, 1861-11-22
Army Ut the HeRtA
fCorrespoAdence OF tie n. Z. World.l
HEADQUARTERS, SFRuaFIkLD. Nsy. 9

The corps d'drnsee hax before this received
oraess to fall back to the line OF tue Pacific
Railroad. This change Of programme fs in
part made st the suggestion Of the War De-
raztmeut, and in part By the Judgment Of the
commanding general. Tne wisdom Of this
ken ilta account It has long been the de1ib.
crate co11ictton of nany soldiers that Fee
monre merch to New 0zlsanE by way Of
Southwest Missouri Was "Tild goose ctase" !"
It is foftuHate that be waB aot permitted to
march his brave army further into the enemy i
country, saving him, as It does, ftoo. the res
possibility Of . succession OF unlocked for
tAil to ruin and destroy his command.
Alter The strange and aiegraesfu1 failure to
rout the rebel army st Lexington Whau he Was
within our grasp, VS. never should have At
tempted to follow hin through the wilderness
to his lair. The her.ulean task OF fitting out
81 army to naech oveE devastated and rug
ged country was o1e which neither le ader nor
followers we're fitted 10 Accom- plish. Toe plan
Was not wise even it 1t had hEen feasible. Il
incurred to the government IN expense OF
millions Of dollars 5cF transportation OF NEE
a1d subsistence, with the very smalleat pros.
pect Of success. 4 gave to the enemy IL tha
advantages cf position and method Of warfsre,
It weakened our strength on the Mississippi
20 much that an advance down the river Waa
impossible. It sacrificed every advantage ol
s1rategics1 position, with Eo other result taa7
to reclaim portion CT wild territory ALREADY
eepopnlated sud devastated beyond reaemp
1ieA. The Union citizens In Southwest Nil
semi nay be numbered By hundreds; Il
would need II army of as many thousands II
| protect then.
Wher, therefore, Gen. Hunter took The
| COMM and, he SAN at glance that to advaact
| further south, while it might be inspiriting tt
! the people aud chesri1g to the troops, w6plG
| prove eutc1da1 to the Union cau.e Il is cer
| tain, besides, th:t the rehel5 10 not intend Il
| ct1er battle unless EhGre they Eastly ou:n1a
t htr Us. Il We advance they czn fall back ua
til tie time and placu Of lighting best suit
them. They can mote more rapidly with
fIee courEe before then than can 1e, WIN
must feel cur NaJ alo1g to prevent surprise
| and .mbuscades. Tbe enemr, being on Iii
| owa eoil, Is constantly reinforced Our 9rn,
mIst dWiEdle gradually by T2stiug 1arehe =
u d the efdlnsry dlseas es Of camp. The maTcs
| through Aka1sas, baG enough st best, xoais
[ be reIte1ed Infinitely Ho,se BY an iicessaa
| guerilla warfare Il IL greatly to he desired
moreover, that the entire command should b
| reerxsni2Ed before it Eoe4 into action. Tai
Gen Hunter has nst Lad the necessary tim
to 1oEince hls arrival.
| The announcement Ct Gen Frem ont to tn
troops, that be would lead them forward Il
batt1e On Thursday, was received with a1uel
! enthusiasm, the Impression being thea th1
| the rebel army was within tea miles OF gu
liHet. How great their disappointment nus
have been maJ be insIdned wssn it waa ail
covered by reconnaissance, for the jlFss tina
| that no enemy Was neeter than Cas.gli1e. an
that body Of rebels, less than two handfe
| In number, had g{rEn ItEe to the stupendou
| alarm Of the Major General. 1t fs cause fo
corg1atulation that tie a7Uy Vas not victia
| fZed, hF the tins " arrival af Gen. Huutar