The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-06-07
1nvaslsa or the Sssth \ Problem nee yet
Solved.

III. .s;spce of war. We believe fifteen or
twenty miles are esteemed good days march
for an army moving long distances Twenty
aye or thirty miles might be accomplished, 10
forced march, by infantry, but could not be
kept up many days at time. Probably these
distances are greater than practicable. Be
this as il may, it is rlain what great revo-
luton railroads have effected in the movement;
of troops.
They have enabled the North to concentrate
their numerous forces very rapidly on our
frontiers. Steamboats, have served them fully
As we'll a. railroads. These great agencies of
locomotion have effected wonderful things il
military transportation. But for them, the
North could scarcely have concentrated force
upon our borders in sufficient bodies and with
sufficient vapidity to outnamber the forces with
which Virginia alone could have confronted
them. They owe to steam all the Roadway
which they have made up to this time. Bona
PARTIES "Army Of England" would never have
proved an abortion, but would have overrun the
islam and probably repeated a second time the
career of WILLIAM the Conqueror, but for The
want of that steam transportation by which So
larxe portion Of the Northern troops have
been sent southwark by way Of the Virginia
Capes.
But this advantage must cease now tina
they have touched our shores. The river
which reach up into interior Virginia are LIKED
with batteries that will drive back their vessels
and our railroads, even If they should get pos
session Of them, would be rendered impassaoit
| 10 their troops They can only penetrate int
| our interior a.oot, and the time requisite K
| make their marches on foot will enable US u
| oppose very formidable obstacles to their pro-
| gress.
| They are almost without cavalry. We art
| superabundantly provided with that arm. Ii
| seems plain that this decided advantage must
quite neutralize any disproportIon Of foice they
| may bring against They must march IL
compact column. Having no cavalry, they
can forage little, and viii have to leave d
strong guard to protect their line OF communi-
cation. Their line of march must be As nue.
ms possible near the shores of the water courses.
IN order that their vessels may bring along
,uelr supplies. Large numbers OF hi-driliec
soldiers are not very fit sort OF force for liz
yasion. Taey require a iecund and culnbrou
commissariat, anu they are not likely To stan,
compact anu firm under attfok. They wouIG
oe terribly annoyed by guerilla surprises, ahd
would be very easily demoraiized ana panic
stricken by an enterprising and indefatigabi,
foe.
In short, it seems to us that our invader,
have only just entered upon the serious work
before them. Without cavalry, raw and un-
disciplined, unused to the camp or to the
march, obliged to move on foot, obliged to
carry their commissariat with them, with
many mouths to feed, and likely to be ha-
raised industriously by fierce and enter
prsing enemy-we think they will find that ii
is easier to get to the borders Of the South
than to penetrate the interior. Certain it is
that they have not yet learned what it is TO in,
wade the South. So far, they have contented
themselves with sending bodies of men int
our disafected districts; but even in these
cases they have confined themselves to the
lines Of the railroads, along which they hav.
been certain of their ability to support their
iacursions with unlimited numbers Of rein.
agreements. Like boys untaught to swim,
they have Rugged the bank or only venture
into the shadows. They have nowhere, as yet
plunged into the deep waters.
1t still remains a problem to be solved
whether they can invade the South in the rea
sense of the term invasion. We subscribe t.
the negative of the problem. With regular
veteran forces, trained to the duties of the
camp, the march and the field, and with &
large complement Mt of cavalry and Of flying ar
or sixty thousand picked men could penetrat,
to Richmond and into the interior of oul
country, and have their way with US for
| short time; though, as we have heretofor.
shown, this has never yet been done. But ",
do not believe it is possible for such forces a.
| they have, no matter in what numbers, to nc
| complish such programme. The greater tn,
numbers Of such forces, the more difficult th,
feat will be of performance. The armies o
| PETER the Hermit melted to nothing on the
long marches without any damage from th'
enemy and though the Northern soldiers ar,
far superior material to those of that fanatica
leader, they are far from being the sort o
troops, and are in no sort of condition, for in
vasion. We doubt if they will consent t,
leave the lines of railroads, or the water shores
at all. If they do, woe be unto them.