Unfortunately with the huge
shadow of utter ruin and ignominyi Is there no
man through the length and breadth Of this God
favored land to turn aside the hellish march Of this
aendish Juggernaut and give us, q once free and
happy people that earnestly desired boon an honor
able peace?
Alas that Clay, Webster, jackson, OF an
Immortal Washington is not happily permitted to
assume the front Of true and inspired leadership and
pilot US safely 1t length to haven of rest When