The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1865-02-23
What will the Rebels do 2


What will the Rebels do2
Now that Sherman is triumphantly march
ing through Georgia and South Carolina cap
turing their principal towns and Cities ana
DESTROYING their railroad communications, the
question naturally arises: WHAT VIII tne reo,
els do? They ara not destitute OF ape anu
shrewd leaders, Gen. Lee, who now mas
plenarv mower to do just as he pleases, is an
able officer and his army have greatscohn-
dence in him. In the present aspect OF reb-
al affairs it is reasonable to inquire what will
this shrewd. and adroit general do? We are
not disposed to indulge in wild speculations
upon this subject, nor to create hopes in the
hearts of our readers that will never be real
lied.
It has always been our honest conviction
that there is in the so called Confederate
States union sentiment in the hearts OF ma
ny people, lingering love for the old nag,
which would show itself in unmistakable
signs just as soon as the military power OF the
Confederacy is broken. The Southern lead
ers know this fact better than we do. Lee
understands it perfectly, and governs himself
accordingly To keep this union feeling
down, to prevent it from giving out any
fame, or even spark, Lee knows that some
rebel victories must soon be won. In the
Judgment OF the people, this officer has too
long been held in the traces and confined in
too narrow limits about the rebel capital,
by Gen. Grant and his forces. Lee knows
and seriously feels all this. His eyes are anx-
iously turned toward Sherman's movements,
and he sees one city after another falling into
Federal hands, and worse than all this, and
more to be dreaded, he sees his railroad com
munications broken up and the starvation of
his army staring him in the face.
Under such circumstances and with such
clouds hanging over him, now what will he
do? Will he order all his forces to Richmond
hold upon the rebel capital? Have Savan
nah, Charleston, Columbia and other places
been surrendered and the forces garrisoning
them saved for the purpose Of concentrating
them about Richmond and delivering battle to
GrantP We think not. Grant is too strong
ly intrenched to warrant such movement.
It would be hazardous experiment to attack
Grant under such circumstances, and we be-
lieYe Lee knows it.
The loss of cities and towns, and even the
rebel capital itself, would not be half so disas-
trous as the defeat and loss of the armed
forces. When Lees army is defeated and its
prestige gone, all is lost, and the rebellion
must suddenly and ingloriously come to an
end. 1t is true that all the rebel forces could
be quite as easily concentrated about Rich
mond as at any other point in rebellion, but
then they could not be fed there while Sher-
man is playing such tricks with the railroads
leading to Richmond We think Lee will
evacuate Richmond rather than take such a
course. True, indeed, it is hard to give up
the capital OF government to an enemy, and
yet military necessity, or wise policy, often
compels general to take such step in order
to save his army to give battle in some Other
locality.
The question returns: what will Lee do p
He hes already sent some of his forces to
South Carolina and Georgia with some of his
ablest generals. We think he is preparing to
concentrate all his forces in front of Sher.
man, who is far away from any base of opera
tions, and his columns divided. He is far in
the interior, with no gunboats to assist him
depending on the country for the support o
his army, and on the prowess of his brave
boys. In this view of the case we are inclin
ed to the opinion that Lees next movement
mill I,a fr etrizo Of Charruan ard ondaa1o, e.
defeat him in general battle. Like Napoleon
the First, he will endeavor to get between the
forces of Sherman and Grant and deliver bat
tie to the former before the latter can come
up.
Thus will he stake the salvation of the
Confederacy on such a battle. II it should
prove an Austerlitz the rebellion might live
awhile longer; buff it should prove Water
loo, then it would collapse, and the Union SEN
timent would suddenly break out all over the
Calf States and obtain the ascendency. We
think Lee cannot send away all his forces, OF
any considerable portion of them, without
the knowledge of Grant, and when the at
tempt is made, Grant would be very likely tc
give him hard stern chase.
Such movements would startle the country
and we should watch them with breathlesi
anxiety. But we need not borrow any trouble
Goods not lighting by our side with His visol
down." as the Richmond editors think He il
on their side. He has not "vouchsafed tt
South Carolina the proud privilege of closing
as she begun this war--in triumph" No, no
These editors cannot clay that fattering unc.
ton to their souls" God makes nations, and
ours will be saved for higher and nobler du.
ties. ~ ~