The Portland daily press., 1865-03-29
How Stands the CAMPAIGN !

During the past few days thsnews rom our
armies has been somewhat exciting, ana lne
people have been anxious to know now ~
the battles. We have had some rumolS
through rebel sources that Sherman ana MS
brave boys have been checked in their trlun-
plant career through the heart of rebeidom,
but these rumors had but little foundatlon 10
fact. There has been some hgnung, aho, OF
course, Sherman was compelled to stop awhile
and whip the rebels, and then resume his
march. He is not in the habit of tarrying
long ia any place, however pleasant such
quarters might be for himself and army. He
has work to accomplish andis determined to
do it in spite Of all rebeldom. ..a IA
In the vicinity of Richmond the rebels have
made some attacks on Grants lines. but they
q have been repulsed with much loss to them.
No doubt these movements Of Lees forces
have been hurried on for the purpose OF seeing
what could be done before Sherman forms
Junction with Grant. Lee il probably well
satisfied that Sherman's objective point is
Richmond, and hence the attacks that he has
recently made. This General well knows his
situation, if be is not master OF it, Ho has
% not much time to lose; for the pressure of
circumstances bear hard upon him about this
time. There is severe complication Of diff
culties surrounding him, which renders his sit
,uation anything but pleasant and hopeful
q ?, Public opinion An Dixie is not exactly what
Lee would like to have it. The brilliant course
of Sherman has had demoralizing effect, not
only upon the rebel army, but also upon the
people generally. Public sentiment and feel
ing even in South Carolina are not what they
ltoonce were, and in Georgia and North Carolina
the tone has been changed to such a degree
that there is great danger that these States
will yet wheel out of the Confederate lines,
and voluntarily come back into the Union
1t is this growing Union sentiment that now
troubles Davis and Lee. 1t is an ugly feature
in the confederacy. During the past year this
feeling has greatly increased from various
causes. 3 The success of the Federal forces has
given it fresh, impulse, and the dark pros
poets of the rebellion sustains it. -
There are other troubles in rebeldom. That
union of sentiment and feeling against the
North that once existed, seems to have given
place to diseord aad disunion among the peo-
among the leaders. JEFF. Davis and Congress
widely differ in policy. and Lee somewhat diff
fers from both. This rebel house is divided
against itself. and while this quarrel goes on
among the champions of the rebellion, the
psoole are returning Il a second. sober
thought. Again--she rebel army within the
nast YEAR has been greatly reduced in num-
beers. and what is still worse. II has become de-
.rnoralized. has lost power and prestige.
Desertion to our lines has also become
alarmingly freouent. The "Johuniesp know
how matters stand. and begin TO feel like some
politicians who are continually snuifing the
popular breeze. Anxious to be 81, the strong
est side. these rebel soldiers. in spite Of the
q popuiarity of Lee Aock TO the ITnion lines in
large numbers Seeing nothing but naro
fighting and hard fare and poor pay, they are
ready to try some new experiment in the hope
Of improving their condition, and for this
they run the hazard of desertiop
,sa. But these are not all the troubles that press
she hearts of the rebel leaders. 1t is now
generally understood and believed that the
Federal forces greatly outnumber those of the
rebels. The Army and Navy Journal says the
critical moment has arrived. Our effective
forces now number 200, 900. while the rebel ar
my does not exceed 10000. This is great
disparity in numbers. such as must ere long
4, prove fatal to the rebel cause, But this is
not all, nor the worst bad as 1t is: the task is
difficult one to reulsnish the rebel army.
There is abundant proofof this fact. The call
for negro help now loudly proclaimed. furnishes
full evidence. if there were no other. This
2 arming of slaves Is the last resort. II wouId
never he adonted. If reinfarcemants could be
obtained from any other sources And this
+. measure is fraught With great danger to the
rebel cause, but when men become desperate.
as these leaders have, they will resort to al.
p most anything. 'aes
~ For months past the great burden of the
editorials in the rebel journals has been the
terrible consequences that would follow the
subjugation OF the South ! Upon this string
: they have harped until the doleful music has
ceased to have much power over the people.
"a Funnc opinion In the South, as well as else
e9fwnere,is the great lever that moves every
thing; and hence the anxiety OF these South
ern champions of a bad cause, to keep it up
to the fighting point. Hoe opus, hic labor
Z est. To this work-tasy have bent all their
energies. Andwe confess that the rebel ed-
tors have produced many able articles, pathet-
ic appeals and beautiful rhetoric: but it is to
De regretted that such energy and ability could
not have been employed in better cause. 1t
9 Is mental power worse than wasted. 1t has
not answered its design; besides, it has tended
toincreass bloodshed, to produce misery among
the people, and to render Southern life any
thing but blessing. ao'a'Ne 3D. d