New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-03-31
THE EXPECTED BLOW.

Very much of the news we reprint from the
Rebel journals we interpret by the rule Of con-
trarics, so that their averment that Beauresard
has gone to New-Or!eans, for instance, per.
suades lis that he will soon turn up a good
way from that city. Still, we are inclined to
believe their late story that JEFF. Davis has set
ont for the South. West, because many reasons
concur in designating that as his most desra'
bic locality. We believe the Rebels will not
meet our great Potomac Army in open battle
but will watch for opportunities to attack por-
tons Of it 10 superior force, as lately at Win.
chester; but, should no such be afforded them,
they will gradually retire as our main body
advances, hoping only to detain it in Virginia
until the season is too far advanced and the
heat too feryid for offensive operations in the
Cotton States. Such seems to be the general
purpose of the present Rebel strategy in Nir-
ginia.
On the other hand, We see much that indi'
Gates determination on the part of the Sc
cession chiefs TO strike u sudden and heavy
blow in the Southwest They are evidently
concentrating their forces ut COrinth or some
other point near the south line of Tennessee,
with intent to hurl the great mass OF them
suddenly on an exposed detachment Of ours,
thus repeating the lesson Of Bull Run, Wilson's
Creek, and Lexington. We trust they are to
be balIled in this game by the cautious energy
of Gen. Halleck; and if they should not be
able to fight at The advantage they mediate,
We believe they will make virtue Of ncces.
city, and fight a desperate battle any how,
hoping by success to recover Tennessee. or at
any rate protect the South proper" from
invasion and restoration to the Union. The
yigor and skill Of our Generals are quite likely
to interfere with these calculations; but We
are satified that, il LEFT TO their own devices,
the Rebel chiefs will not soon fight great
battle in Virginia, but niH fight ono in the
Southwest.
The Anaconda" plan Of surrounding and
crushing rebellion exposes those who adopt
it to great and obvious hazards. Since Napo
Icons early campaign, every tyro in the art Of
war understand, that its frat canon il, a. BE
NiOhotst NJ iuc punt vi tctuni ouu oo'is"O
" conflict, no matter bow weak everywhere
"elsc." The Rebels profted b. their fidelity
to this rule at Bull Run, and in most of their
triumphs, o. have since done at Fort Don.
eson, Roanoke Island, &c. To comprehend
tho value and importance Of this rule lie easy
enough; TO obey and profit by it requires
mastery Of the military art. But the Rebels,
holding the interior position and operating
upon much the shorter lines Of communication,
can conform to il far more easily than the
Unonists who confront them. And only .
most resolute offensive on al points can pre-
vent their moving rapidly their troop. fscng a
quiescent force to reinforce an army engaged
in active operations, a. has been recently
witnessed. And their advantage Of position is
so fairly counterbalanctd by our command Of
the seas and in our superiority in both gun
boats aud transports on the Western rivers,
that it should not and probably will not, be
allowed to prove of much avail.