Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1910-02-15

6tuDDOrnneSS, anu Tue Gnu SeeIheu
many years off. In the southwest and
far south the north had won important
victories. but in Virginia, the strategic
center of the whole struggle, Lee and
Jackson had checked every aggressive
move worthy of the name and had put
to rout the strongest Union armies.
At this time, too, the north was ham,
pered by lack Of competent generals.
Mcclellan had been removed from
chief command, and Burnside had tax
EN- his place. Burnside made direct
march for Richmond and reached the
Rappahannock river, opposite Freder-
icksburg. There he was obliged to
wait an interminable time for the ar
rival of pontoon bridges to carry his
army across the river. Governmental
delay again marred the war depart
ments plans, for by the time the pom
ICONS at last arrived Lee had planted
heavy batteries on the hills behind
Fredericksburg. Burnside crossed the
river and on Dec. ID, 1862, tried to cap
ture these batteries. But he was driven
back with loss Of 1900 men.
Burnside asked to be relieved OF
command after this setback, and Cen
eral Hooker replaced him. In the
spring of 1863 Hooker, with the Army
Of the Potomac, crossed the Kappa
hammock with the idea Of crushing Lee
and attacking Richmond. At Chancel-
louisville, Just beyond Fredericksburg.
May 2, Lee met the advancing army,
and terrible battle ensued, In the
course of which "StOnewalr' Jackson
was accidentally killed by one OF his
own soldiers. The Union forces were
defeated with great loss, and Hooker
resigned his command. General Meade
succeeded him.
President Lincoln meanwhile, on
Jan. |, 1863. issued proclamation
freeing all the slaves. He chose the
very best possible moment for this
great step. Earlier it would have been
premature. Coming. as 1t did. at the
oncning of 1863. the action was OF In
calrulable effect OH all the nations
future. Negro regiments were raised,
differed by white men. and the abo-
litiouists threw themselves into the
| Unions struggle with added zeal.
Money is probably the chief factor to
be reckoned on in every war. and
money was what the south lacked. The
pinch arising from shortness of funds
and from absence Of the sheer neces-
saries of life began to be cruelty felt
throughout the seeding states. Pres
ident Lincoln had ordered blockade
of southern ports, thus cutting of COM
munication and trade from other coun-
tries. While the blockade was often
eluded by merchant ships, which took
in clothing and other commodities and
carried cargoes of cotton to Europe,
yet such vessels were too few to sup,
ply the southerners' needs.
The Confederate government tried to
solve the financial question by issuing
vast quantities Of paper currency
TREASURY notes.. These notes, accord
ing to the historian Anderson, were
printed and given out in sheets to
young girls in Richmond, who signed
them at so much thousand and re-
turned them to the treasury. AS the
south was In state of war. with no
immediate hope Of victory. and as the
Confederate treasury was deplted, this
paper money. though plentiful. had al
most no value. One Virginian quoted
by Anderson wrote to friend:
81 bought coffee ut $40 and tea at
$50 a pound. My dinner ut hotel
cost ME 500, and for some wretched
tallow candles I paid $40 pound
Before the war; facetious friend