The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1862-01-30
Oar Raiirsad Connections.

The enemy are exerting themselves with
railway communication. Rosecranz and
Cox spsnt the whole summer in trying to
reach the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad at
some point between Lynchburg and Wythe-
vile. They were provided with all the
troops and with every appoint ment they could
wish, and they exerted themselves with
zeal worthy Of bst,er success in their importan,
underta king. But they were disappointed,
bafiied, and held back upon tn Kanawh a un-
I'll winter came on to render their project ut.
terry impracticabie. For. the present, tina.
plan Of approach is abandoned by the enemy
and our railroad enjoys safe, temporary pro.
lection in the rigors of winter.
Their next plan Of attack upon the same
line OF connection, farther West, was from
the direction of Kentucky into East Tennes-
see, BY means of the army of that nine days
hero OF unpronounceabie nal e, Gen SchepH.
This movement combined the double advan
tage OF threatening our chief line Of railroad
leading TO the West, and of forming the left
wing Of the grand army of invasion in Ken
lucky. luespectively of the design upon the
railroad, the movement was an important
part of the invasion; and, irrespectively of
the invasion, the movement was of value as
threatening the railroad. Independently, be-
sides, of both these features, the movement
was important as aaording countenance 10 the
formidable disahection in East Tennessee.
The temporary and accidental success of
Bch9piF at Somerset has taken the enemy by
surprise. They were expecting no victory in
that quarter, and their citation at the unex-
pectcd and unusual news exceeds all bounds
Forthwith is Sch9pt confirmed AZ "a Brigadier
General, and the fertile invention of the Yam
kee ID excessively busy in bringing out fSti
tious instances OF galantry and Prov ess, I'll.
legged " have occurred Oh the banks Of Mill
Creek. From small dimensions, the victory
grows daily into greater proportions 1t has
already been magniiie ed into full offset to
Bull Run, and IL III a tar way to become an
American Waterloo or Bionheim.
We have candidly conceded them victory;
but our loss Of lie aud men little, if ut all,
exceeds their own; and the balance against
us consists at last only of items of AMIN ais,
wagons, stores, and other mere matersa OF
war. The problem remains after all unsolyed,
whether they can reach our railroad for if
their victory does not secure that result, it
cessful frontier skirmish.
We are not advised what steps have been
taken by our authorities 80 prevent their ap-
proach TO the threatened line, but have no
doubt that ample provision has been made
against such contamination Of leading
movement in the enemy's programme. Al
though that great line OF road has heretofore
been much exposed through mere inadver-
lance or ignorance of its real value, and left
for the most part to take care OF itself, ii is,
30 far, We are sure, III no sort OF danger
The number Of troops needful for its protec
ton Is so small compared with the transcen
dent Importance of the line itself, and its pro-
lection is guaranteed by 80 many weighty
considerations, that we think we may safely
assume, now that the public authorities have
become acc uaintsd with its value, that it will
be amply guarded.
Turning our attention, therefore, to the
great Southern line of railway leading to the
Bun 'aotNS ohA gun VII VIZ bht WV iVOeSo
of Importance and value. One of them run
ming through east Carolina from Weldon to
Wilmington, is Threatened by Burnside and
the other, leaving this city and passing
through DanviIle, Greensboro, Salisbury, Co.
lumbia, and Atlanta, along the Piedmont coun-
try that supports the feet of the Alleghanes,
though not threatened, and the safest of all
rnntnc t.os lib s.,
between Danville and Greensboro not yet
completed. The President, with great saga
city and propriety, urged the completion of
this link upon the country in his annual mes
sage; but whether Congress has responded to
the recommendation by directing the imme-
date execution Of the work, is still involved
IN the mysteries of their secret conclave. This
much lie certain, that the work is not yet
accomplished; perhaps it is not yet begun );
and the fact remains, that our only line of con-
nection with the South except the one
through the mountains of West Virginia and
East Tennessee, is imminently threatened by
Burnside.
We confess to have lost all apprehension Of
serious danger or harm to result from the ma
val expeditions of the enemy. In their his
tory, SO far, they have proved unwieldy in
efficient, and frightfully costly to the Federal
exchequer. They have inflicted little CON-
paratve damage upon US and in a military
point of view, have turned out to be the most
wretched abortions. Great expectations were
cherished of Burnside armada and the pro
liabilities are, that it will prove the most stu
psndous failure of them all. Notwithstand-
ing these things, however, the most harmless
weapon that can be employed against our ad-
yersary ia contempt. TO despise and under
rate an enemy il the most fatal blunder known
in warfare. The presence of twenty thou
sand men in the waters of North Carolina,
with many cannon and all the equipments
Of AN army, is subject deserving any
other treatment than that Of supine in.
difference and contempt. There are no
troops engaged Ia this war capable of bet
ter service than the brave Caroinians and
the enterprise Of Burnside will cost him
many lives aud casualties if it does not cost
his whole army. But, yet, mere aecident
asuccessful sudden push of a handful Of troops
IN some unguardsd direction, may bring them
abreast Of our railroad, and enable them to
break up the line Of travel by burning few
wooden bridges
ls 1t meet that we should subject ourselves
to SO imminent hazard without providing
the remedy Ough. not this Danvile and
Greensboro work to be immediately put In
hand and at once completed! Better that the
whole industry of great region Of country
contiguous to the needed line of road should
be stopped and put upon the work, than that
the interests Of the entire country dependent