Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1862-03-14

WILL THE REBELS CHANGE THEIR Policy ?
Several Of the Southern papers begin to
cry out loudly that their side Ot the war has
been carried on upon wrong principle, that
instead Of being defensive 1t should have
been aggressive. The Norfolk Ddy5ook says:
"This struggle will be prolonged I'll he North
feels the 10 rr0r Of irlTfae. Teach them what the
de.olations Of the fresides mean. Let the dread
and danger of war excite their quiet homes, and
let painful anxieties surround their habitations.
Then will We secure tho peace that We await
them to give US.
Invade their olntryi subsist on the ahund-
ant fruits Of their tillage and their manufI ctures
press in service their vehicles Of transportation
and support arniiss at fieT eTPeH's."
This it urges. is the only way to avoid dee
tructIon.
Foreign Intervention is not 10 all US, nothing
can be expected from England and France; they
tell US this. In our own strength, then, are we
10 battle with the foe, secure the liberties Of
freeinen. We arc self-reliant, and expect 20 fght
out the destiny that awaits U.S. our mission Is to
achieve cur own independenc and TO exact from
the Lincoln dynasty the confession Of its humilia
tion and the recognition ci our young conieder-
acy.'
\ correspondent u tAt ~ 4 AA-fA' fiAyul
adviccs from Richmond to Feb. 27t says
''lt was understood tha, JeG Davis himself,
who until recently bad been strongly in favor Of
defensive policy, now declares that the adoption
OF that policy was a great mistake, and that it
would have been better policy TO have invaded
Pennsy syIyania and Ohio in the summer oT fall, or
even 10 have concentrated the whole military
force Of the confoderacy for nsattack W Washing
tnr Immediately after tho hattie of MauaEaas. and
that he is now in favor Of changing tho military
policy Of the South, if it can be done.
1t is admitted, however, even by the most ard
ent advocates Of the offensive policy, that the in
auguration Of that policy at present Is entirely
impract icable, both from the want Of enough
troops and because Of the presence Of such large
L Union armies in Kentucky aEd Tennessee. Nari-
Gus plans have been suggested for the defeat and
expulsion from the South Of the Union armies
now in those states. But the undertaking IS Of
such magnitude as to be almost hopeless. A great
deal is said about guerrilla warfare, but very lit
tie about defeating the Union troops by the srate-
gic operations Of regular warfare.
II was reported At Richmond, however, nat
Gen. Albert ;. Johnston collecting at Decatur,
in Alabama. all the troops which be could make
available, with the attention of attacking the
Union troops, cutting oa their communication
with the North, and compelling them t. surrend-
er There were gentlemen at Richmonl high IN
the confidence of the rebel government who be-
Iieved that il was in his power to DO this Ii was
said that he had at his command fully 5000
troops, splendidly equipped and in high state
Of discipline, and with plenty o. cavalry and field
artillery.
All the troops that were at Columbus were to
be concentrated at Memphis-not for the defence
Of that place, but TO join the column OF General
Albert ;. Johnston, If be should need them. Il
was not expected that Memphis would be attacked
Immediately.