Kosciusko chronicle., 1866-01-06
A NEW YEAR

luminous nave OOen the changes III tne
affairs of men, and more particularly of
the people of these United States. du-
ring the last twelve months. Only one
short year ago this people were in the
midst Of the most gigantic struggle
the most disastrous civil war ever re-
corded in the annals of history. This
once happy and united natiOn-'hs
pride and boast of the world-was ar
rayed in sectional strife, the North
against the South, and yicesversa-
each contending for the mastery. For
four years had this, people been thus
engaged. and still the contest was lot
shde& oaeyvsr sgs nanytf the peo,
pie Of the South felt perfectly con6dent
that the great struggle would end in the
fnal, triumph Of the Confederate cause.
All opinions to the contrary were deri-
ded, and any one expressing them was
denounced as disloyal to the South
The great armies of Lee and johnson
were in motion and almost bid def
an9e to.the armies Of the nation. The
slases Of The country, where the army
had NOS taken possession, were labor.
ing for the. masters, and; seemingly
contented and hafq One year ago,
our towns and.. cities Ss.s almost de-
serted, our business houses were clos
ed, and our young ladies promenaded
the streets clad in homespun, the work
manship of their own hands. Our
people were deprived Of all the luxuries
and great many Of the actual neces'
sites Of life. All this was borne with
out a murmur, so intent were our peo-
pie upon the establishment of the indie
pendence of the Confederacy.
How is it now? In the short space
of one year, the armies under Grant
and Sherman have swept over Virgin
ia, Georgia, and South Carolina; over
run, captured and paroled the mighty
armies of Lee, johnson, Taylor and
Smith, and the once proud flag Of the
Confederacy has been forced to trail in
the dust, and the Confederate Govern.
ment has been swept at one fell swoop
from its wanton position among the ma
lions of the earth, and the Stars and
Stripes, the flag of the country" now
floats triumphantly over the whole ter
ritory of the once proud Confederate
States. The people of the South have,
with praiseworthy unanimity, buried
the Ratchet, and returned TO their ale
glance to the old flag.
Thus has the God of battles vouch-
safed the victory. Our want Of success
has been attributed to many causes -
OF these we pretend not to Judge. The
South has been overwhelmed, and it is
needless at this late day to discuss the
causes that led to this end. Whether
posterity shall view them as patriots or
rebels, the Southern soldiers have ac-
quired name for chivalry, bravery,
and endurance that will be impersha-
Bile for all time to come, and the people
Of the South will retain the names of
their heroes, both dead and living, up
on the tablet of their memories for ages
and generations yet unborn. But we
digress. This people, who one year
ago, we're engaged in wars bloody
strife, are fast becoming united. Com
MERGE is again springing up between
the sections, and were it not for the
prejudices of a few fanatics both North
and South, it would not be a great
while before the intercourse between
the sections would become as Of yore.
The people of the South. although
foiled in their attempt at independence,
are beginning to prosper beyond the
expectations Of the most sanguine. Our
towns and cities are filing up with bus
mess men; our store houses are filled
with goodsv our tables again groan
under the weight Of the good things Of
the earth, and we bid fair to become
once more prosperous and happy peo-
pie. All these things we enjoy, that
we did not one year ago. But the great
and browning change is yet to be told.
To-day the whole people Of this great
reunited Republic Of America are at
peace, one with. another. No more
does the roar Of battle disturb our rev.