The New York herald., 1862-04-25

at 3!c Coffee was quiet there was some inquiry for the
article bond for export to the Continent. Freight
gagements moderate and without change of i'm
porsance.
Tho New Strategy OF the Rebels In vir-
ginia and the Southwest-A Few Hints
for Mr.. Secretary stanton.
The numerous defeats Of the rebels, from
Missouri to the Atlantic seaboard, in January
and February last, eliminating in the surren-
der of their army at Fort Donelson, not only
broke down their entire line of Northern de-
fences, but compelled them to adopt an entirely
new plan Of defensive warfare.
JEFF. Davis, in his February message to the
rebel Congress, substantially confessed that in
undertaking to defend their Northern frontier
line against the nroads Of the United States
forces. from tie Potomac to the Mississippi.
and thence TO the Missouri, the i'Confederate
States" had attempted too much. Our next
advices from Richmond informed us that the
rebel leaders were discussing a new plan Of
operations; and next we were apprised that
new plan, and one promising the best results,
had been adopted. The rebel exodus had dis
covered that chain Of defensive works, how
ever formidable as whole, was completely
broken down with the loss Of two or three of
the connecting links, and that il was, therefore,
a waste Of money, time, labor, artillery and
munitions Of war TO repeat that extensive line
of defences which they had tried so hopefully
but which. had so utterly and disastrously
failed
And so, with their compulsory evacuation Of
Nashville, the rebel chiefs lost no time in pre-
pairing for the evacuation of Manassas, so that
their army in the East might not be surrounded
or cut Off from its communications with their
army in the West. Next we get held of q copy
Of an appeal from the War Office at Richmond
"to the people Of the Confederate Sts'es,n call
ing upon them and upon their churches corpo-
rations &c. &C., for all the bells they can spare
in order that they may be worked up Into light
artillery, suitable for an army j.. motion from
point to point. At certain '.aces which must
be defended, such as the available bluffs and
islands of the Mississippi and the commercial
cities Of the Southern seaboard, and the sp-
proaches to Richmond, the heavy fertilization
and naval guns from the great magazine Of the
Norfolk Navy Yard are still to be employed to
the fullest extent; but all the intermediate sta
tionary defences Of the rebellion are 10 be
abandoned. Thoy are to be, and are already,
superseded b. two great moveahlo rebel ar
mics, one in tie East and one in the West,
and each Of these armies is to be prepared at
moments warning and in overwhelming num-
bers to pounce upon any exposed detachment
Of our advancing forces, and so TO cut up our
armies in detail.
This isa Napoleonic idea, the identical plan
Of action under which the first Nepoleoc cut to
pieces in Italy two or three successive Austrian
armies ofvastly superior force, and the strategy
whereby IA 1914, from bis interior position he
achieved such wonders In his final strus giles
for Paris against the overwhelming forces Of the
advancing semcircls Of the Allies, by bis rapid
marches against their detached columns from
| day to day. General Sidney Johnston and
| Beauregard only followed these examples Of
| Napoleon in this late attack against the army
| of General Grant at Pittsburg Landing Their
objects were to surprise him, defeat him, and
destroy his army, before General Buolls could
arrive u relieve him; and but for those Two
| gunboats in the Tennessee river, at the right
spot in the very crisis Of danger General
Grants army, in oil probability, would have
been Destroyed; and the defeat Of Buell. might
have followed: and thus we might have lost all
the States and all the great moral advaotages
previously gained by our glorious victories in
the West.
In tho East as In the West the rebels bave
concentrated their strength upon an interior
centre Of operations, and upon Yorktown, as
upon Corinth, Gun forces are advancing In con
vcrging lines; and 80 in the East our advancing
forces are menaced with the same danger from
which they 50 narrowly escaped in the West.
General Hsleck Ia his very instructive work
entitled "Ialleck Elements Of Military Art and
Science says, in regard "to converging lines
of operation" "that care should be taken that
the point Of meeting be such that II may not be
taken as strategic position by tho enemy, and
our forces be destroyed in detail before they
can effect junction" Then be rcoi.es a mum
Der Of remarkable instances in which great
armies have thus in detail been destroyed, in
Guiding the examples to which We have already
alluded.
Now, If we are not mistaken, the army o.
General Mcdowell. tho army Of General Banks
and The army Of Gen .sl Fremont, widely pepa