The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1862-02-11

pteSN tilaL WAS W nSlit auu "hiP tHe
enemy. The very men who must re-
ceive the shock of battle were those who
complained most OF inactivity. He said
that if the question were left to them, ten
out of twelve would say there had been
no necessity for the delay of the past
four months.
He revealed no secret when he stated
that the great plan was to strike at all
points 1t was simple impossibility
that every arrangement was to be made
in Missouri Kentucky and Virginia, so
that as by single click of the clock all
would rush upon the enemy at once, and
crush the rebellion at single blow.
Whatever our army accomplished must
be as our troops in Kentucky had glori-
ously done not by signal from Wash
ington, but by striking boldly at the
enemy where they might be found.
Why should the great army of the Union
be idle when soldiers aud civilians every
where were imploring for action ? East
Tennessee had asked for 10000 men for
defense against the rebels. The prayer
had been answered by the announcement
that no troops could be spared from the
army Of the Potomac. Yet there were
absent from that army a few days ago,
and it was about the general average, on
business of pleasure, or other objects,
nearly 1000 officers and 1000 priyates,
an army of themselves as large as was
required to save Tennessee. 1t was not
necessary to go to Tennessee for an illus,
tration of the rant Of enterprise aid dar-
ing onhe part of the controlling manager
Of The army.
He had it from authority, and it could
not be questioned, that some three weeks
ago from ten to fifteen thousand Confed
crates, in the neighborhood of Romney,
were virtually in the power of division
of our army, numbering about 1000.
Gen. Lander sent a messenger to Gen.
Kelly, saying, in substance, "join me"
and Gen. Kelly, without the knowledge
of such messenger, sent one of his own
bearing a similar message. Meanwhile,
one of these Generals telegraphed to Gen.
Banks to advance on one side while be
advanced from the other; but, unfortun-
aely. they telegraphed at the same time
to headquarters in reference to what was
going on, when an answer came in the
form of an order +" not 10 GdUance," ac-
companiea Nth reprimana for even any
suggestion Of tie kind. That battle
would have sadly broken in upon some
great plan was quite probable. 1t might
have finished the "great anaconda," as
the newspapers had expressed 1t. But II
must not be forgotten that the mammoth
reptile that was to draw within his folds
and crush the rebellion at single sweep
OF his tail had already swallowed up all
our contemplated victories and gorged
himself with the substance of the people
to no purpose. Less than thirty days
ago General Halleck sent forward 5000
cavalry against Gen. Price, and was
about TO follow il up with 10000 infant
~, with every prospect Of success, when
the order came from a " superior officer"
10 halt : Was not this characteristic OF
the whole war ? The battle of Freder-
town. No, and the recent battle in Ken
lucky, were both fought without orders
from Washington.
Oar soldiers are pilifully bemoaning
for an advance. The reason opportuni-
ties were not embraced to strike effect
lively was for fear the great anaconda
might be stirred up too soon, and some
brilliant and poetical scheme dashed to
pieces. This was no time aud place for
fattery. Our people were sleeping on a
volcano. The voice of our people was
against the inaclion of our army. Ii
something was not done the raising ot
the blockade was not at all impossible
Hundreds of millions OF dollars have
been spent and the largest army ever
raised on this continent remains compar-
alively idle and demoralizrd by conlin.
ued inactivity. But where is the lead
or F? Echo answers in the far distance.
where.
We have let slip the golden opporlu.
nifty to crush out rebellion aud achieve a
permanent victory. We have failed to
follow up signal success when we have
landed on the enemy's shores. As 10
the declaration that our soldiers entered
the army only for pay, and would not
fight. il was false as hlsehood itself-he
almost said as false as he'll They are
not permitted 10 strike al Ms rebels. Bit
ter complaints are made because they
are held back for months when victory
was right before them and in their
grasp.
As TO The army Of the Potomac, he
would merely say the harvest is past,
the summer is ended, and we are not
saved" Unite your red tape. and our
troops in the West will soon find their
way to New Orleans or perish in the at
tempt. They had long heard of for.
ward movement, and one is 20 be made
when the mud dries up, or it may be
postponed till June next, and then the
weather will be altogether too hot TO-
600 or $4,000 men might have been qui-
city sent TO Western Virginia, and fin
ished the war by a single blow. A hun
dred thousand men would have leaped at
the order to go, The people demand
more energy and zeal here and for the
army to move forward against the enemy
at all hazards. Give our Western Gen
erals power TO march against the enemy
at will. and the war, SO lar as the South