Year: 1861

st'~<os-s.-- -

 From the Albany (N. Y.) Atlas and Argus

 A Letter from the Seat of War. A correspondent-on who is now en- gagged in fighting the battles of his country writes us from Arlington Heights, some facts which it is just as we'll at this time to look boldly in the face. No person will be disposed to question the patriotism of a man who volunteers in the hour of danger, to uphold the flag of his country, but who at the same time, sees with pain and ap- prehension, the dark future forshadowed by protracted and unnatural civil war. Our correspondent, after some preliminary re- marks, writes as follows:

 He who will continue to represent the most gigantic rebellion in modern times, as merely the movement of few disaffected and disappointed politicians, who are hold ing their people in resistence to the general government, by reign of terror, talsliies the facts. He who represents that few thousand troops, or a hundred thousand troops. can conquer the southern coniedera- cv, and bring them back to their allegiance, is false prophet, and IS fool or knave. The same may be said of him who asserts that All the south can do is to keep their slaves in subiugation. The so-called south- ern confederacy extends over as large and fertile a portion of territory as the free States. Several of them export large quan- tities of provisions and cattle annually Their troops are now well clothed and led, and better armed in many respects than our own.

 From the fact that they have seized, un- der Buchanan's administration, all the best arms and munitions of war belonging to the general government, they have been able to arm and put into the field nearly two hundred thousand men. l9, artillery and cavalry they are much bettersupplied than our own troops. They are commanded in many cases by the very best officers, late of the United States army. 1 see here, in Virrinia. the wealthiest and most prosper ous citizens of the State throwing then all mon the issue of this wicked rebelllon.- There may be union men here Ill this sec tion of Virginia ready to take up arms for our government, but l have not seen the first man here as yet. In western NirSlhla there are some union men, but 1 place very little confidence in the union men of the south accomplishing much except the fed eral army be constantly present to protect them in their councils. Kentucky will se- cede unless something shall be done the next congress to save her from the vortext of secession.

 This rebellion can only he forcibly crush cd out by putting at least half million of men into the field, and then if no foreign nation will meddle, it will take more than one year. When we have conquered State, me must, before advancing into an- other, leave very large force to keep what we have gained There are now, from the best information I can get, at least l2o,ooo confederate troops at different points in Virginia. Besides, every day teaches our army that they are in an enemy's country The result of the collisions at Aquia Creek, at Great Bethel and at Vienna, are familiar to the country. l have no knowledge that either of these places is yet in our hands. The Confederate States look upon us as an invading army whose presence they dread and whose advance they will resist only as men resist when placed between their fire sides, their mothers, their wives, their daughters and their sisters on one side, and an invading army on the other. It is true we enter the southern confederacy as the defenders and friends of our flag and our sacred constitution. But they do not so regard us. The names once borne by the leading patriots of Virginia in the revolu- ton are now on the list of the rebels in the confederate army. Some thousand acres of land which we first tread as we cross the Potomac from Washington to Virginia is still owned by granddaughter of the wife of George Washington, whose husband, Gen. Lee, late of the United States army, now commands the rebel army of Virginia. This man and his family left this place, un- surpassed in the grandeur and beauty of its grounds, scenery and locations, and histor- ical "reminiscences, to the chances of this sad rebellion against the country his ances- tors and himself had served so faithfully in all the wars previously carried on for their country's freedom and honor.

 The frames in which were the pictures of his and his wife's renowned ancestors hang vacant on the walls of their deserted man. sion on Arlington Flights. If force must decide this contest let us not deceive our selves. Let Congress at once raise 800 900 men and put them into the field, and by the aid of the most formidable armament ever sent forth on sea and land on this side of the globe meet this rebellion with an army and a navy that will loverwhelm the gigantic combination of 5000 ,000 inhabitants scat tered over vast tract of country with three thousand miles of sea coast. Tell the country plainly and frankly the vast army and navy that will be required to subdue them, and the expense. and the standing army that will be required to retain them | in subiection to the laws-the loss of life and treasure to both sections-and last, not least, the sorrow that must be carried to both northern and southern homes-- | Count all the cost and then ask if there is no peaceful mode of avoiding or mitigating the sad results that must follow to the country, to humanity, to christianity, as incident to so gigantic civil war. Let us carefully survey the whole field and all the consequences of long civil conflict, to agriculture, commerce, manufactures, life, freedom, government and religion, and the probable condition of the country when | fraternal blood shall cease to flow, and peace return once more, and then act with wisdom and justice. And if under proyi- dence all reasonable efforts to avert the dreadful strife by the contending parties shall fail and peace can only be won by the sword, posterity and God will acquit us | La khn ou1