Dallas Herald

The Montgomery Advertiser of Sept. 9th, 1864:

We hear that Atlanta is not the severest disaster of the war, or a disaster that endangers the final success of our cause—doubtful. True, our people had for a long time looked upon such an event as exceedingly likely, calculating that our authorities would spare no effort to hold the position against whatever odds. Its importance was considered paramount, being the converging point of so many railroads in the heart of the Confederate States, which lost, the Confederacy would again be bisected. But we have had to unlearn many things since the war begun, and to give up the idea that any one city or section is the Confederacy. We had as well, too, prepare to yield more of our preconceived opinions before the termination of the struggle.

Loss of territory and reverses to our arms were almost certain events in the history of the war, considering our broad domain, and the disparity as to populations and warlike appliances between the two sections. Experience has taught us the bitter lesson which we did not accept at first. However, the despondency we have felt so deeply might have been avoided, if we had kept steadily at and strong before us the success which certainly awaits our efforts in the end, looking all the while with a firm faith in its final glorious results. Always looking abroad survey of the field, and with an abiding confidence in the termination of the struggle in our independent victory, we would not have experienced despondency; while every disaster would have moved us at once to a more victorious defense without regard to the immediate surrounding.

Thus influenced and acting upon the start, we would probably have been nearer the goal at which we are aiming. We say in dismiss all apprehensions and forebodings of evil and with a firm faith in our final and glorious triumph hold up the hands of the noble armies in the field, and the dawn of our independence may prove to be only a little ahead of us.