Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1861-05-23
SPECULATION ~ TnE NORTHERN
RURaa


PRESS.
osrrespsndsnc, Of The Kew York Express.l
WasHrvsroa, May 1s.-To show the ex
tent and intensity Of the secession feeling il
Virginia, since the PRONUNCIATION Of The Presi
dsniss proclamation Of the 10th Of April, 1t il
only necessary 20 state that the sons ans
grsndEons Of Chief Justice Marshall, ali th'
prominent members Of the Washington fs nily
the descendants Of Mr. Jefferson, the Lsss
the Gravsons. the Cabelis, the Brookss, thu
Mssons, the Fairfaxes, The Lswises, and in.
Vulnerable others who bear the names snt
inherit the blood OF The great Yirginisus ol
q the Revolution, are new ranged upon the side
Of tue Southern Confederacy.
However greatly we nav lament that such
is the fact, it would be absurd % deny or at
tenn ~. conceal It. In the great emergency
befor ul1, ne mast deal with fsets, however
dissgrssable or unwsleome, and not with
fGncies.
What then Is likely to he the issus of ths
! Threatened invasion Of Virginia by the United
I States Government? To be sfectusl OF all
1 this invasion must he made from three palnis-
/ viz from Alexsndria via Culpeper and Green's
VILE to Richmond, overland. From the Chess-
+ psake via tbe York river to tbesame eity, and
/ from Hsrner's Ferry or the'Point Of Rocks
! mp the Valley Of Virginia TO saunton. Char
lottesvlls and Lynehburg; the force employed
Z 10 ru-0Defl e "a Circumstances may require,
with the other division Of the grand army.
To oppose such invading fsrees, Gen. Lee,
as havs the best reason for believing, will
nIaee troops at West Point on the York river,
q niles below Richmond, with large reserves
between West Point and that city. A large
force win also contest the entrance OF the
State al Harpsr's Ferry, on the Point Of Rocks,
as The case nav b, and another ct Aleyan-
dria Fre1eTicksburg, also, is being fortified,
a NJ
an these points and Richmond will be posted
large bodies Of reserves, prepared FOR any
emergency that may arise, so that, should the
United States troops Hueeeed in entering The
State they viii be compelled to encounter at
various points on the route large bodies Of
troops strongly posted 10 positions capable OF
bein. maintained for many dsvs against
large invading army. From Harper's Ferry
to Richmond, via Stsunton, is about $50 miles
the route lying through a narrow valley for
the first bslf Of the way. Il wss from this
valley that Morgan derived large portion OF
his famous rifemen in the revolution, and its
county Of Angusta-"Old Federal Augusta2
lis still celebrated for the proficiency OF her
citizens in This important branch of war SER
vice The counties OF Rockingham. Shensn-
doak and Page, are inhabited by a sturdy race
Of farmers, defendants Of German emisranfs
from Pennsvlvsna. intellectually they are
nature.
but when driven to the wall hey viii fight like
"tur luyvel.' They are all men Of substance,
tbs owners Of superb farms (the fac sinile OF
those in Lancaster county, Pal remarkable
for their economy and thrift, and their un-
swsTvinE and uncOmpromlsing "DemocracV.o
That division Of the u. S. army which march-
es on Richmond by the valley route, will re-
ouire 2 general Of consummate ability. Mans
field would be competent for the position, but
I =
in consequence Or the declining health OF Gen.
Scott. Mansfsd lie from Connecticut, and
graduated at West Point IN the Engineers, in
1922. He is about sixty years old, and one
Of the most valuable officers Of the army
The invasion Of Virginia by the way Of Al
exAndris will also require a general Of sups-
rior ability, az be will probably be compelled
10 encounter at some point on the route to
Richmond Gen. Lee himself, or at all events
that dashing artillery officer, so well known to
the frsqnsnters Of Newport, John Bankhesd
Magruder.
The defense Of the York river will probably
be entrusted to Gen. Bssuregsrd, who will en-
ter upon the duty con amOre. In the opinion
Of Major Anderson, Beauregara is a soldier Of
infinite resources, and equal to almost any
emergency.
Now, it is really to be inferred from General
Scot;s weil-knOwn caution that be would
not dream of making 4 movement upon
Richmond, by the three routes above de-
scrhed, with less than $4,000 trooPs--2O 900 for
the Valley route, 20 600 for the Alexandria
ron e, and at least 10000 for York river. An
additional force Of at least 5000 men would
be required 10 bold BriEtdier- General Rugglss
Oste Of MassarhgseHs) in check, at Fredrieks-
burg--madng So 900 in the field and 10, coo more
for the defense Of Washington, or a total Of
65,O00, would reqHire the enlistment OF at least
$4,000 mentor out Of every regiment, 200 are
usually on the sick list. F. interesting de-
tails on this point, the cuTisu5 reader is refer
red to Gibbons delightful memoir Of his own
Life; for GohOn WAS a eoldsr as we'll as a
historian, and By bis actual experience OF camp
life among the British volunteers in the county
Of Kent, derived much valuable information,
which he turned to good account in bis De-
cline and FsIl OF The Roman Empire.
L. us suppose that these 90 900 men are
actually mustered in, armed and equipped, and
that they advance on Richmond, and after at
last three pitched battles, to say nothing OF
minor skirmisheTs, succeed in reaching it
what thenE2 Il viii be lime enough to answer
this question on the 4th Of July.
Major Robert s. Garnet late Of TIE Oh In
fsntry, is the Afw'ant- General OF the Virginia
army. He was an aid-de-camp Of Tavlor at
Buens Vista, and afterwards commandant Of
the corps of cadets at West Point. From his
long residence in OsEego, Buffslo, Troy and
West Point, AMI bis marriage with a lady of
New York tv, be is even better known IN the
Empire State than in Virginia. He is about
forty years Of age, full Of military zeal and
devoted TO his profession.