Year: 1865

from us We hope that the city authorities will
at once devise some plan to avoid the evils
which must ensue il the company executes its
threats and that the company will soon be
effectually and legally broken up, as warning
to those who attempt similar impositions upon
the people.


Tho Spring Campaign-Grant and sher-


man tho Real Peacemnkers.


The time is near when the realities Of another
spring campaign will startle the country. In
1862 the campaign against Richmond began in
April, and on the 4th of that month our
troops were in front Of the enemy's position at
on the 26th of April, and fought at Chancel-
lorsville on the LIST and I'd Of May. In
1864 Grant crossed the Rapidan on the 4th of
May. In none Of those years was there any
thing done before May-for McClellan's first
battle was in that month-and the example of
those three years would seem to establish that
active operations before May are not practica-
BILE.


But in the present year the circumstances ere
different, and seem to favor the probability
that we shall get into active operation much
earlier Grant is already in front Of the posi-
ton where the enemy must necessarily light.
He is consequently not under the obligation to
wait for settled weather, and settled soil that
q general is under whose operations may in
volve many marches, and whom fifty or sixty
wagons mired in road may force to precipt
tate retreat Grant is not the same slave Of
the elements in any respect that our generals
have been hitherto in the pursuit of this same
object-and he may avail himself Of little
spell Of fair weather in March, when general
hundred miles farther from Richmond would
not dare to stir from camp, lest sudden storm
should surprise him in the midst Of a mansuvre
and render it impossible either to advance or
retire. Grant may begin at the first Of March
more safely than Mcclellan did at the first Of
April. We have every confidence that he will
begin at the earliest practical moment


And when he does begin the storm Of war
that will roll over the land will be more ter
rible than any the country has yet seen. As
this spring campaign will be the most momen-
tous Of all we have had, and may be the last Of
efforts on our part that we have yet made Our
armies under Grant, Sherman, Thomas and
Sheridan are in the best possible condition, and
are composed in larger degree Of hardened
veterans than ever hitherto. All Of them will
no doubt be moved with one purpose against
one point, and such will be their weight and
volume and the effectiveness Of such q united
blow that it is not possible to conceive Of their
failure. Grant last year, with an army COM
posed in great part of green men, forced Lee to
Richmond, and held him still six months. Sher-
man forced Johnston and Hood deliberately
backward from Ringgold to Atlanta without
the loss of battle. How is 1t possible, then,
that Grant, now with we'll trained army, and
| Sherman, with his veterans can, acting to-
gether, concentrated against Lee, fail to crush
the power that Lee has left. 1t is not possible;
| and even the enemy's own organs are hypo-
critical and insincere when they 80 noisily ex-
press their confidence in Lees success.


Such developments of the projected opera
tions as have already been made are Of course
contraband. But the general fact Is obvious
that the grand feature will be an immense at
enemy's only remaining army, at whatever
| point it may be found or forced to. Sherman
is now reported within forty miles of Charleston
with his whole force, and can take that city as
easily as he did Savannah. He will then doubt
less move for Florence, s. G., crashing through
the State az easily as squadron Of cavalry
would through field Of ripened grain. Grant,
In the meantime, will have settled matters at
Wilmington and Weldon, 80 that Lee will receive
only such supplies - come BY Lynchburg,


from the border counties Of Virginia and North


Carolina He will also, doubtless, have rein
forced the army on the James with every man
that can possibly be taken from other points;
and when all this Is done, and Sherman II
within supporting distance, the two great SOL


that they will not have to repeat


Il will be q tremendous campaign; and the
enemy have not the least confidence in their


ability TO resist it. Hence they are, no doubt, in


earnest in their present movements towards
peace. They would like to save little Of their


glory. Proud as they are, and indisposed to


bend, they can yet see how much better II Is


to 90 down than TO be put down. They see that


the North is ct last in fighting trim, and II


would give them bitter pleasure to cheat 1t OF


the final success by diplomatic lodges. They


want to come into the national councils again


on better status than they would II they suffered


the last defeat They want to come Boosting that


their main army has never been decisively


beaten. Hence they will make peace If possible


The country, however, had better rely upon


Grant and Sherman as pcacemakers. We will


not 70 SO far a. to say that II would be better
II the men now at Fortress Monroe should no


agree upon peace; but we are Of opinion tina


the country would have more tranquil future
in the event Of their failure than in the event o
their success; and we believe that the peac


that Grant and Sherman would make wou
wear and wash great deal better than on
l L toI hatx thn 4