..."
Such occasional "professions of faith," accompanied by sneers at the
"Confederate partisanship" of the _Times_[1221] served to differentiate
the _Gazette_ from other journals, but when it came to description and
estimate of specific campaigns there was little to choose between them
and consequently little variance in the effect upon the public. Thus a
fortnight before his "profession of faith," Russell could comment
editorially on Sherman's campaign toward Atlanta:
"The next great Federal army on which the hopes of the North
have so long been fixed promises to become a source of
fearful anxiety. Sherman, if not retreating, is certainly not
advancing; and, if the Confederates can interfere seriously
with his communications, he must fall back as soon as he has
eaten up all the supplies of the district.... All the
enormous advantages possessed by the Federals have been
nullified by want of skill, by the interference of Washington
civilians, and by the absence 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.
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