Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-02-03
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prised OF that fact aud be on the way back, if il
was desirabIe
You know az Chicago, better than we do here,
the real facts Of the recent demonstration to-
wards Columbus, and Subsequent return of the
Union TROOPS 10 Cairo. Il J. spoIen OF in mill
taIy circles here a simple Reconnaissance But
Il Is stated also that the Information that has
been gained by IL warrants the belief that Colum-
bus is justly entitled 20 the appellation Of the
Manassas OF the West. II is well understood
that, while the Confederates hold Columbus. the
Union forces cannot descend The Mississippi; and
II IS said here that the facts sscertainei BY this
reconnaissance warrant the belief that the Con
federate position at Columbus can neither be
forced nor turned with less than 100 900 men
and plenty of the most powerful siege artillery.
One thing is very certain: The suppression Of
this rebellion IS no holiday task. People begin
TO see now that the Southern people are terribly
IN earnest" Even If foreign nations do not in
terfere, IL will require a million Of soldiers and
fully three years from the time Of its commence
ment, TO conquer the armies which il Is in the
power OF the Southern States 20 bring into the
field. This Is disagreeable fact. but il is a fact
nevertheless.
Foreign Intervention would Of course make
the difficulties In the way greater still. And il
looks very much now as if We should have some
trouble with foreign powers. The papers have
great deal 10 SAY just now about the probability
that England, France. and Spain will recognize
the Southern Confectionery. The grounds upon
which this recognition viii be made were stated
in one OF my letters sJme time ago. If the re-
cOgnitlOn does take place, il viii probably be
Immediately followed by the breaking of the
blockade of the Southern ports, on the ground
that IL has always been Ineffective and that an
effective blockade alone can be recognized By
the laws of nations.
Some OF the Southern newspapers, represent
ing, no doubt, considerable portion OF Southern
sentiment, are urging upon the Confederate mill
| tary authorities the propriety of changing the
tactics they have hitherto pursued and Of making
the war on their part offensive. and not defensive
alone. But there is no probability that these
views will prevail. IL has been stated that Gen.
Beauregard Was strongly in favor of offensive
action IRON the first. aud that his report of the
battle OF Manassas, which the Confederate War
Department refuses to publish contains plan
for carrying the war into the Northern States.
But there IS authority for saying that rhis is
mistake: that Beauregard's report is 10 be sup
pressed because he shows therein that he could
and would have taken Washington within three
days alter July 2lst, had il not been for J eff.
| Davis's order 10 the contrary. There is no Off
Ger IN the Confederate army so uncOmmunicative
as to his plans as Gen Beauregard But those
who have conversed with him are of the opinion
that since then his views have undergone con-
siderable modification, and that he now strongly
supports the defensive policy. his views, what
ever they are, will have great weight IN deter
mining the future conduct of the war on the part
of the South. From all that / can learn, lie is
perfectly satisfied with the results of the war up
TO this time. He considers the line of defences
from Goose Creek 70 Norfolk perfectly impreg
nable, even IL defended by half of the force now
| there; and there IS nothing improbable in the
theory that he has now been sent to do at Co
lum5us and Bowling Green what he has done on
the Potomac.