Starvation.
The
Yankees, who have tried all their
Generals and failed, are now trusting to the co-operation of
General Starvation.
They believe that he has commenced operations in the Southern Confederacy, and they are delighted at the prospects they present to their imaginations.
Hungry and gaunt women, with wild, glaring eyes — wasted and languid children, with large heads, pinched and pale faces, and shrivelled limbs — weak, worn, and haggard soldiers, tottering under their arms as they struggle to get away from the well-fed robbers, house-burners, and women-insulters of the
North, who mercilessly complete destruction and desolation where'er they go — this is a picture they love to contemplate!
Oh, God, let this be and receive the songs of praise of the whole Yankee race!
Perhaps it is fortunate that the difficulties of transportation and distribution of the supplies in the country did occasion some necessary economy in the consumption of food — some
slight and temporary restriction upon those appetites which had been extravagantly indulged, for we have been enabled to learn one more lesson of Yankee diabolism.
The rejoicing of the
Northern people — the large calculations they made upon the dreadful suggestions of Famine in the South--opens another page in the book of Yankee nature, as distinguished from human nature.
It is instructive to the world to know that much more of it.
But how idle are the cruel expectations of our foes!
There is plenty in the
South, and the growing crops will give us more of the necessaries of life than was ever gathered any previous year.
Under the favor of
Providence the
South will be blessed with not only plenty but superabundance.
The enemy may gratify his peculiar feelings by speculating on the aids of Famine and Pestilence, such appropriate auxiliaries to his ruthless war; but he will be disappointed.
He will have to conquer the
South by defeating her sons in the battle field.
He may implore the aid of all the Calamities of Earth and all the Diabolism of Hell; but he must at last rest the issue upon the wager of battle.
The South knows it cannot be whipped, and thank God, it cannot be starved!
