, 1862-07-02
SCIENTIFIC WARFARE,

4 very remarkable book is that entitled |
Ct Summary Of the Art Of War, by Emil
Schalk," in which the scientific principles
Of warfare are applied prophetically to the
movements in the present rebellion. We
eN acknowledge the fact that war Is emil
ntntlY science, not one ct the exact sci
cnces, but nevertheless science; IN which
the element Of chance enters very largely,
to be sure; but that simply has the effect Of
making the art more difficult Of acquisi-
ton, and SUCCESS the more me1itorious.
Sill in reasoning Oh general principles,
very broadly, without descending to de-
tails, VIC may reach results which will
be absolutely correct, and prophecies
which seem at first blush very
startling, are but logical deduc-
tons from premises which are well
established. THUS We have always had
the conviction, which nothing could shake,
that the North must conquer in this rebel
lion, and must subjugate the Southern peo-
pic, and colonizc the Southern States; be-
cause. notwithstanding all the specious and
Lefty talk about the vast extent Of territory,
and p1ide Of the Southern heart, it is pluin
that the North is stronger, more p6pulous
and more wealthy than the South, and
their motives for gaining their end are fully
as powerful. For VIC must have the Mis-
sissippi River; and we cannot have 8 hostile
and unconquered nation 50 closely contig11~
Gus to us as the Southern are to the Nor
them States. This wc arrive at without
taking into consideration the moral ele-
nlent Of the detestation Of slavery--an ele-
ment which is every day gaining more
preponderating force.
Il would be easy to follow out this rea-
sonirg into greater detail; but let US turn
70 g similar piece Of reasoning on The
purely military view Of the subject. II
the book We have mentioned, S1r Schalk
divides our army (by anticipation, it mus
;oe remembered, for he wrote last summer
about as it has been in fact divided. HI
anticipates the advance upon Richmond b,
way Of Fortress Monroe, and rightly judge
that it must be irresistible; no matter ho7
S4Ci4l lAC Eli ls-S4E3 VI NARk lAN 4Gc3 VI uAt
itmust be successful The policy Of the rebel
would be the concentration Of their force
at the right points; using concentric line
IL defense, aud always making use Of thei
interior lines; attacking diTergently, an
aiming to oyerwhelm isolated portions {
1he Union forces. This is exactly the polio
they have adopted. Dir. Schalk predict
the march Of the rebels up the valley of Ii
Shenandoah, and says they will adyanc
OIL Washington By way Of Point Of Rocks,e c
cut of the line Of communication in til
rear Of Baltimore, or advance into Penn
sylvania- This is precisely what SOM
other people anticipated, and wanted t
pfeyent-precisely what was attempted
and prevented by what must stand in Iii
tory as ono Of the most brilliant achie4t
n1ents Of the war; the mastery retreat al
lcroic defense Of Gen. Banks.
Turning to the west, our author says Ii.
II the natural course Of war, kentucI
must be evacuated by the rebels, and ths
would be forced out Of Tennessee. z,
line e the erdcuation is precisely the line
-dlert Sidney s7oAnston's retreat. Then, ]
says, the first concentration Of Northe)
and Southern armies must take place
Northern Alaba1na near Decatur, and
great battle would ensue. This reasonir
is rredicated principally On railroad route
but If k1r. Schalk had known Of the pee
Liar advantages Of Pittsburgh Landing,
would undoubtedly have predicted the b,
uc OF Shiloh to the letter. The battle
Shiloh was struggle for that Landir
The great battle expected by scllalk "
prevented By the evacuation Of Corin
but the general correctness Of the rcase
irg is startling.
Since Blr. Scha1k has been proved 81
ssantialIy true prophet as to eyerythi
which has token place, it may be intere
ing to know where he puts Beaurcgar
army now. He says it will concentrate
northern Alabama, and that q great bat
viii ensue there. The last predict
Of Mr.. scha1k, or it Is rather suggest
seems to us lame He says that the re
general # enterprisiug, would, after
battle, march on Memphis, Cross the II
to Arkansas, and overwhelm any small
posing force, to St. Louis, "a resu
which, he wisely observes, :" would be
dcient for Fery enterprising general {
army" So it would; but it is ab
500 miles by land through the I
posed route, and we have command Of
river We could, therefore successf,
anticipate any such movement and ro
Of its danger. -
On the whole, this is very remark,
book, and may be read with great prof
the general reader as well as the mill
student. It must give us all the more
fdence 10 know thst our success has I
predicted on scientific as well as N
principles, fcs7 though nc may be eve
confident that we shall succeed, it is
gratifying to know how our success Is
brought about.
- The rebels deny that the cona
zion is binding upon them, They hsy
A.r% 1F sr5