, 1862-01-24
The Rebels Taking Gloomy View Of
their Situation,

The following significant article from the
Richmond Examiner OF the 18th inst, shows
that the rebels are uucomfortably oppressed
by the view Of their present situation:
While the political leaders Of the
South have been reposlng in dreams of ap
preaching peace, and while our accomplished
captains Of engineers have been cxpending
their remarkable scientific ingenuity in the
erection Of works as wonderful and almost
az extensive and quite as valuable as the Chi
nose wall to resist invading forces from
given direction, the enemy have gradually
and at leisure gathered up their immense re-
sources and concentrated their tremendous en-
cryies TO develop the Contederacy With their
armies and fleets, and topenetrate the interior
from some one Of many alternate points.
Although they can now do nothing, they have
their general programme in perfect order for
execution when the weather changes in the
ordinary course Of the Garth around the sun
and at this moment We find ourselves i'll the
face Of superior forces wherever We look,
whether to the North, the East, OF the West,
or the South itself. General Sydney Johnston
has to strain every nerve to prevent the mis-
itary as well as the geographical heart Of The
country from slipping out Of his grasp. GEN
erals Joseph Johnston and Bcasl1egaFd are
hrld by Mcclellan On the Potomac rs in q
vice. 4 gigantic armament is ready to at
tempt the descent Of the Mississippi, and
their fleets On the Atlantic seacoast and thc
require remembrance. Such are the fruits of
policy purely defensive, Without even the
hesitancF which would come Of possible in
tcrruption, the enemy have thus surrounded
the Southern ConfedeTaey; and if permitted
to repeat Us often as may he desired their
efforts to penetrate its heart, they Will neceS-
sar1}y attain the place and the time where sue
cess awaits them"
e There is nov but one chance of SUCCESS
from the net that has been coo11r drawn around
Us; it is to concentrate cur energy On one
point aud cut it through to convert our de-
scene Of at least part Of these ho=tilities to
the encmy's own country. Situated as we are
1t is only possible at one point-4and that is
Kentucky. If the forces that wcare dispeEs-
ing to the four corners Of the continent every
day to meet new menaces, were collected un-
der the hand Of General Sydney Johnston, till
q column was formed sufficient to enable him
to maneuyrc with some possibility Of success
over the plains Of that region, be might hurl
back the array in front Of him at present and
penetrate the State Of Ohio. The attainment
Of tits object would render worthless Ill the
would be il the condition Of the constructor
whose back has been broken, the scene of war
would be transferred to his Own territory, and
every one who has Witnessed the raYagcs Of
armies in any Of the invaded districts Of Vir-
ginia, knows what a precious blessing is desig~
L2tS0 Ill tAAAe p44EA t1AtASC. LII HuH14 Nc AL-
tackled beyond his defenees. The alarm and
confusion Of the United States would paraIyze
its Government aud its Generals, aud the en-
ire arrangement br which ne suffer nov and
dread great disasters in future, would be i'm
mediAtcly reversed
"At present General Johnston confonts
superior forces Of the enemy under Buell.. one
Of the most cautious, painstahing and able
generals or the other side. General Buell. has
now, Immediately IN front Of Johnston an
army Of seventy y-six thousand men Iye5, to-
oC0 men.-EDs. |, and can bring to bear on Us,
ii other given points, thirty Thousand more,
What the Confederate Commander has may
not be stated, but it is probably enough to
hold bis present strong position against any
numbers that might attack him there. But
the enemy has the right to attack him thore,
or paas him on either side, get to his rear and
cut OF bis supplies, This he can do by leaY-
ing = sufficient army in front Of General John
ston. while be can still send upon the right o.
LEFT f1ank s. force as large os he laws behind.
| Thot tl:, is The plan OF Buell. is now no longe.
| doubtful, lie hs8 placed force Of $500 msa