Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1866-01-10


tion had ceased to exist AS chess play
ers would say, Grant, by destroying
Hood, had won piece, and was accor-
diugly so much ahead of Lee Grants cav
airy we're riding around Lees lines of
communication, and destroying railroads
and depots of stores. Stoneman was RI
ding through East Tennessee and West
Virginia on an errand of devastation, and
doing so much mischief that "the gallant
and high-souled Breckinridge was chafng
like lion deeply wounded" We had
not succeeded quite as well as could be
wished in the unnecessary and expensive
Expedition to Fort Fisher.
Grant, however, with characteristic per-
tinacity was picking his lock and pro-
posing to try it again. In the South
West, Kirby Smith was in the cotton
business; Magrudcr was doing more dam
age to the hearts of Texan maideps than
to Yankee soldiers; Dick Taylor was ro-
wing through Alabama trying to keep
out of a fight, and our own Candy was
preparing for an assault upon Mobile.
The election of President Lincoln had
shown to the world that the North was
resoiute, united, stern-not disposed to
regard the war as a failure" and deter
mined to fight out the battle under the
same leader. We know now how much
that determination had TO do with depres-
sing the Southern heart The Richmond
leaders despaired of success. The per-
sonal organ of Mr. Davis opened the year
by abandoning all hope o. triumph, and
openly admitted that the Confcderacy was
exhausted" Sherman had proved this
by marching unopposed through the rich
est districts of the South. Those who
owned the Confederacy were willing to
sell out on any terms rather than except
bankruptcy Their stock in trade was
slavery, yeti England, France and Spain
recognized their independence they would
surrendet Slavery Gen. Lee was urging
his rulers to give the negro a musket and
put him in the ranks. This advice was
sanctioned by the Governor of Virgnio.
and was rapidly gaining on the Rebel
Congress. Like the offer to sell Slavery
out to France England and Spain, how
ever, the proposition to arm the negroes
came to late. Ephraim was welded to
his idols, and it only remained for US to
let him alone p!
In every respect, therefore, this year
has been year, of Triumph. President
Lincoln began it by another unavailing
effort to make peace. The mission of Mr..
Blair was timely and admirable, 1t
showed to the world that there was no
rindictiveness on the part of Mr. Lin
coin, and that the magnanimity which
led him to offer amnesty in the dark year
of 1861, did not desert him when nearly
every ci.y in the South was in his keep
ing, and his armies were marching unop-
posed through the heart of the Conieder-
acy. The conference at Hampton Roads,
between President Lincoln and the repre-
sentatives of Mr. Davis. showed that while
Mr., Davis might sell Slavery out to Eng
land, he would not surrender it to the
North as a condition of peace, and so the
mission came to an end. In the mean
time we captured Fort Fisher and Viii
mington. aud the latter part of January
Sheyman's army started on its Carolina
march. These were the most important
events of January in military point Of
view. Beyond vain attempt on the
part of o few Rebel gunboats to destroy
! our supplies at City Point, the Rebels did
nothing but act on the defensive, On the
last day Of January the amendment to
the Constitution aboishing Slavery was
adopted by Congress-
The Southern leaders in the beginning
of February called upon Lee to assume
command of the whole Rebel army, while
Joe Johnston was sent to oppose Sherman
1t is amusing to notice that they also
, changed their flag, the said flag having
'a'ground of red and blue saltier thereon.
With the pertinacity and superstitiou'
hope of gamblers who find the chances
against them. they hoped to WOO fortune
by some childish propitiation. Sherman
continued his dreadful march, his army
passing over Carolina, leaving terrible
swath and destroying every vestigc OF lilt
and property. 10 keep Lee employed anc
: prepare more especially for the final strug
Gle. Grant extended his lines to the LEFT
t some four or FIVE miles, securing a foot
hold on Hatcher's Run. The Rebels dis
putcd this movement stubbornly, but nevc'
Welded. This was the beginning of thu
great campaign. The extentiOn of Grants
lines made it impossible for Lee to NOV
without his permission--especially pre-
venting him from swinging off and attack
ing Sherman. Davis, finding destiny
against him aud himself assailed as th'
r cause of every failure, continued to bic
for Southern sympathy by sacrificing hi
friends and promoting the most popular
Rebel leaders. In addition to the prolao
tion Of Lee and Johnston, Breckinridg'
/. was made Secretary Of War. Public meet