Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1862-02-27
WHERE is THE NEXT BATTLE
To BE?

the Federal forces--that Gen. Johnston
prepared to offer resistance. To be sure we
do not know what the extreme desperation
Of the rebel cause may lead the Confederate
Generals to do, or attempt to do; but 1t
would seem to be sheer madness for them to
oppose the advance of the Union armies at
that point. In the first place, the city oil
Nashville has no superior natural defences'
1t is easily approachable to both land and
water forces. Our gun and mortar boats OF
the largest size, can easily navigate up the
river to Nashville, and any determined at
tempt at resistance, while it will be frultless
in the end to stay the onward march OF our
victorious troops, will necessarily result IN
the Smelling and burning of the city.
In the next place, the approaches to the
city are not fortified; and the only time
there has been for throwing up artificial de-
fences, has been since the retreat of the army
from Bowling Green.
And, finally, there is strong Union sem
timent in and around Nashville, and with
out doubt large portion of the inhabitants
will welcome the Federal army, and extend
to them every material aid in their power.
The rebel army, moreover, defeated at all
points, made up of panic-strleken fugitiVes
from the extended but now broken line Of
defences in Kentucky, - demorslized, dis
heartened-many of them impressed into
service which they ioathe-will hardly be in
a suitable condition to offer ba,l,e TO our
well.appolnted troops upon anything like
equal terms.
We look upon the fall OF Nashville, there
fore, as an event certainly to happen, and
that speedily, and most probably without
any considerable opposition. But if the
gage of battle is offered, our men, under
their gallant leaders, will soon make short
work of it.
II has been rumored that Columbus was
being evacuated by the rebels, but this is
now said to be without foundation. But
however that may be, the retreat of Gen.
Polk, either voluntarily or by compulsion of
Federal gunboats and Federal bayonets, is
only question OF time. With the heart of
Tennessee IN our possession, we shall secure
the command of all the channels Of commu-
ncation with Columbus, and thus completely
cut of its supplies. 1t needs no prophet TO
tell what effect that will have. 1t will ne.
cessitate retreat In fact the longer re-
treat is delayed, the more danger does Gen.
Polk invite ftbe capture Of his army. We
can we'll afford to let this clerical fox stay ir
his hole until Uncle Sans dogs and hunters
come up and barricade him.
Where, then, is the next great battle most
likely TO be fought, or are we to have another?
Will it be at Manassas? That seems to III
to be the most proable point. And yet it II
by no means certain that the rebels vii
make stand here. If all. or even half We
hear, from rebel sources be tue, it would
seem that they can hardly expect to proven
the advance of Gen. Mcclellan upon Rich
mond, whenever he may choose, or finds i
possible, to move. The Confederate army
of the Potomac is already literally surround
ed. The flower of the Federal forces con
fronts ii on the one side, while there are two
large columns in its rear-the one at For
tress Monroe, and the other under Genera
Burnside, the latter now amounting to iul
forty thousand effective men of all arms, al
ready flushed with victory, and pushing OF
to the railroad communications with Rich
mond, almost without resistance Were thu
rebel army of the Potomac as strong and al
numerous at present as it was in the months
of early autumn, it would readily be seen
even then, that the edds against it would b.
more than as three to one. But it must b.
recollected that memorable necessity has de
pleted il from time to time by the Withdrawal
oftroops to operate in defence of the rebe
sea-coasts, and harbors; that sickness ha
fearfully tbinned its ranks; that its best gen
erals have been withdrawn for other ant
more pressing service; that regiments All
said to be leaving almost daily for soutl
Carolina and Tennessee that furloughs arr
being granted in great numbers to soldiers
many Of whom have lost heart, and nevel
will return and finally, that the term OF en-
lrsment of the main bJdy of tho troops
about expiring, wi h no prospect that NOR
than one half, at the most, will re-enhst
when all these circumstances are considered
will j. be matter for surprise if the boaste
array of the Potomac shall be withdr avn I
some safe refuge, for the time being, in tn
distant Cotton States? However that ma
be, there is moral certainty that so soon q
the condition of the roads will admit of a