New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-05-23
THE WAR FOR THE UNION.
pROm WARRINGTON.
WASHINGTON, May 20, 1861.

ns slow or hurried stream the fate OF inds'du-
ID and of nations. Even now, while the whole
army are in tents and under canvas, there is
quietly and noisslessly maturing, in small room
n On uupretending building, plane, the results OF
which may shape the destinies of far-cOmiDg
wears. You do not see the army in line OF
battle, or the car non in battery, my dear Sir
and you naturally suppose there is nothing that
promises q fight Walk with me beyond the
War Department, or perhaps, as it is rainy, you
may invite me to take seat in carriage, and
h low, studded apartment, with moderate
space, you shal see . massive figure, with an
army cloak thrown over shoulders bowed with
The burden of years and honors, sitting at CON-
mon table covered with dispatches, maps, and
correspondence. That, Sir, is the foremost
man of the Western Continent, or, perhaps, OF
tie world, in the genius which inspires and the
Judgment which directs great movements, upon
which rect the fortunes of an epoch. There is
smal leverage room, but the power is Archimi-
dean, and moves the globe. Here is compre-
Aensiveness which takes in the topography OF the
campaign ground, computes the value OF post
tons, and fixes, with unerriDg sagacity, tue
bases from which convergng columns shall de-
part TO decisive centers. In the aDte-rOom, bic
staff are busy with map and diyiders measuring
On exact scales the distances, and estimating the
capabilities of routes. Virginia seems to be the
focal point Of mathematics and meditation. There
are pencil lines and pricks of sharp points which
leave no doubt that the late Mother OF fresi-
dents is to be treated with proper consideration
IN the early compliments OF bal-cartridge ana
canister, Ii is here that successful war is made.
1t is brain, and not bullets only, that holds the
soepter of power. While | See this going on,
calm my hot impulse, and wait for combinations
and calculations to shorten the work Of The
sword. The bill of fare will be o bloody Que, ii
you win be patient. You cannot have plum pu''
Ding every day, aud battles cannot be Lad seven
times week, as you can have the morning
TRIBUNE. Thanksgiving and Christmas, and
perhaps once quarter intervening. you can
bring out the family plate and the Sevres china,
made at Liverpool, and have dinner entertain
ment with the great officers Of the household IN
full livery; and you must content yourself, In
advance, with the same limited entertainment OF
bonbardment and bayonet display, and not
expect it with your diurnal nuts and ra;sins.
Mr.. Midas, who lives in the Fifth avenue, sits
Down in smoking jacket and slippers IN BIS
library at night, takes up the evening paper
hope not The Express for bis own sake--aDd Pshaws
end pisnes because there has been no shooting.
He says the 9TH regiment have been gone twent!
days and have not yet sacked city or sueju-
gated province. He has subscribed two tAou-
sand dollars to the volunteer fund, taken one
hundred thousand OF the last batch of Treasury
notes, and has written to the President that h'
Aspires devoutly in his morning deyo,ions for In
cooperation Of Divine Providence with our arms
with, perhaps, a side petition that Virginia an
Missouri may be led to the payment of their Jul
and January coupons. Maria, the eldest q
/ female descent, has been strongly inclined TO 6
20 camp, armed with arnica and enibrocaticns
but she is undetermined whether she va do al,
nursing unless they viii bring the wounded an'
sick to the household ambulance and have hn
and bondage for gunshots, and feorfuges and
tones for army fevers within the echoes Of ~,
speakingppes.
So when, at last, there is collision of meet
ing forces, there Will be, after the first details
. morbid hungering for moIe butchery. WheI
the faithful correspondent writes to his New
York principal that the day after the action VA
spent in burying the dead and looking after The
comfort of the wounded, and that then the Gen
ersl in command sent out foragiDg parties for
supplies for the cavalry, and still held his corp.
mt halt for the arrival Of the oxen for beef anC
Che provision trains for subsistence, Fifth avenue
is again splenetic and captious, and wonders why
they can't do the fighting and then attend Il
burial and mourning, and fast till the war i,
over, and make up by grand carnival of eatiDe
and drinking, with guns stacked aud colors IL
case, while South Carolina is negotiating for q
peace upon the basis Of nj, possidetis, only that
the United States shall reimburse TO them the
expenses Of the war.
But hope the anxiety of tie country may
have qualification TO its reasonable and unreasoa-
able anxieties. There are Specifications OF some
decided step, which viii give tangible proof of
the quiet industry which has concentrated forces
Aere, and gathered in the means Of an effective
advance. There is wise retentiveness as to
the directions aud points Of offensive operations.
That Old Point Comfort is 20 be RENDEZVOUS
FOR demonstrations on Virginia Or coast wise
South, is obvious. That Richmond il to be
menaced and EMBODIED by heavy detachment "a
more than probable. harpers Ferry rs not
likely long to continue In the possession of hos.
tile troops. Rice fever aud yellow Jack"
will not be propitious to far Southern
acquisitions in the August and September malaria