Year: 1863

4 " - 80 -


Thefe are some. even among ourselves who
think that the war has not only been nsedlsssly
Protracted but who have persuaded themselves
that nothing has yet been gained BY H. Such
is not the opinion, however, Of the London Dai-
iy Nc,cs--a close observer Of events in this coun-
try, and, though friendly 10 the North, ofre-
marksble Independence and solidity Of jUdg-
ment. In the number Of May 18th Il takes this
view Of our military progress:


at is said every day that the N North had better
at once abandon the contest as hopeless, and sue
for peace. But any one who win take the tfoub-
le TO look at the map and TO compare the posi-
tion Of the North at the beginning O. the war
with the position which thek now occupy, may
readily convince himself that the grounds for
such advice are not military or historical.


at an uudoubted fact that the South have
never recovered one inch Of the ground which
they have lost. What the North have once
gained they retain. For moment the south
ern armies regained the northern side Of the Po-
tomac, but it was only for moment. And now
whilst the whole Of Western Virginia is in the
hands of the federals, the half Of Eastern Yir-
gnia is in the same position. Passing down
the Eastern coast, Fortress Monroe ON the north
side and Norfolk as well as Suffolk on the south
side of the James river, completely control the
entrance to Richmond. In the Carolinas the
islands and estuaries are still held by northern
troops; nor have the South succeeded in com
pelling the North to relax their hold ON Florida.
In the Gulf Of Mexico with the exception of
Mobile, the North hold complete command
The loss of New Orleans was probably the heay-
lest blow sustained by the South, and now Banks
is in possession of large district on both sides
Of the great river. For time it seemed doubt
ful whether the North would be able TO possess
themselves of that part of the river which lies
between Port Hudson and Vicksburg; but the
exploits Of Porter and Farragut have practically
resolved this doubt in its favor. The Confed-
crate states are absolutely didided. The gigan-
tic cOnfederacy of Shareholders which threatened
TO establish its power from the eastern seaboard
TO the Pacific is an impossibility. As to
the border states of Kentucky and Tennessee,
the Confederates are still unable to drive Rose
Grams back from Murfreesboro; and the FEEDER
ais are even now in possession of Tuseumbia,
the borders Of Alabama.


| @Thus il appears that the only states which
now remain in the uBdisputed possession of the
| Confederates are the two Carolinas, Georgia and
Alabama How is it possible that these four
states should constitute an independent power2
Any one who looks to their population their
wealth, and the pectiliarty Of their position,
must admit it to be impossible.


"But it appears that the South are exposed to
special danger which it seems difficult, if not
impossible, to ward off. The only mode by
which the South has been abe TO maintain
their position against the North has been by
the railroads. The extent of the country is so
great that without such means Of communication
it would be impossible to move the troops with
sufficient rapidity to meet the attacks of the en-
emy. 1t is obvious that that if the North re-
tain the command of the sea and are able to main
tain their railroads. willis the South are still ex-
cluded from the sea and lose their railroads they
must be put under terrible disadvantage. Now
| it is asserted upon trustworthy authority, that
| the railroads in the South are wearing out and
that the scarcity of iron makes it difficult to
repair them. If this be so, the difficulty sug-
| gesied has already come upon The South. But
over aud above this there are difficulties as to
the supply of food, which have already proved
almost dangerous at Richmond, and which may
yet prove more serious.


"Upon the whole, therefore, it appears that SO
far from the North having any reason for des-
pondency, the result of the struggle has been
distinctly in their favor, and is daily becoming
more so"


This was written before anything had been
known of the stupendous movements of Grant,
or of the probable fall of both Vickburg and
Port Hudson. Nor does the writer declare the
real magnitude and importance of Gen. Banks
conquests in Louisiana, which were probably
not reported TO him at the time. He omits,
moreover all montion of what we have accom-
pllshed in Missouri Arkansas and the western
territories, and nothing to say of the fact that
Maryland, which it was necessary to hold at one
time by force of arms is now among the most
loyal States in the Union. More prodigious
conquests, in truth, were never made in such
short space of time.