Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1862-01-03
For the Waterman.
AN ENGROSSGNG QUESTION.

AN ENGROSSING QUESTION.
Do the commanders Of either army on the 1
Potomac know their own designs? They |
have stood facing each other for five months, [
and when Dupont, Butler and Burnside have
done something to show that the Confede- |
rates are vulnerable, then some plan can be /
formed But in what warfare have two ar
mics of nearly equal strength, discipline and |
arms, thirsting for each others blood, stood |
facing each other all the summer, fall and
winter, bravely throwing up earthworks,
picket magnanimously ambushing and shoot
ing picket, scouts valiantly styling near to, or
into the lines Of the enemy, and killing or
getting killed to the amount of five or six on
a side, sitting in court-martal on Miles and
finding him drunk, but not able to prove it
SO Diminishing him, tho that drunken fit lost
the battle of Rull Run. But how men can
find fact which canno, be proved must be
a mystery to all but the profession. Out
siders have never heard of any censure upon
Patterson for playing traitor at Leesburgh,
or what distinguished position he is thought
worthy to fill now has not transpired. Some
body conjeetures news goes from the White
House to the rebels as they boast a constant
supply, and evidently have it. The army,
therefore, must be uncommonly onterprsing
to accomplish as much as they do with such
surroundings and in such an incredible short
time Besides they are in an enemys coun-
try, and therefore should stand still, The
New York Herald should of course announce
all the vessels, and all the men and all the
arms ordered on the Burnside expedition, and
the Journal at Boston should complain and
follow suite. Other papers must be as
prompt-and so the rebels have easy access
to our plans and designs. Mcclellan thinks
Scott II ust retire to make way for his own
stupenduous talent. and probably he ought {;
and then he (McClellan) orders a great re-
view.
OF course this shows deep-aid plan, and
what is more, comes near fulfilling Seward S
prophecy OF the pregnant ten days which
were to bring forth such amazing results, and
which seems 10 be fulhlled in the astounding
result of keeping those 100000 men still
that length of time, and the whole loya
states with them. Such result once would
have been thought more astounding than Q
battle and a victory but we have become ac
customed to great results, and since the day
of Sir Charles Napier, who courageously tool
his fleet into the Baltio-right into the enc
mics waters-and boldly yentured to TAX
them home again, and had the happiness o
reporting that be had saved his fleet, and tn
that he had also spared their towns So
seems now that one of the largest armies O
modern days have been defanty standing il
rebeldom, even in front of their army, for fv
or six months, and they have not dared t
bring on general action, but simply conten
themselves with holding possession of mos
of Secessia, organizing all departments @
their government, making themselves stron
at home and respected abroad, and contract
ing foreign alliances. These were very sma
things for secessia to do, but to think of tn
immense labor, the reconcile planning, tn
boundless resources of those who could nc
only gather, but keep together the vast arm
under Mcclellan, SO long without any gene
raj action, is new feature in military affair
and will probably hereafter oe regarded q
the greatest feat of modern arms.
All men ought to be content to believe thu
the powers that be have a plan, and a MOI
consummate OF e, whose daily results can
seen in giving an armed peace--not an arme
neutrality, but an armed peace--whioh spar,
the lives OF thousands Of rebels, and mar
loyalists, where ordinary tactics would ha,
destroyed them Is not that giving peace
our time? and is not peace exceedingly d
sirable, and especially now when we a
threatened with foreign war Ii does see
as il our youthful commander, as well as 4
old veteran Of many wars. is, with admiral
plastic plancy, adapting himself to the nc
benevolent wishes Of the whole country, al
rendering his name immortal as the most h
name, unostentatious, quiet and bloodless
warriors.
a QUIETIsT, BUT NOT PERFECT.