Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1862-01-24
THE CAMPAIGN.


ish the rebellion at blow. We have
heard about these straps" set by this
that and the other commander, ever since
the war began, but they do not appear to
have amounted to much thus far. The
truth is, the rebellion is to be subdued
only by hard, persistent fighting, and the
value Of strategy lies in enabling US to
, take up the task at the right end, and to
make the most of our power 1t will
hasten the arduous process, but will not
supersede it. The rebel army is man
aged by cool heads, and they are not to
be daunted by any demonstrations which
are not backed up by overwhelming
force, driven or about to be driven home
Thus when the forts of Port Royal were
taken, and shudder of dismay undoubt-
edly ran through the South, not man
was allowed to 90 from the rebel army
of the Potomac. They had fixed their
policy, and they were not to be driven
from it till they knew for what.
Their policy is still adhered to. What
it is, we think, substantially expressed
in the article prepared for De Boto's
Rsvier, Of which we have heretofore
copied the material part. 1t is a rigidly
defensive policy in the present stage of
the war. The rebels expect 10 be in
vaded, and they are bending all their
energies to the work Of making the
invasion as dear 10 the Government as
possible. at is our true policy" says
the article referred to, "to decoy the en-
emy into the interior, and then to cut
them of, as were Braddock, and Bur-
goyne, and CORVALLIS, and Ross, and
Packenham, and our own troops in the
everglades Of Florida" They declare
they will never fight except when there
is an advantage over the enemy" will
choose their own positions, and in re-
treating will leave no supplies behind
them-ihus counting upon wearing out
the patience Of the North with a war ofI
tremendous expense and little apparent
progress. II we were not interested in
the matter-if the case occurred in Chi
ma or India-we should all say that this
was the proper strategy for the rebels to
pursue.
1t only remains to consider whether
there is better policy open to the Gov
ernment We believe there is, and that
it has been adopted, and that il is on the
point of being put into successful opera
ton. 1t is true, as the rebels assume,
that we must invade their domains-but
it is not true that they can realize their
idea Of defensive policy. With the .
wants of modern society, it
is now utterly impossible to resolve war
into q general guerilla contest, indefinite
ly prOiracted, as was done by the Semi
mole Indians, or more recently by S
Schamyl in the mountains Of Caucasus.
All the late wars among civilized nations
have been decided at a few points by
Few battles. In spite Of themselves, the
rebels are conforming to the same law,
as they have thrown forward nearly all
their defensive strength at the three
points, viz: Manassas, Bowling Green ,
md Columbus. If they are defeated =,
here, or compelled to desert all the Ia
prepared advantages of those .
positions for the open country, they are y
,eaten, and secession is swallowed up in
Union, They may talk about their last q
Irop of blood, and fighting their ground Il
nch by inch--it is all nonsense on the :,
art Of the leaders, and if they don't
now ii, the mass of the Southern people :,
Who have had a chance TO compare
welve months of rebel rule with the
of lifetime under the Con-
titution, will give them the requisite and
urinary instruction.
Now by virtue of superior numbers, h.
be entire water front of the rebel do 10
lains, and the interior structure Of the i,
ountry, the Union army is master ofthe cI
tuation. We can outnumber the rebels u
any given point, and effect our general or
Movements quicker than they. The OF
ngle advantage of particular fortifca- B
ons, which they have gained by the sv
Ipse Of time necessary for our prepara- fir
ons, will be neutralized by our capacity m
cut off their supplies. Thus the rebel or
-my of The Potomac, which would eat
irginia out of house and home in a
ngle week, is wholly dependent upon pl
vo lines of railroad-the Southern sea- to,
,ard road from Richmond and the Ten SCI
,ssee road along the base of Blue Ridge TT
ountains. Neither of these is more lav
an one hundred miles from loyal soil pir
the free ocean. and they both rul ,el