Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1880-02-20
An UnwrIusn Chapter ofthe Late war.

The year 1861 closed gloomily for the
cause of the Union. The army of the Poto-
mac under Mcclellan had not made the ex-
pected move Mason and Sidell had been
surrendered Congress was surrounded with
the gravest difficulties. Early in 1862 Burn
sides fleet was wrecked and Cameron's res
ignation made room for a new Secretary of
War, of whose capacity and energy the peo-
pie had no accurate knowledge. Great ex-
pectations We're entertained Of important
movements and successes in what was popu-
larly called the West, but of what might be
planning or happening in the far West, in
those remote Territories which were not even
correctly laid down on the maps, not one
person in one hundred thousand, from the
President down, had a thought or care /;
though a most anxious solicitude would not
have been misplaced, as shall forthwith APP
pear. ...
Surveying further the situation in the far
South and West, we find in the first place
that the rebels had complete possession of the
great State Of Texas. Twiggs had traitorous-
ly surrendered all the troops under his COM
mand with forts, arms, ammunition, and sup
plies of all kinds, and many OF the men had
been paroled. This vast region afforded an
admirable base for extended military opera
tions, and it was not long before advantage
was sought to be taken of it, in the autumn
of 1sGl. 1t was somewhat as follows that
the Confederate leaders argued the matter
Assuming that they could hold their own
cast Of the Mississippi, a move could be made
westward Of that river having every promise
Of success, and which if successful would
give immense material and moral advantage
to the South The plan was nothing less ex-
tensive than the capture of California, and
the subjcction of five other States and Terri
tories. .
For the execution Of this brilliant enter
prise the programme was simple. A power
ful column should march by FL Paso into
New Mexico. defeat or flank Candy at Fort
Craig, and occupy Santa FG. Next would
come Fort Union. containing an admirable
arsenal and supply depot fitted IN good season
by Floyd with most convenient stock Of
arms, ammunition and stores. Thence the
march northward would be easy, and the
prizes would fall rapidly into the hands of
the troops Indians and Mormons We're
probable and valuable allies. The sure re-
suit could hardly fail to be the complete and
| speedy control of rich State. splendid sea
coast, and forts from which men-of-war and
| privateers could issue to sweep the Pacific.
| This would hasten recognition by European
nations, would lead to the breaking Of the
Atlantic blockade by England aud France, -
and then the end would come. ...
What, then, were the weak points in the
| plany They were three. First the rebels
made the mistake, which they repeated over
and over again, Of attaching importance to
! the support to come from dsaIectcd people
and districts where tha general sentiment
| was loyal. Second, tLey were hGpelcssly
misled about the sentiments of the Mexican
| population of New Mexico, and forgot or ig-
Lored the animosity born years before Of the
Texan Santa Fe expedition, and still deeply
ranking. Third, they made fatal mscalcu-
| tion in undertaking the stern patriotism, the
unhiuching courage and the fierce energy of
| the men who were laying the foundation Of
our Centennial State of Colorado while
Drawing priyation and hardship in the search
for gold.
That these events were not known
and have not since been known in the East is
hardly surprising, in view of the fact that
! other matters of tTanscendent importance.
| far nearer home, were cOntemporaneous with
| them. Fort Henry was taken on February
e, Roanoke Island on February s, and Fort
Donelson on February Ii. The battle of Pea
Ridge ended on March :, the Monitor fought
the Merrimac on March ., and the great en-
gagement at Shiloh occurred on April i aud
:. Probably not one in ten thousand sus-
pected that such a threatening movement
was making in the rear of our armies and it
would have been equally surprising and terri
bic to have heard suddenly that a junction
had been effected by the rebels with the Nor
mons. and that mischief had already been
done which could be repaired, il at all, only
at the cost of hundreds Of lives and millions
Of money. Instead of this, the bright days
Of May saw Sibley, disheartened and demor-
allied, resting at that same Fort Bliss from
which he had marched with fell purpose four
months before. The valley of the Rio
Graude would know him no more, and he
doubtless sought his accustomed consolation
in the flowing bowl.-Augustus 4. Hayes in
International Rerteto for February, 1850.