The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1861-08-06

sed to marching against it by the long,
est and most difficult route, through a
country every foot of which would be OBJ
stinately defended, and which must be
held by a strong force after it had once
been taken. This we know to be true
and in spite of the delicacy of such dis
closures, we shall not hesitate 10 state the
authority for it. 1t is that of Gen. Scott
himself.
On the Tuesday preceding the battle,
Gen. Scott, at his own table, in presence
OF his aids and single guest, discussed
the whole subject of this war, in all its
parts, and with the utmost clearness and
accuracy. He had distinct, and we'll
defined opinion on every point connect
ed with it and stated what his plan
would be to bring it to a close, if the
management of it had been left in his
hands. The main object of the war, he
said, was to bring the people of the re-
bellious States to feel the pressure Of the
Government to compel them to return
to their obedience and loyalty. And
this must be done with the least posi-
BILE expenditure of life, compatible with
the attainment Of the object. No Christ
ian can be justified, he said, in waging
war in such way as shall destroy sol
lives, when the object Of the war can be
attained at cost of 500. Every man
killed beyond the number absolutely re-
quired, is murdered. Hence, lie looked
upon all shooting of pickets, all scouting
forays not required in order to advance
the general object of the war, all des-
truction oflife, on either side, which did
not contribute to the general result, as
so many acts of un iustifable homicide.
II the matter had been left to him, he
said, he would have commenced by a
perfect blockade of every Southern port
on the Atlantic and on the Gulf Then
.
he would have collected large force at
the Capital for defensive purposes, and
another large one on the Mississippi for
offensive operations. The summer months,
during which it is madness 10 take troops
south Of ST. Louis, should have been de
voted to tactical instruction-and with
the first frosts of Autumn he would have
taken q column of 10000 we'll discipln-
ed troops down the Mississippi-and Ia
ken every important point on that river,
New Orleans included. II could hare
been done, he said, acith greater ease. nth
less loss ofiite, and ,oith far more impor-
tant results than pould attend the marching
Of an army TO Richmond. AT eight points
the river would probably have been de
Tended, and eight battles would have
been necessary but in every one of
them success could have been made Ger.
tain for us. The Mississippi and the At
lantic once ours, the Southern States
would have been compelled, by the nat
ural and inevitable pressure of events, to
seek, bv return TO the Union escape
| from the ruin that would speedily over
whelm them out of it. This, said be,
was my plan. But am only subor-
! dinate. 1t is my business to give advice
when it is asked, aud to obey orders when
they are given. Ishall do il There are
gentlemen in the Cabinet who know
much more about war than l do, and
who have far greater influence than l
have in determining the plan of the cam
paign. There never was more just
and upright man than the President
never one who desired more sincerely to
promote the interests OF the country. But
there are men among his advisers who
consult their own resentmerts far more
than the dictates Of wisdom and exper
ience. and these men toiH probably decid.
the plan ofMe campaign. ! shall do. OF
attempt, whatever l am ordered to do
Bat they must not hold nae responsible. II
! am ordered TO go to Richmond. sha!
endeayor 10 do IT, But | know perfect
ly well that they have no conception oi
the difficulties we shall encounter. ]
know the country-how admirably adapt
ed il is to defense, aud how resolutely
aud obsduately it will be defended. i
would like nothing better than TO take
Richmond now that il has been disgra
ced by becoming the capital of the Reb-
el Confederacy, ] feel resentment to-
wards il, and should like nothing better
than to scatter its Congress to the winds.
But have lived long enough TO know
that human resentment is very bad
foundation for public policy ; and these
gentlemen will live long enough to learn
| ~ alsn sball jn ybat on, nrJaraJ