Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1865-03-07
Preparations to Evacuate Richmond.

VI lruudt was IA udngSIs
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Preparations to Evacuate Richmond
IL another article ia this paper we hays called
attention 20 an editorial in Richmond paper,
scsIdiag the rebel congress for attending TO their
lines Of rs:rsat' There il good ground for
believing last the Enquirer was moved to its
sharp criticism OF thsse fusaciol' oongremmen,
by evidences Of the sotual Abandonment Of Rich
mond and there seems to be much probability,
independen, Of the renonsir,nces against it by
the Richmond press, that this event il not far
ahead. The campaign new progressing is attend
ed in the sequel to environ Richmond or iank
it, in military phrase. From the crushing blow
thus threatened by Grants and SsSyn.aD'I slrats-
gy, there are but TWO wayS OF escap. open to the
rsoeIs. One is to dsfest Sherman by battle,
and compel him to seek the sea coast instead Of
striking ves, Of Richmond and toe Other il 10
abandon Richmond, gather up what forces yet
remain to the. rebellion in Nsnh Carolina and
Virginia, and f.ll back to Lynchburg, and thence
into East Tsnnstsss and Georgia and the Gull
States. It's probabls that Gss. Lee oontemplstss
attacking Sherman, bu. il be does, he will have
all biz preparations made, il case Of failure 10
retreat to Lynohburg, for he is too careful com
msnder not to look cut for biz own lines OF relreai,
or to risk the fate Of treason on battle when
our forces are in such position that II he is de-
feated ne caunot escape. II he hghts stsll, we
therefore believe he will fight willis tn. way to
Lynchburg il yet opsn to him.
|. is however, by no means certain that he will
fight battle II ne eau avoid il. BY the con
fe,slon Of all the civil and military leaders OF the
rebellion the whites Of the eonfederscy, capable
Of bearing arms, are all in the field or have desert
ed The rebellion henceforth will be compelled
10 recruit iu ranks from the negroes. 1t 10 not
yet apparent that this resort will streng then the
rebel armies and their leaders evidently regard
it as of doubtful advantage, while their people
dstrust and oppose the policy. 10 this predicA-
nent, with all the future OF treason resting upon
the bayonsts of Lees army, with no mean, of
repairing waite in that army except by putting
muskss into tas hands Of slave,, and with the
inevitable consequence Of defeat in the demorali-
Iation OF the rebsl troops added to the ab,adon.
msnt Of Richmond aud virsinia-if indeed they
csn'get away IRON tive think Lee will not rick
a battle which, If successful would hardly rescue
him from the fatal coil closing around him, and
which, If unsuccessful, must Do the death itrue-
gle OF treason. But b. must either fight or
retreat; and we believe he will retreat unless
Grant or Sherman make some grave bund,r 10
their campaign, which they are no, likely to do.
This view, as we said above, 6uds confirmation
in the articles and ntimstOns Of the Richmond
press. The Sentinel admit, that the removal Of
guns and stores has begun. The Examiner has
a labored article condsnning in tho strongest
language the Abandonment Of Rich mond. /.
combsfs thesgnifcant ststsmsn, made in recent
speech by jeff Davis, that thu fall VI Richmond
or Wilmington or Charleston or Savannah or
Mobile, or oil combined" could not affect the
existence OF the confsdsracy,..s statement which
Davis undoubtedly made to prepare the minds Of
the people for the eueua,ion OF the rebel sspi,a,
and the length and emphssi. Of the editorial ar,
proof that 1t was occasionsd by the apprehension
that the authorities were contemplating taking
the step which it condemns. 1t says:
Let not this fatal error be hsrbored till Il take.
root IN the Imagination. Tbs evacuation OF Rich
mond would be The loss OF all respect and author
ity toward the Confederate Government, tho dis.
indignation Of the army, and tho abandonment of
Of the sch'lne Of an Independent, Southsra Con.
federation. The war would, after that, speedily
degenerate into ao irregular contest, 10 which
passion wond have more TO Do than purpose,
which would have no other objsc, than The mere
defense or present safety Of ihoss immediately
persisiing in It. Tbs hope Of establishing Con.
lederaoy aud securing It's recognition among ma
tons, would be gone forever. Iae common
sense OF the country, tbs instinct of every man
AMI woman in the land, oontradiots the idea that
any possibility ofan lndependen, Soath would
remain after It's capital was sSsndoned, iu Gov
eminent Get sdrif, aad is army Withdrawn into
the tolitudes Of the interior.
The Erdn,intr adds much more to tn, mms
effsei. But It's Arguments will be Of no sv.i. II
Gen. Lee believes he can hold Richmond bo vii!
make the effort. out be will not hazard the loss Of
h" army snd Richmond too. III. rebellion can
10" Richmond and survive willis il can keep An
army together, but the loss Of Richmond and its
army would be Immediately fatal And we shall
not be disappointed, therefore, to learn that the
rebel strategy At Savannah aud Charleston and
Wilmington will be repeated at Richmond as
soon az Shelmans advance threatens Lees line
Of retreat.
-. 49, -
Hon. j. P, kdder formerly Lieut.. G.verno.
OF this State, has been appointed associate Judge
for the territory OF Dscotah