The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-10-12
For the Richmond Dispatchl
ON TO ASfilN isFON3
BY GEO. FITZHU6If.

Although the exertions of the North in car
rvlng on war against us, the magnitude Of
Is preparations and the mum ber of its forces
n ave far exceeded any apprehensions We enter
taineG when hcstiiit,es commenced, yet its
success has fallen still further shore of those
.tpprehensiors. We feared, yet expec ted, and
we're prepared to bear up against, az IL va
sion into the very heart OF the South. We
knew that each step OF advance, on t.-eir
part would weaken their force and increase
our means of defence. Had the "Grand
Army" fought at CGipeper Court House in
stead Of Nauassst, the 'Grand Army would
now have been a thing OF the past The fate of
Braddock. Burgoyne, CORVALLIS, Ross, and
packcnham had taught rs To believe that any
serious invasion of the South would be at
tended with utter destruction to the invaders
But, instead Of invading US, our enemy has
been exhaustug his resources, both in men
and money, in defending Washington. They
now boast that ii is i'm pregnable as Gibrai-
tar. We do not believe that, but on the con-
trary think that with immense loss of life
on our part, we might take it; yet it is Ger
tainly their strongest point, defended it is
by the brosd Potomac, by their feet, which
commands its navigation, by immense artifi
sial 1ortifcations, and by an army OF q hun
4ired and fifty thousand men. 1t is their
strongest point, and they invite and advise us
to attack it. Shall we turn foolhardy and
swear like the school boys that 90 we wOn' t
take dare ~ or shal We assaii them where
they are weakest, not where they strong
est?
Suppose they winter in Washington, is not
that failure on their part; success ours ?
When they look toolly IT their position next
spring, and see that after year of active
hosuiities, after many disastrous defeats and
victories, after the loss in camp, or on the
ba tile field of Il hundred thousand lives, and
after the expenditure of five hundred mil
lions of dollars, they have not even begun to
invade the South but, on the con trary, have
lost Missouri and Kentucky, which belonged
TO them when the war begun--and almost
lost Maryland-is il probable that they will
ne disposed 10 carry on any longer SO hope
less a war?
Buff we could take Washington would it
be advisable to do SO So far, the North has
expended almost all its men and means in de-
Tending that city. 1t has few forces mu-
nitions of war 20 send TO Missouri or Ken
lucky, or 10 Western Virginia but, on the
contrary, is continually removing forces
from the West 10 strengthen It's capital and
increase it's Pfetonian Guard SO that, no
matter what becomes OF the Repu bile, the sa-
cred parsons of Lincoln, Scott, and McClel-
Ian, shah receive no detrjment. The defence
of Washington has completely paraly zed the
strength of the North. If we take it, Lin
coins body guard of q hundred and fifty
tn ousand VIII be at once available force
whereWith 10 invade the South
Cincinnati ana Philadelphia have none Of
the strength OF position, natural or artificial
which Washington enjoys, and are much
more inviting points OF attack.
II we march into Mary land, we aust leave
half OF our army on this side to prevent tho
eDem;'S advance On Richmond. Then, the
two iii iSisioEs of our army would have a very
precUrious and inadequate means Of inter-
comm mmunication, or Of concerted action, whilst
the enemy, holding the Potomac with ;tbun-
aant means of speedy transportation, could,
al any time, bring bis whole force 10 bear on
either half OF ours. Besides, New York and
Pennsy yiyania would send another hundred
thousand men, in II week, into Mary land, TO
dtieud the capital. Whence could we obtain
any considerable number of troops WherewiLh
10 strengthen an invading army? How long
would it sake to reernit them and bring them
10 the shores OF the Potomac? And, when
brought there, what surety have We that we
conid transport them into Maryland?
We shall do Wei if we compel cur enc
mics to y inter i'll Washington. Shall we risk
everything in the rash and perilous effort to
do better When time, means, and opportu-
nifty combine to make it prudent and adyisa-
bic to ''On TO Washington We have no doubt
our army will march to the assault. Until
Then, may quietly repose on the lanrels
which we have already Woa in many Il field
Besides, II are not advancing in the East
We are advancing Ill the West, where there
re no precious souls like Lincoln, Scott, aud
Mcclellan to he guarded and defended. On
the whole, the war has everyTh here been con-
ducted wi tn success and ability on our part,
and can room for com plant or
pmIns.