New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-01-10
FROM FORTRESS MONROE.
Desperate Condition OF the Rebellion
They See the End Of their Rope -Davis's
Dismay mt the siideil surrender-Thc
Burnside Expcdition-SpecuI ss to
IT. Eject.

FOKrRPss MONROE Old Point Comfort jan o, l5hI
The sleety DAYS and winiry nights are fghiinga
battle and winning a great victory over the rebel
army on the Potomac. Making every allowance, the
testimony is conclusive that the rebels in no con-
dilon to Withstand the perils of the seaEon. The
weather is quite bad for them and az eff Give ar
any movement that Gen. Mcclellan could make
were he ever 60 well prepared and in health for the
work. A gentleman Of otservrtion and intelligence
who lately arrived from Richmond, where be spent
number Of weeks with excellent means for observing
tho inside as well IA the outside Of affairs, paints
the condition not only of the rebel army, but OF tue
cause financially and in every other material re-
spect, in a most deplorabie light. Dissatisfaction
uud insuborlinaton in the army are rife.
All the results OF hollow promises, waning bad
csu,e, an empty excbequer little or no pay, an I'M
clothed and an unshod sdIey, prices that amount to
absolute p ohbiton, snd last though by no means
least, grieyous disappointment consequent on the
turn given 10 the Trent affair, have begun 70 de-
velore themselves on the Potomac, at Richmond,
everywhere among the officers, the soldiers, every
body. What might before have been expected, and
WIN, doubtless has been silent fact, snow open,
papable one on every hand, counting q tie co" IN
tie und. Of the people. The terrorism that has for
hidden all expression, suppressed all discussion, and
led them bndfold begins to be lifted, and the sway
of the leader. broken. We cannot scject the evil
dence 1t ia az unmisskabIe as that which betokens
re storm. well-direced blow would scatter the
army and virtually epd the rebellion. This much IL
confessed by the rebel leaders Themselves who every
where are looking to their rear. A distinguished
virpinian in Richmond, few days since, while COZ.
tempating gloomily tho prospect, virtually admitted
that the end was at hand but qualified the admission
by declaring that lie aud others never would give up
save with their last breath. SO say desperate nen
always, and never so loudly as when their cause is
most desperate. When Davis, Benjamin & Co., in
Richmond, received the news OF the surrender OF
Slide and Mason, their astonshment and disappoint-
ment were almost beyond expression. They had not
dreamed of such thing, but counted confidently on
the complication the means Of success. The loss
Of "A battle on the Potomac would not have been 80
severe blow. 1t Was the subject OF long and anx-
ious consultation by the Executive and bis advisers
and the only possible ground Of hope they could dis.
cover was in being able, if possible, to keep things
along they were and bad been for the last three
MOI tbs; for they argued, with France and Eugland
this stao of things gives the Coniederacy the appear
anee If ability TO hold ts own. and to the United
States Of inability to make successful movement
3, seeming. good Us ac,uay that with their foreign
allies iy,s them Substantial advantage and cores
nondiuc disadvantage 10 the United States No one
will dispute that the consprstors reasoned soundy
and the conclusion is suggestive to us as 1t Is safe
for them.
Tie Burnside Expedition, in consequence OF un'
circumstances not wholly inherent, however
will not sail for number of days yet. Acting in
with other movements, / presume that
Gen. Burnside is not perfectly independent in his
own bnt subject to contingencies affecting The gen.
er,l ran OF which lie is a part. OF this expe lition
the public experts much, and unquestionably l! will
much There is danger, however, OF too
much being expected. The secret of its destination
AID field Of operali ns has been well Kept Every
be DIV may be disappointed in tois respect. Judging
,rn this stand point, | would rather predict TOR 1t,
Whenever il shall have been fully developed, sdmi-
ratoo for the comprchensveness Of the plan aud the
effect produced in literally crushing out the rebellion,
than any dazzling and perhaps momentary effect 1
do not believe that its history will show what mas
be en- too true in other cases disposition to cit down
and take u long rest or Il coy nap alter striking
blow. would rather suppose that blow would iol'
low blow and that the expedition would SO right on,
in conformity with plan looking to results not pure
+, local Forts may be reduced by means other than
bntrering them down. with good chance OF getting
i,,t.rrd in turn Armies even that on the Potomac
NAV be- beaten by means other than 10y marching sn
equal number to engage them IN front. There are
certain arteries and channels that supply life; to
,,;x,. and cut them may be much easier while the
processs quite IA effective thsn TO make dash TO beat
the brains out, which might result IN the same caas-
tropbe to yourself. But if you do both, the work
can scarcely fail of being complete. Tic Burnside
Expedition will probably pursue a scheme mat LOOKS
unite M much to cutting the arteries as to dashingou
,he BRAINS What particular things it VIII 10 IN ac-
con plishing tho grand objects in view, may larry 90
supposed TO depend good deal on the course oil Tie
rebels. BAIT. ries will be taken, as at Hutton he'd
4 ,hev are not evacuated. Places VIII Dc taASn-
,rcbv If they do not surrender before force becomes
necessary; and il car scarcely fail to be the case .''
arteries conveying the vital currents WI" 'o So
and cnt and held 30 firmly tina, the same nA'"Fa' o.
.c,s "a IN ensue 10 the rebellion as in snch MODE 0'
procedure on tie human system fur'hef' u''ooAe''
or and extremely veYatious delays may ensue IL
IA scarcely 10 DO supposed that every cont.ngeh'!
.,o,ld be suticpa,ed and il nay DO found that even