Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1862-04-25
The SIImnrInn.

At no time in the war has the situation
Of military affairs been more profoundly
interesting than now. Heretofore, the
clouds OF war have been scattered from
horizon 10 horizon. Now they seem to he
mainly concentrating at two points, York
Town and Corinlh. And when they meet at
these great centres, what a shock there will
be- what terrible bolts will fall Up to
this time our attention has generally beeu
divided by great number of movements
Of essentially eqsal Importance. The sue
cess OF any one of them was the cause Of
rejoicing. But the failure of almost any
one of them would have been attended
with no very serious result, except delay.
The interest with which we watched opera.
ton OF such character was, therefore,
different from that with which We see four
great armies Darshalled and about to fight
battles which must be more important in
their results than any that have yet taken
place. Itis merely or chiefly because more
men are assembled on each side near York
town and Corinth than have before OPP
posed each other, though it is true that so
large and so well appointed armies have
never before been gathered on this conti-
nedt. But it is because, if we suffer de-
feat here, the war must be prolonged at
least for many months and if we conquer
here. there will be very little left OF armed
rebellion. Il the rebel armies in Mississippi
and Virginia are broken up, in all probabiIi-
~ no formidable army eau again be set on
foot in the South. There might be some scat
tered guerrilla warfare Butthat would not
last long. 1t is too Improbable to suit
even the ferocious rebels tor long time.
The public appreciate the position of at
fairs. Hence their interest in the various
operations along the coast, keep as it is, at
present quite subordinate to that which is
felt in the contest between Halleck and
BeAuregard and in that between Mcclellan
aud Johnston. Al what previous time in
the war would the news of the fall of Fort
Pulaski have been received with so few
outward demonstrations of joy Not that
the Importance of the capture is underra-
ted. But attention is mainly engrossed by
the greater operations. Indeed, we have
been SO uniformly successful since the year
began, that we instiuctively take it for
granted that all the secondary operations
will go on well. No one dreams of any,
thing bat success for Burnside in anything
he undertakes. It's almost impossible to
suppose that Foote and Pope will not do
whatever they attempt We look conf
DENLY 70 the reduction of Charleston and
Savannah: We hear but little from Porter
and Farragut. Bat since Pulaski has fall. /
en- we are very sure that no forts can stand .
against our preaching guns.
While we are waiting with almost
breathlsss "tsentiOu to hear that the great
battles in the East aud the West have Leen
fought. Mcclellan and Halleck are bur-
rying on their vast preparations. The
former as we learn from letters from the
peninsula, is making SO thorough arrange
ments that failure is, in the opinion OF his
army, out of the question, however forrnid.
able may be the obstacles before him. The
latter has thoroughly reorganized his splen.
did army, aud is apparently about ready
for the conflict. We look forward With
hOpefulness to the ultimate and brilliant
success Of both. When they have gained
it, the main work Of the war is over.