The Hillsborough recorder., 1862-02-05
PLANS OF THE ENEMY.


PLANS OF THE ENEMY.
The New York Evening Post, in an edi-
torial on "the campaign" gives the following
theory in regard to the movements Of the
armies and fleets now in active service;
1T is evident that commander of geni-
us adequate to the end uould not waste men
and means by scattered blows, which, sin
gly, can effect but little. Rather, he would
endeayor to work out slowly a carefully stu
died plan BY which he could bring all the
means at his command to bear upon some
decisive point, where he could hope to over
whelm the enemy and destroy not only his
army, but the cause itself. Richmond and
Manassas have two great lines of cnmmuni-
cation, and tive only. The Virginia and
East Tennessee railroad connects Richmond
with the great Southwest, from which Beau
regard draws nearly all his supplies. The
railroad system, which is concentrated at
Weldon, or at Raleigh, North Carolina, con-
meets Richmond with the Atlantic slave
States. from which Beauregard mas drawn
most of his men. If these two lines are
cut off, the grand army of the Confederates
is effectually isolated, the decisive point Of
action is at once declared, and this point
may be threatened from front and rear at the
same time. But to make such blow tell
more decisively, it would be necessary TO
operate as well in those States which are
cut of from succor, as against the grand ar
my. to capture which would crush rebel
lion.
Let Us see how our forces are situated to
fulfill these conditions. Buell. is in Ken
tucky, with one hundred thousand men.
His advance upon Nashville will isolate
Zollicoffer and Marshall, who must retreat
before Schoepf into Tennessee, and give US
command of the Virginia aud Tennessee
railroad-the Southwestern communication.
II, now, we can imagine Burnside striking
at the seabnard railroad line-say at Wei
don--we shall al once have Beauregard's
forces imprisoned in Virginia, for they have
never been able to get means Of transporta-
tion together for their great army, and can
not move of The railroads. Meantime, Bu-
ell may turn his forces eastward, through the
loyal districts Of East Tennessee and Wes-
tern Virginia, until he threatens Richmond
from the Southwest; Burnside may secure
himself in the loyal parts Of North Caroli-
ma. and threaten Beaaregard from the South
Mcclellan and Banks lie upon the rebel
front. ready 10 assail, the moment Beaure-
gard turns to defend himself against Buell.
or Burnside. And while the grAod army Of
Davis is thus imprisoned on all sides. Sher-
man has opportunities TO strike 10 south
Carolina /; Dupont may join IN the attack on
Charleston or Savannah, or both Butler and
Phelps threaten Jackson, The capital Of Mis-.
sissippi; and Halleck carry bis hundred
thousand men to New Orleans.
Napoleon defeated his opponents By pierc
ing their centre, and BY the movements WI
have supposed above, Mcclellan would
| pierce the centre Of the rebellion. He would
mass an overwhelming force upon the deci
siye point in Virginia, and meantime would
prevent succor by engaging the weaker por
tions Of the enemy at various points. And
lastly, he ought 70 be able TO capture, in thil
way, an army which might make a frest
stand were il merely driven out Of Virginia
Thus, too, the expedition TO Port Royal vii
assume its proper importance, and cease q
be regarded as a mere raid upon eottor
fields; and the forces at Ship island, tor
small for independent conquest, will dt
their work in threatening the enemy's real
and embarrassing his movements for de
fence"