The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1862-09-05
The Defensive Policy.
(From the Richmond Whig.J

tFrom the Richmond WhigJ
atpolicy. If any, our President had
in the beginning Of our Revelation, we
know not. He repellsd then the sugges.
tons Of gentlemen, who urged that mon
sy should be instantly sent to Europe to
purchase arms and ammunition and
steel-plated steamers, and that every. pre-
paration should at once be made for Wig
orous war. He seemed TO rely upon King
Cotton, and 10 await confidently the i9x
terposition of Foreign Powers. VIA
this expedient did not avail, he fell ipB
what has BEEN dsmossttssed III s. Is.
fensive policy" Under the operation ~
this policy, We lost by camp fsvers a
large portion of the gallant army at Ma
nassas; we lost Maryland, Kentucky,
Missouri, more than half of Virginia. and
the Mississippi valley-temporarily only,
we hope-though certainly forever for
anything the defensive policy will avail
us. :
This defensive policy is humbug :.
Livy, Plutarch, and the classical diotion.
aries have given it certain reputation
which school-boys, who had transmitted
its glories from generation to generation.
But even in the hands of the great Ro-
man Cunctator, who originated and gave
it name, it was magnificent failure
He confronted Hannibal with it for
eleven years; and during that time every
district of Italy was ravaged with fire and
sword, and at the eni of it the Roman
dominion was in greater jeopardy than ev-
er, and would have been subverted but
for change of policy. That change was
inaugurated bv the celebrated march Of
Claudius Nero from Apula to the Metau-
rus to intercept Hasdrubal, who was
bringing reinforcements to his brother,
Hannibal. The change was perfected af-
forwards by Scipio, when he carried the
war into Africa-which forced the Garth
agenian Government to recall Hannibal
from Italy. But all the while the defen-
sive system was practiced by Fabius, it
was an abortion-subjecting every por-
ton of Italy. from the foot of the Alps to
the Straits Of Sicily, to pillage and DESC
lation. 1t will produce the same effect
here, if persisted in and there will be
no end to our sufferings, till another Clau-
dius Nero, in the guise of Stonewall Jack
son, takes the bit in his mouth and fights
another battle of Metarus; or another
Scipio, in the guise of a'Catesby Jones, OF
some kindred spirit, transfers the Seat Of
War to Philadelphia or New York.
In this connection, it may not be amiss
to correct another populsr falacy, which
Livy and Plutarch and schoolboys have
lpropogated from age to age; to wit, that
Capua was the ruin of Hannibal. The
battle of Cante was taught the third year
after the "dir,s Affair."" as Horace calls
Hannibal, reached Italy. Very soon af,
forwards Capua opened it's gates to him.,
and, at the same time, various other Ro.
man provinces joine,l his standard. 1t
was this accession of new allies, not the
luxury of Capua, that to some extent.
weakened his energies, or, at least, mod
flied the character of the war he was wag-
ing. Up to that time, his army was unit,
and he was every day dealing some fresh
blow on the enemy. But afterwards, he
was compelled to divide his forces to pro-
tect his new allies, and, instead Of one
army, kept three for some time. That
he made less progress in the future was
owing to this disposition of his forces
and we of the Southern Confederacy
should take note of it, both with respect
to our own movements and those of the
enemy. Their immense force of 10000
is scattered all the way from Fortress
Monroe to the Rocky Mountains, all over
the Border States, and all around the
Southern Coast-if we would be wise, we
would concentrate force sufficient to
strike them to the heart and deliver the
whole continent from bondage. But that
Capua did not destroy Hannibal is man.
ifest from the fact, that he maintained
himself, without any re-inforcements
from home, for twelve years longer in
Italy-fought untold battles, never was
defeated and at last withdrew reluctant.
ly at the call Of his country. He new.
er sustained but single reverse in
arms, and that was his last and the only
defensive battle he ever fought. There
is wonderful propulsion and animation