The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-07-22

Cen. ScorT to invade Virginia as Car as Rich
mond, from the line Of the Potomac. Ii tho
undertaking had been one at eli fae,ie of &C
somplishment, Gen. Scorr would long since
aAve been quar.ercd in our city for there is
40 point in the whole South which the Yankees
would be so rejoiced TO possess, az this town of
Richmond.
Tha; the invasion has not been effected is
therefore the best proof Of its impfacticability.
Tho difficulty of the undertaking arises from
many circumstances. We shall pass over the
military obstacles which have been planted IN
the snemys path at Winchester, at Manassas
at Aquia Creek and in the Yorktown PENN
.ula. These distractions may be regarded as
having had some influence in checking the
advancing career Of the invader. There are
others, however, which, if even these should
DO overcome, would still make the feat solne-
shat difficult of performance.
Tho army of invasion would Of course have
to be of very huge dimensions. Gen. Scorr's
system of war consists in doing nothing at
all unless he has the means in superabun-
dance Of accomplishing what be undertakes
beyond peradventurc. He lisa timid and cow
ardly General, and requires double the force
| and equipment for the execution Of his plans,
that would be expected by any other General.
| A more enterprising and daring commander
might be willing to undertake a demonstra-
ZION upon Richmond with thirty-fve or forty
thousand mca; General Scott would scarcely
venture upon it with less than fifty thousand,
supported by as large reserve at available
points on this side Of the Potomac; and this
reserve supported by still another on the Ma
| ryland side, ard in Washington of fifty or
hundred thousand more. This is certainly
not too large preparation for making assur
ance doubly sure; and Gen. ScorT, who would
have reputation to protect, as we'll as
campaign to make, is General Of the assur-
ance doubly-sure stamp.
The moving of an invading army in hos
Tile country is prodigious undertaking. Its
| first requirements would be an immense num-
Der OF horses, for the three services, Of cavalry
artillery and transportation. The cavalry are
| the eyes and ears Of an army, and an invading
column would have to be strongly furnished
| with this arm Of the service. Three Or four
thousand cavalry would be a small compile
ment for an invading column fifty thousand
| strong. The column would have to DO very
strong also in artillery. The complement O.
horses required for this service ahonld be as
great that for the cavalry. The tranEpcI-
tation, too, of baggage and provisions for such
a force would be prodigious. This service
| alone would require six thousand horses, and
fourth as many baggage wagons. Thus, ten
thousand horses would be small estimate OF
the number oc animals required for an invasion
| of Virginia projected against Richmond.
We 10 not believe that Gen. SCorr has at
command FIVE thousand horses; and as it is
| impossible to mobilize IA army without these
| animals, one reason of the posi- success Of the
encmy, in penetrating Virginia, is readily
| seen. So long as bis operations lie along the
sea ahnre, the navigahle water courses, and
uuobStruc:od railways, he can accomplish 1is
objects with some degree Of facility aud sue
cess, but the moment he has 70 depend upon
other means Of transportation, his movements
at ones come to an end, and all his arrange
merts ere discovered to be at fault. The
North il country very .nproliic Of horses,
aud it il next to impossible to procure the
requisite supplies for any purposes
If the people OF cur State will keep this
great fact in mind they have aeauS at once
OF steadying their nerves aud Of rendering the
progress Of the enemy into our interior next to
impossible. His approach should be the signal
for tearing up the track and blowing up the
bridges upon every neighboring railroad, and
of Glling country roads with every obstruction
which circul. g:.nces admit of and furnish.
The march OF IA s.emy over campaign
| country is much slower than IS usually sup
posed. Eight Or ten miles day :sa large
average for large column, obliged 10 Eeip
| open its commun cations ahG to obtain Its sup
| plies in the rear. Detachments might be sent
f,rwarl, indeed, which would make much more
rapid progress, but an effective system Of gue'
rilia welfare would readily keep them In check,
and oblige t,< .@reding column to keep itself
compact and intact.
We are of those who believe ca.. -; insad-
Jug ar.y. poorly provided with cavalry and
! with horses, 4.A2uot get far into Virginia by
land. ii it met WITH -s obstacle in the shape
| Of E aetermi ned and active toe d'souting its
progress ut syery step, the pere task OF ge,-'n.
alops over the gropud would be very great
and occupy a tedious spscs Of time. But be-
! sides this mere ris inertia, which would be
| considerable, an Invading column Eoal4 eave
| g, foe Il, meet more fierce than is usually en-
.,ountered in such excursions. They have
| shown by their derredations at Ale2andris
| and around Hampton, and by their wanton
burpings at Fail Esa Court House aud Centre
vile, the treatment tasy have in store for
Virgins. They ingict destruction indiserimi-
nately upon Secessionists and tories, upon
| southern men end Unionists end they may
| therefore expect to encounter the indiscrimi-
mao and Joint resistance Of all classes Of our
citizous. registering all these things We are
| firmly persuaded tina. the invasion Of Virgin
| ia as far Us Richmond. il an impracticabls
undertaking. Il least we have no fear Of it,
| and will only be cured Of our increeulity ON
| the subject when the feat shall have been ac-
tually accomplished.
| The Sectss; epistS In the Northwest.
| The sacrifices and heroism displayed by
| the friends of the Southern cause in North
western Virginia are not surpassed by any
| which have been exhibited during the pro-
| gress OF the present war. We have Just con-