Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1862-01-22
W. D.swALLACH.
ANINTEREsTINs srATEMEsr OF THE
SOUTHERN SITUATION. W

itiss-Gen, Mcclellan has Johnston and
Beauregard In a yice-Ah Aggressive War
Policy mmended-Kentueky 10 be the
Starting Point, etc.
From the Richmond Examiner. Jan. 16
For period uncertain in duration, whether
Of days, weeks or months, the season com-
mands truce. This Is the true winter. The
first campaign is ended, and q time has come
when IL Is no longer unsafe to review results
and consider with candor the situation Of our
sfairs. -
The campaign has been strictly defensive.
We have gained nothing, for We have attempted
no gain That We have lost comparatively little
Of actual territory during the latter six months
is due only to the difficulties Of invasion in
country like this, the necessity for time to
prepare half Q million of soldiers, the courage
Of the Southern volunteers, and the individual
eowardiee Of the Northern mercenaries. tits,
however, undeniable that the defensive policy,
besides the moral strain on an army that
awaits repeated and endless attack, and the
exhaustion Of aeountry which is the scene Of
war, has given the enemy an uninterrupted
opportunity to prepare gigantic host and to
arrange it at leisure for the full trial of rela-
tive strength when the seasons permit the re-
sumption Of hostilities.
While the political leaders Of the South have
been reposing in dreams of approaching peace,
and while our accomplished captains Of engi-
neers have been expeading their remarkable
scientific ingenuity in the erection of works as
wonderful, and almost as extensive and quite
as valuable, as the Chinese wall, to resist in
vading forces from given direction, the ene-
my have gradually and at leisure gathered up
their immense resources and concentrated their
tremendous energies to envelope the confede-
raey with their armies and fleets, and to pen.
citrate the interisr from some one of many al
tentative points. Although they can new do
nothing, they have their programme in perfect
order for execution when the weather changes
IN the ordinary course Of the earth round the
sun, and at this moment We find ourselves in
the face Of superior forces wherever we look,
whether to the North, the East or the West, or
the South itself. Gen. Sydney johnson has to
strain every nerve to prevent the military as
well as geographical heart Of the county from
slipping out Of his grasp. Gen. Joseph John
SON and Beauregard are held by Mcclellan on
the Potomac as in q vice. A gigantic arma-
ment is ready to attempt the descent Of the
Mississippi, and their fleets on the Atlantic
sescoast and the Gulf are too freshly before the
public attention TO require remembrance. Such
are the fruits OF policy purely defensive
Without even the hesitancy which would come
OF possible interruption, the enemy have thus
surrounded the Southern confederacy; and
If permitted to repeat as often as may be de-
sired, their efforts to penetrate its heart, they
will necessarily attain the place and the time
where success awaits them.
There is now but one chance of escape from
the net that has been cOolly drawn around as
it Is to concentrate our energy on one point
and cut IL through; to convert our defensive
into an offensive war, and transfer the scene
Of at least part Of these hostilities to the en-
emy's own country. Situated as we are, it is
only possible at one point-and that is Ken
tucky. II the forces that We are dispensing
TO the four corners Of the continent every day,
TO meet new menaces, we're collected under the
hand Of Gen. Sydney Johnston, till q column
was formed sufficient to enable him to maneu-
yer with some possibility of success over the
plains Of that region, he might hurl back the
array in front OF him at present, and penetrate
the State of Ohio. The attainment Of this object
would render worthless all the plans of the en-
emy. The circle of armies would be in the
condition Of the constructor whose back has
heen broAen; the scene Of war would be trans
ferred to his own territery, and every one who
has witnessed the ravages Of armies in any Of
the invaded districts Of Virginia, knows what
priceless blessing is designated in that brief
phrase. He would be attacked beyond his de-
fences. The alarm and confusion of the Uni
ted States would paraliLe its government and
its generals, and the entire arrangement, by
which we suffer now and dread great disasters
in future, would be Immediately reversed
We have pointed to the general command
ing the Confederate forces in Kentucky as the
person to whom this business should be en-
trusted, because be is the only one in position,
at this point Of the game, to undertake an ad-
vance on the enemy with probabilities of suc-
cess, even if Sufficient forces could be allotted
to the others. No natural obstacles cucumber
his path as in the case Of Polk and Beaure-
gard. A concentration o. troops now employed
on the seacoast and at other points where no
vital blow can be either given or received, is
ali that is necessary to him for efecting this
great end. To form such q concentration it
will be necessary to leave some portions of the
ofh AZ T.
habitants Of the neighboring country can af-
ford; but this will, in most cases, be found
more than sufficient against attacks that were
only intended to withdraw our troops from
real points Of strategy; and even If otherwise,
they must for q brief time be left to take their
chance, till the blow that will relieve them,
zith the whole Confederssy, can be struck
where only il can be delivered.
Atpresent General Johnston confronts supe-
rior forces Of the enemy under Buell., one os
the most cautious, painstaking and able gene
rails on the other side. General Buell. has now,
Immediately in front Of Johnston, an army of
seyenty-ax thousand men, and can bring 10
bear on rs, at other given points, thirty thou
sand more. What the Confederate commander
has, may not be stated, but Ii is probably
enough to hold his present strong position
against any number thst might attack Him
there. But the enemy has the choice to attack
him there, or to pass him on either side, get to
uB roaN anu Cut Ou uls euppilco Il ms ne Gun
do by leaving q sufficient army In front Of Gen.
eral Johnston, while he can stiIl send upon the
right or left flank force as large as he leaves
behind, a That this Is the plan Of Buell. is now
no longer doubtful. BE has placed force of
eight thousand men at Glasgow, thirty miles to
the sutuard Of Bowling Green, threatening the
rear of General Johnston, while it is within easy
supporting distance Of two other posts held in
strong force by the enemy. If the plan of
Buell. is successful, ID may result In a great dfs
aster. To defeat him, Ii Is absolutely necessary
that more men should at once be sent TO Bow
ling Green. General Johnston must have q
force sufficient to attack Buell. in front, with
good chance Of success; and by doing 80 will
not only defeat his scheme on the centre of the
oonfsderscy, but Immediately transfer the war
70 the State Of Ohio, and thus save the whole
South from the great danger Of being oyerrun
in the frst nne weather Of the coming spring.
We are satis6ed that, beyond ALTERING posi-
bilitss Of q foreign Intervention, the onIy
rational hope We can entertain Of a speedy
termination Of this war Is to be found In AZ,
offensive campaign across the Ohio, from the
r,ofnk that 4aparal Iohnafnn -