Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1862-02-07
gaatrbman & State Juurnal.
by E.P. WALTON.
MONTPELIER. FEBRUARY 7, 1862.
THE SITUATION.


fever Of discomfort and distrust in our militia
ry leaders. and seems to think that the Ship
Of State is drifting rapidly to the leeward,
and will soon End itself swamped on the
quioksands Of its own inactivity. We CON
fess to the fact that such a feeling is too fast
gaining ground among the loyal people Of the
North "a feeling which is engendered and
kept alive by the iniudi"ious murmurings and
faultfndings Of would-bo military men, who
fight battles and mark out plans for cam
paigns on papef, themselves snugly seated in
their editorial sanctum. But are these OUT
bursts OF discomfort just or judicious;
closer scrutiny Of our actual position must in
measure dispel these gloomy 0rehodings, and
give assurance Of hope instead of the gloom
which seems to have settled upon our cores
pondent
Gen. Mcclellan took command ofthe feder
al forces on the Potomac, at one Of the most
critical periods in the whole campaign. The
dis asier at Bull Run had but just occurred,
and be was called from a successful campaign
in Western Virginia to take commend of that
portion Of the army which had met with such
a signal reverse. He found the army Of the
Potomac composed mostly Of men whose term
of service was about 10 expire, and their
places must be made good by new recruits,
who required discipline and drill to render
them efficient soldiers. His was the duty OF
bringing order out of chaos. and of restoring
the confidence OF the soldiers and the coun-
,rv. This was A work recurring not only
military skin but time and patient labor
improved bv the rebels in massipz troops and
fortiyinr themselves at CentreyilIe and at
various points along the Potomac. so that
when the army reorganizsd under Gen Nc
Clellan. ia ag,ip ready to advance. almost
sure defeat stared them in the face if an at
tompt was made TO drive the enemy from their
strongholds At Cen,rcvire and Manassas
,ybs,o The greater mart NJ the rebel army was
then ept,encbed. GEN. Mcclellan preferred
tho old motto .. IN make haste slouly'' rather
than ~ risL 81 doobtr,l contest and the possi-
biity of another :. Rpll Rpn" on the old hat
ue.feld in front of Manassas and set on foot
gigantic measures to strike eaeetual blows at
o,ber and im,ortart noints wberebv he migbt
be enabled eventually to close round the rebel
army in VIRGINIA and st,ike blov of no
dorh,r,l isspe Then came the ft,;n, ont of
tho exnedition to port RovaI the spccess Of
which struck terror to the hearts OF the reb-
Ella. At the same time was planned the ex
petition down the Mississippi, and the send
ing Of large forces into Kentucky; the vigor-
Gus and effective work Of Gen Rosencarnz in
driving the rebels from Western Virginia and
opening up Of a path to the Aanking of Man
assas on The left when the whole plan should
have been matured and the time came for the
combined action of the various portions of
the federal army. Next was the fitting out
of the Burnside expedition, which has but
Just reached its des s.ination-under the most
unfavorable circumstances, and with disasters
from wind and storm, but-ready to strike a
blow, the fear of which even fills the rebel
army with CONSERVATION. Along with this
comes the total route of Gen. Zollicoffer in
Kenucky-a complete Boil Run, with the
current in the opposite direclion-in compar-
ison with which the " Ball Run" of July last
dwindles into insiguifcance The federal
forces are masters OF Port Royal, ready to
strike at Savannah or Charleston the gulf
coast from Florida to Texas is being threat
ened by Gen. Buffers expedition, holding in
check the rebel forces which otherwise would
be sent to strengthen their Notifications in
Virginia and Kentucky, and along the Allan
tic coast
Thus is Gen. Mcclellan gradually but sure
" concentrating the federal armies and fleets,
and enveloping the Southern Confederaoy in
a Gordon which will surely crush the rebell-
ION forever. And while these gigantic prep
aralions have been going on, dependency
and discomfort have seized upon the Southern
people. and disgust and even mutiny is spread
ing in the rebel army. Already large num-
bers Of troops have been withdrawn from
Centeryile to strengthen other exposed points,
thereby weakening the dcfenses against the
u a..