The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1870-03-31

and inspired by IA combination of every
circumstance that could breed courage or
insure devotion.
Yet the contest was hopeless before the
year was out. In this time the South had
been conquered not, indeed, by the trans
cendent generalship Of Grant, but by the
consummate folly of Jefferson Davis. SUI
perior numbers never conquered the
Southern Confcderacy, and here on this
point we may dismiss the comparison of
gen eralship between Grant and McClel-
Ian, as no longer applicable, or as having
been treated to the extent of justice, and
pursue another and larger reflection on
the subject, viz: What were the real
causes Of the failure Of the Southern Con-
federacy?
We answer that tho South was
conquered in 1864 by acts of its own
government, occurring principally af-
tor Gen. Grant had fought the most
important battles of the campaign.
1t was conquered by the removal of
johnson atAtlanta, which broke the
heart ola great army, and struck
down the confidence of tho people by
a single deceitful blow; by such de-
struction of discipline in the Corfed-
crate armies that Gen. Longstreet
reported in December, 1864, that in
a single day, out of brigade of
twelve hundred men, there were four
hundred confined in the guard house
for desertion; by such mismanage-
ment Of the commissiariat that there
were Confederate soldiers actually
starving, while there was grain rot
ting in depots, from which the gov
eminent had neglected to remove it,
and the enemy was constantly ex-
claiming his surprise at the richness
Ut subsistence in every district he
invaded; by physical exhaustion SO
prematurely and wantonly brought
about that but two months before the
surrender, l1Ith Feb, 1865, Gen. Lee
had written in an official report that
must now remain the clear and ever
lasting condemnation ofthe authori-
ties to whom it was addressed, tour
resources, fifty and vigorously en-
ployed, are ample!"
Such were the things that con-
quered the Southern Confederacy.
The theory that it fell under an accu-
mutation ofthesuperior numbers ofthe
North, sounds pleasantly to the
vanity Of the South, and impresses
the vulgar imagination, which is apt,
in mere statistical parallels or in
coarse estimates of numbers, to seek
the solution of the most intricate
problems.
The truth must be told; .or it will
tell itself eventually, to the increased
disaster Of those who would suppress
it. No matter what may be the os-
tentation and selfpraise ofour times,
| tho complacent phrases of gallant
struggles, &c., it is certain that in fu-
ture history it will be inglolious for
the South that it failed in cause
| where it had so many advantage 9
and where the Judgment ofthe world
had reasoned a priori that it would
succeed. Again and again has this
writer interposed his pen to avert this
condemnation of history on the South,
and to point out the true cause of it's
failure in the unworthiness and pal
triness Of the government of Jeffer-
son Davis, misemploying the resour.
ces of tho South, demoralizing at last
the people, and finally giving it a
despairing and broken-h hearted prey,
to its enemy. To be sure he has had
small thanks for doing this. But he
is in no impotence or hurry; he can
await the Judgment of posterity; and
he had far rather be known by it as
the Apologist of the South than az
the Panegyrist of Jefferson Davis.
The emergency amounts to this
that there is no possible hypothesis
to save the people of the South from
the shame that, in the reflections OF
time, will assurodly fall on their sur
render, except that their efforts were
enfeebled and diverted from their
proper efforts by a bad government
Jefferson Davis was the prime source
of their weakness-the causo causans
of their failure. This theory vindi
Gates the people of the Southern.
states them in the esteem of the
world and of future history. 1t il
the only possible mode of extricating
the people of the South from the dis.
honor Of a great and unlooked-fol
failure, and it is the truth. Yet it il
somewhat bitter reflection that the
Southern writer's who have pointed
out this truth, who have afforded an
explanation to vindicate their coun-
trymen, and who have used theirpens
bravely and affectionately in Their
behalf have been decried by shallow
newspapers as vilifying the South
aud "going back" upon their own
people, simply because of their deser
ton Of Mr.. Davis. Thisin justice has
never disturbed the present writer
from doing his duty-saving the his.
torical reputation Of the people of the
South, by the only mode of saving
it, that is, by pointing out the cause
oftheir failure in the errors and short
comings of the government which
they imposed upon themselves.
The folly Of Jefferson Davis is the
key to the mystery of.the failure OF
the Southern Confederacy-and vim.
dication OF the people of tho South
In no sense can it ever be the shame
or dishonor ofthese (whatever may
be the Interpretation of lilly senti-
mentalists) for it is the misfortune
even of the best cause and of the
bravest people that they have been
sometimes served by unworthy lead.
ers; nor have they fer this unhappy
accident suffered in the estimation Of
the world, but rather obtained there
for its general allowance and sympa-
thy.
General Grant, however we may
esteem him, as a commander, superior
to McClellan, has but small honors as
conqueror. Let it DO said in justice
to him that in the opening Of the
v.oow pGf Ia &n,,,b{ n on;ca% oJx,au