The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1865-01-26
THE REBEL SITUATION.
The slales Of Alabams add 0sprgI

!
sion showed il, nj least, WAS luke
warm in the cause Of the cenlederscY.- -
Georgia, while tho authorities support.
cd the rebellion, BAD IbroOglliis Exeou.
tive, bitter cOntroVersiesWiih JEFF. Das
Wis. Since Shermsu's march through
Georgia. aud bis capture of Savannah,
the feeling Of discomfort, in both States
which was previously latent, has as.
lumod, in mild formSa positive shape.
Meetings are being held In various coun.
ties, in favor Of returning to the Union,
and these are unoppossd BY the author
lilies. Governor Brown, OF Georgia, Is
silent, and is doubtless quietly awaiting
tho development Of public sentiment
Meantime the, rebel papers inform US
but little is being done TO repair che Rail
Roads Of the State. In this condition
Of affairs, nothing can be accomplished
in those States IN the way Of recruiting
the rebel armies. Conscripting officers
will be powerleSs,pnd deserterS will de-
fy the military Authorities. The heart
Of the people is no longer in the rebel
lion; they regard The cause of the Con-
Iederacy as hopeless; they see, too, that
to fight for the Davis Government is to
eight for military dcspolism; and their
true interest lies in the national cause.
Hence they are looking 10 return to
their allegiance, and unless we throw
aside the evidence that reaches US thro'
rebel sources and through trustworthy
Union channels, we are bound to con.
clude that majority Of the people Of
both States are to day not only willing
but anxious to place themselves back
under the National Government.
Therefore, we repeat, the States OF
Georgia and Alabama are virtually lost
to the Confederacy, as Tennessee was
lost by the victory at Chattanooga.
From these rebellion can now draw
but little strength, and soon they will
add to the power Of the National Gov.
eminent. This being SO, the field Of op.
erations is now restricted to The territory
cas-. Of tho Savannah River. The reb,
els it is true at last accounts, held Mo.
bile, and the remnants of Hoods army
was somewhere in Alabama. but there is
no power anywhere for offensive opera.
lions; nor is there defensive strength
to resist successfully four armies should
see Fl to advance. The whole territory
is at the mercy of our Generals, and for
all practical purposes, is conquered.
Looking east Of the Savannah River
we find North Carolina. also virtually
against the rebellion. Our correspond.
ent who recently passed through the
mountainous portions OF that State re-
ports sixty six per cent. of the people Of
Western North Carolina very decidedly
! Union. This is more than confirmed by
the Raleigh Wing, which says that the
ISIatsis filed with deserters and that
the militia have thrown down their
arms and gone home. In view of this
condition OF affairs it openly favors re-
construction. The rebel Government
must, therefore, be powerless in North
Carolina. If that power and the State
authorities combined, cannot arrest de
serlcrs, it cannot strengthen the army
by CONSUMPTION. The people are not on.
ly tired 9th war, but are anxious for
peace and reconstruction, which means
a return to their allegiance.
In the army of Gen. Lee, therefore,
the remaining strength Of The Confeder.
acy, available for carrying on the war is
concentrated. To crush the rebellion
utterly it is row only necessary TO do.
feat that army to the extent that Thorn.
as defeated Hood. Matters are now SO
situated, that we can bling against Lee
very nearly the whole power Of the Ma
tionnl Army. This can be done, not
perhaps in front Of Richmond and Pc
tersburg, but in other ways it can be so
accomplished, that Lee can be shorn Of
his strength, and with his fall the re.
bellion goes to pieces.
Ia Richmond, itself, there is not o
Union OF hearts. The outspoksn scD,i
ments are for wcr, but in these there is
so much bitterness-so much that gives
evidence OF a divided house, we may bs
sure there is an Onli-war under cur
rent Of which little is heard.
With the Southwest lost, then, 10 the
Confederacy; with Richmond itself trcm.
Hing, with longing as Mr.. Orr said in
the rebel House, among the people and
tho army for peace, with Grant, and
Terry, and Sherman aud, Sheridan draw.
ing their coils closer around the heart
of the rebellion, war must in any event
sooa bring about that peace which every
patriot so much desires, because it will
be found upon Union from tho evils
which caused the rebellion that cost SO
much blood and treasure.
v ll,na