Year: 1862

Victory.


The London Times ls getting ready TO
change Its tune on American affairs.
Though its conductors are heart aud soul
for the rebels, the argument Of success is all
powerful in Printing House Square. The
following extracts from its article on the
Fort DonelsOn victory show the present
wavering position of the leading journal
of Europe:


But If the Federals should now be able TO
pursue the advantages which were inaug-
urated at the defeat OF Zollicofier, the
Southern spirit will be more severely tried.
II the large border States are dedniiively
detached from the seceders, their inferoriiy
iu the struggle will become more manifest
than it is already. They commenced the
war with population of nine millions
against twenty, but these nine millions may
thus, by the abridgement Of their resources
be reduced TO six. These six, it it is true,
may resist still (; in fact, no more numerical
superiority Of force could ever enable the
North to hold the South. But will the
SOutherners preserve their constaucy under
difficulties. aud maintain the strife2 That
is the question now to be decided.


1t cannot be denied that the Northerners
have shown great tenacily of purpose in
continuing their preparations aud renew
ing their efforts ia the face of discouraging
failures. We attach little weight to their
maritime expeditions Except for the mere
diversion or distraction which they may
create, the operations on the coast Of North
Carolina will probably be of no avail. 1t
is in Kentucky aud Tennessee that the i'm
portant blows have been dealt aud new
direction given to the campaign, aud here
the Federal forces are taking the field OH u
gigantic scale. Besides the 40, 900 under
Gen. Grant, 1000 are said TO be in arms
under General Buell., and a third army is
spoken of besides. The operations, too, of
these commanders appear to have been well
conceived aud skillfully combined, and IL
they should succeed in their advances il is
clear that new aspect will be given 10 the
war.


The true strength of the South in the way
Of resistance has yet to be felt. Up to this
time the Confederates have been playing q
part for which European observers were
perfectly Unprepared Instead of inireuch.
lug themselves in The recess of their terri
tory, and relying upon the difficulties Of IA
prOtracted war in SO immense country,
they boldly met their enemy at his own
gates, confronted the great Northern army
with an army of their own, aud threatened
the safety OF the Federal capital itself. All
the losses they have yet experienced do not
suffice to bring them to that position which
everybody imagined they must occupy
when they began the struggle. They are
still match for their antagonists on the
Potomac, and If they have suffered two
great defeats 10 the West, they have won
two battles 10 Virginia. Fight for fight,
they have bad their fair share of victory,
and the effect now produced by the success
OF the North is due in some degree TO the
surprise which such novelty occasions.
These recent triumphs, 10 short. though
they have undoubtedly improved the posi-.
tiOn Of the North as regards any possible
negotiation for a division Of territory, have
scarcely brought the Federal Government
any nearer than before TO reconstruction
of the Union.