The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1871-01-18

If all the Powers combined. Marshals t
who had won their batons on battle |:
fields in other climes led this gallant &
host and inspired them with the pres l
Iige of victory. 1t is but a little while !
since they went forth gay and conf
dent, and they have vanished ! Ike the
mist of the morning. Blow after blow l
from the stalwart arm of their puissant
has fallen with crushing cf-
feet, army after army has surrendered.
fnrtresses have capitnlated, fo,t tilted
towns have opened their gates, and
now the fair and beautiful Capital, the
treasure house of the arts and the gem
ct the world, is belraeuercd hy the
long lines of the victor, and listens for
the boom of the cannon that shall pro-
nounce its doom.
III our war even Government had
to I've improvised. Without a soldier
in "r ready for the field, without arms
OF munitions of war, without IL lreasu
ry or military chest, with nothiDgnp II
which to rely but the innate courage
OF the people, the gauntlet o! defiance
was thrown down to one of the most
powerful nations OF the world. The
Conftderacy, not yet conscious IF the
direful struggle about tn commence,
sprang to it's feet like a giant reused
from his siumher. Armed men APP
pealed with an instantaneuusness that
realized the fable of the dragons teeth
sown by Catlmus. Fowling pieces and
! inefficient muskets were soon eXchang-
ed for improved rifles captul Ell from
the enemy, material of war was devel-
oped out of the abundant resources of
a prosperous country, latent ingenuity
was evoked and applied to the con-
struction of gu,iboats and ether naval
appliances, officers eagerly sought the
post of duty, the most of whom were
hitherto civilians, and when the open
t ing onslaught of the invader was made
, he WAS driven back in dismhl, ano
: hurried from soil lie had already
!, moistcneti with his blood. Nor did I,s
t return until augmented numbers hat
so swelltd the di>propnrtion between
: the opposing armies as apparently Il
= defy resistance No ramparts, brist
S ling with thousand cannon, protected
% the Capital upon which his lopain
+ eyes were fixed. N" fr"wning battle
II mrnts of masonry, constructed by til
II skill of modern art, interposed betwee
h him and his prey. Yet how long il
is his attempts to approach it were bal
f. fed, and what longer time elapsed bt
is fore he could begin its siege, must be
h. marvel of marvels TO us who are sta
~ tied by the rapidity of events
I'd France, now passing before onr cy
IN like the shifting scenes of kaleid
Ms scope.
q. 1t was here th"t our Great Capti,
- Inscribed his name impeiisIabiy lnl'
lot tiers of living light npon the hist"l
WI roll of heroes. In other spheres of q
I'm t. and on other fields of war, tht
of "ere not wanting men who have ra'
his cd the gratitude of their conltrym
to and the applause of the world for
his part they play ed III this grand dram
to We are concerned now only with hi
ed. who viutlicated hiS.title tn superior
hat by series of campaigns, the merit
yel which Is now nowhere denied, {;
AIDE who concentlcd upon himself the
red, sorbins interest of the s.auggle.
rom Armies numbering mere than tn
all. times his own were hurled against
led. in quick succession only to retire
sa- comtited and beaten. Generals raj
ion. ly superseded each other, sent b..
viii despairiug Government to redeem
not others blunders o, to supply each
The er's deficiencies, and alfsnet with
mo- fate. Driving from the Peninsula
vive enormous and well appointed ar
fec disciplined and led by him who
,roic styled the young Napoleon, he lnf
and ed ON his successors defeats W
read would have been ruinous if the bel
ndu- rents had been on equal terms,
their when these swarming lesions wei
,reon last marshalled under Grant, he
what them at bay for n year, and so ut'
II as his own small resoui ccs, and so SIX
ic as ly directed their application, that
boast loss of the enemy in the final ca'nl
story. exceeded the entire strength or
have gallant defenders of Richmond.
river little band Of Confederate veteran
rider, laling the inspiration OF Lees g
rated animated by his name and pres
eoplp and handled by his matchless skill
level ceived and repealed these recurrII
y the tacks with courage and cons
8 that worthy of the best snldiers of We
,elong ton. Well may one of the Grl
e Gu who fought against lis call them
ritices. matchless Southern infantry"
aim to Four wears was this unequal stl
,istrl prolonged, Notwithstanding
e cle- Gordon WAS drawn around our
ladid coast which hemmed us i'll ia
move outer world, but twenty mllll'