The independent. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Kan.) 1860-1874, 1865-04-15
vietery ct Last!

will honor and bless the Nation.
Victory ct Last!
Tie surrender Of Lees army gives
promise Of the speedy conclusion Of the
war. If the surrender does not in.
clu.le all the rebels in arms. Il is eviden,
that what remains of the force in the
field will be entirely inadequate to the
, task Of making q successful campaign.
even for . short time. We may. there
loss, conclude that the bruns OF the
war is over. and that hereafter only
guerrillas and outlaws will be left to
'squeleh.'
In the grand campaign which has
Just closed with such magnificent re-
suits. ws can trace the gaines Of the
general in chief command. We see the
scope Of the far-seeing grasp Of his in
tellect. Almost year ago the cam
paign was commenced BY the two armies
simultaneously. one under Sherman mo.
wing forward for Atlantis. right through
the aears of tho eonfederacy; the other.
nomiually under Meade but really under
Grant, moving on Richmond, to ::::rixe
the lead Of the Rebellion. The origi-
nal desigs. doubtless, was. to strike
Richmond on the west and a. once cut
OF supplies. and in time compel sur.
render Of the entire force Of the enemy
concentrated for its defense. But Lee
had powerful army, and almost im.
pregnably fortified camps at convenient
Intervals from the Rapidan TO Rich
mond: and the FIRST design could not
be carried out without too great loss
Of life. and instead of assaulting the
foe. thereby causing fearful slaughter Of
men. flsnk movements we're made. which
deprived the enemy Of the benefit Of
his labored entertainments. and placed
an army 10 the vicinity of the rebel
capital, but to the eastward of the city
instead Of on the vest side. This me-
cessitated change Of programme for
the campaiga Immediately before Rich.
mond.
1t Was nov determined 10 capture
Petersburg; but again. through the mis-
management Of others. the general in
chief saw the failure Of this attempt.
Bat he vas not discouraged. Wha,
could not Be done at once should b
done As i! could. Richmond and Peters.
burg were beseiged: not SO much with
. view TO their speedy capture. as TO
hold Lees army there, and no, permit
It too rs-enforce other portions Of the
rebel forces. against which the active
movements of the campaign we're to be
directed.
Ia the meantime. Sherman goes on
70 Atlanta. He is made strong for this
purpose. stronger in proportion than the
Eastern army. Lee. ever wa,chful. and
feeling the absolute necessity of doing
something. sends Early to make raid
int Maryland. II il done with skill
and sudacity. and for few days Wash.
ington il threatened. Grant sends a
corps OF veterans 10 punish the raider.
but they escape, and remain in the
Shenandoah valley ready for any move
"snt that may become necessary. Tha,
will never do; and looking about for the
man to pit against them. Sheridan is
found-tbe very man for the place
and whips their doughty general on
several occasions badly and demoralizes
his army.
Du'ing this time Sherman. under or
ders from headquarters. is on his grand
march through Georgia.
Again Lee finds it necessary to strike
Nr the sinking cause he i. defending.
and Hood is ordered to defea, Thomas
At al hazards and march for Kentucky.
He tries to do this. but Schofield out
generals and whips him first. and then |
Thomas demolishes him. And Sher-
man marches on Savannah il won,
and after . little rest. his victorious |
cohorts are turned northward, and 20 |
marching on again.
Thomas does not need 20 many men
now. In conjunction With the other
grand movements, the campaign against
Wilmisgton. favored 10 . remarkable
msaser BY Providence. has proved
ssccessfal; and - more troops are need
ed there. .Scho6sh 10 ordered to the east,
obeys with marked ability. and is placed
10 command Of the forces in North
Caroliaa. Sherman is coming 10 meet
him.
Nov is the time. to operate against