sence of an animating homogeneous
spirit on the part of their soldiery[1222]."

Hand in hand with war news adverse to the North went comments on the
Presidential election campaign in America, with prophecies of Lincoln's
defeat. This was indeed but a reflection of the American press but the
citations made in British papers emphasized especially Northern
weariness of Lincoln's despotism and inefficiency. Thus, first printed
in _The Index_, an extract from a New York paper, _The New Nation_, got
frequent quotation:

"We have been imposed upon long enough. The ruin which you
have been unable to accomplish in four years, would certainly
be fully consummated were you to remain in power four years
longer. Your military governors and their provost-marshals
override the laws, and the _echo of the armed heel rings
forth as dearly now in America as in France or Austria. You
have encroached upon our liberty without securing victory,
and we must have both_[1223]."

It was clearly understood that Northern military efforts would have an
important bearing on the election. The _Times_ while expressing
admiration for Sherman's boldness in the Atlanta campaign was confident
of his defeat:

"... it is difficult to see how General Sherman can escape a
still more disastrous fate than that which threatened his
predecessor. He has advanced nearly one hundred and fifty
miles from his base of operations, over a mountainous
country; and he has no option but to retreat by the same line
as he advanced. This is the first instance of a Federal
general having ventured far from water communications. That
Sherman has hitherto done so with success is a proof of both
courage and ability, but he will need both these qualities in
a far greater degree if he is forced to retreat[1224]."

And W.H. Russell, in the _Gazette_, included Grant in the approaching
disaster:

"The world has never seen anything in war so slow and fatuous
as Grant's recent movements, except it be those of Sherman.
Each is wriggling about like a snake in the presence of an
ichneumon. They both work round and round, now on one flank
and then on the other, and on each move meet the unwinking
eye of the enemy, ready for his spring and bite. In sheer
despair Grant and Sherman must do something at last. As to
shelling! Will they learn from history? T