The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-12-23
Alfhmnnn pispatri1.

Ato " 'tNtIO bt@ 0t<V<
MONDAY MORNING $500 OEt). % 1855
$3.50
GREAT BarTLps Is PROSPECT 1T Ia the
warm cum tha; brings cut the afGer. The
splendid season of dry weather that we
bad for three weeks has hardened the earth,
restored the roads, prepared the way for
l. grand advance Of the enemy wherever tie
is ia force. Ii is almost incredible that ne
will recuse 10 avail himself Of tie auspices
which thus smoothe. his path. The unto
u ard affair Oh Friday last al Drainsvilie will
probably inspire his soldiers With some cont
.ienco in themselves, Ind eonspir, with the
axceien: roads 10 invite an advance.
Il IL said iha, Mcclellan has repeatedly
siven orders for "A forward movement upon
oay ,iues, and taat many troops could
D.. used upca lhe fields Before Manassas have
been ivT sometime on t6is side Of the poto-
Knac and thai nothing has rreventad grand
ialsIe long before now but tie apsu.ute i'm
poeslhHlty Of inducing the reluctant aud tirsid
Yankees 10 move forward Tue d.s4Iacetui
and disse,roas deiea, they received ut Leesburg
allied tGem vltn diSIay, aud las rendered
forward movelusbt vita thus stricken
NH Tear alt Gse{f Isl sini<tslO.c.
Inc aiialc a pia.nsYIge, has probably
t2aget item, no weyeg, tst..t, odds beng ia
tu.f favor, Il il possible To defeat Sid unve
hack SOUTHERN troops. l. 1t sisot.lo have This
.iicet, aud saou.J tAus induce forward move.
TleDi Uy AcI.eIiaO, this Dr.ulsvt.e comic
txnfa VIII realty p'oee one OF the most tortu.
maze eccarIcncee ct the war. Oar aiuy Only
eek fyr Isl: CHI il open ael4. Ii tao enemy
- IL but S0m1 forward Lar enough 10 aiuru
las c-4Auc& III d decisive battle, lA4i IS i'll our
ovu.ra.H or Their a-e.i d.olre OF ash lDls
.taAse0. they vii take care OF iAe res. and
i Is ullrIs 10 be hoped thai the ramp IpoIl-
tlois4ns IL VI Aslus tUu " Il! lie able 10y tee lev.
era;e niCA tAis DfaiasyuIe business III
1--WE tuen. 10 force MeC eil;in u4to the lield.
Trusting 10 large superiority q numbers
tho encuy reem steadily 10 be IusAlug ioi >
VALID tLeir trocls IL keutueky tor an attack
ia Ivgce upVn Cur AMY aAoer Gen. ~ dAey
Johnston. F-ol all the !uticetI0ns IL. th..y
gnArter q grand engagement within fely
days seems unavoileDie J has circumstances
I'll combine TO bling a5ont two great engage
Iaeuts on either s'is ot the Aleghanles
witch, tut tUE the relations ii Great b I:aiu
10 the North, would he decisive If lie war
/: the South should be beaten on both liei,s
she could hardly eXpec: for some Time 70 fet
together Two armies OF any magnitude; ana
would have IL depend altogether upon the
virtues OF FabiaA policy, aid a general sys
ten Of sklrnisning ag.iu7; the enemy Il tne
south, Oh the otueG hanG, shCQld gan bcih
bt.ttles, the North woald bc competed 10 de-
ue- from aggressive measures ;or such leu.lA
% time as ii would require 10 organize and
discipline other new armies Considering tie
low STATE Of their eHcheqaer, the period re-
gulred for this purpose wo0id he 50 long that
!. virtual suspension q INVASION would oe tEe
Sesult, and tie South wo0Id be enabled to
carry inyati2n 10 their own doors. Sugh an
invasion, though ou'y partially encces.tul
would vir.Gaily end tie war; especia!ly il il
resulted in s1amHediug the Lincoln Govern.
1nsnt from Washington
The appearance OF England ~ the heid OF
strife would have Il decided influence upon the
aootest- Tie hsst eject Of the eu.brogiio,
even II II should L.. result in war between
that country and the North, must be to pre-
r:Pitate the latter in wEatey er action il mar
have been preparing against TIE South, during
the last few months Of busy activity. IN
attack upon armies IN Kentucky and on
the Potomac might otherwise have been post
poned until the spring; but the complication
with England must 1t once determine tho al
.DinistralIon to strike It's blow without delay
4 successful battle upon the Potomac and in
heu'ucky, night avert It war with Greal
britain for defeat by the South on these
two fields, would he taken by the world as
coleiasiye proof OF her inability to maze good
her independence.
Thus I'll the circumstances OF she hour unite
30 toTce on two great battles il tie next
fw days To Tefu-e 10 fight under the iuiiu-
ences ncw pressing upon il, would argue Al
iLabecl!ty IL tue North. lis Generals, and IFS
armies, which could not fail t. be interpreted
most unfavorably against at section Such
failure ougut to produce n total loas Of con
hdence in tie Lincoln Illustration among
iis own people aud that would Iao i proba-
bly, be the real effect. Both the North itself,
AID more particularly the administration IN
power, are mpeied 10 offer battle at this NO
ment by nscessties which seem TO liz as in
peEative IL irresistible, They must fight and
we are ready for the fray. The defiant cry of
na .Eh c', O. Z. q