The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1862-12-06

cation Of being bsff1ed BY little nondescript
craft that should have been sunk 40 it could
have been, both fleets turned about and betook
themselves away, abandoning the attempt. I
have reson to know that il was no part Of the
rebel plan to make protrscted defence Of
Vicksburg; but when their ability to hold il
was thus practically demonstrated they absn-
doned the purpose Of surrendering it, as they
naturally would.
RIPossIssRD POSITIONS OF TIE rHKxY.
Having thus succeeded in holding q conspicu.
Gus and important point, to their own great sur.
prise, the rebels determined to repossess other
points that the result showed they had too has,
tily and easily surrendered. Thus they reoccu.
pied point after point along down the river un-
til this stretch of four hundred miles, above al.
luded to, came wholly into their possession
What they thus recovered they took pains to
put in condition to hold. They have been far
from idle during the fall, as we shall learn ere
We recover this territory, which was once ours
defend every inch Of the river they now hold.
and We shall witness more than one desperate
struggle before we shall be permitted to load
| our corn and wheat at St. Louis and Cairo and
see it safely transported to New Orleans.
PLAN OF THE APPROACHING CAMPAIGN.
Having thus hastily sketched the purposes and
nature of this campaign approach somewhat
more delicate subject in speaking of the plan of
campaign. With the doors of the military prison
at Alton staring me in the face. do not propose
entering into any detailed exposition of the
movements contemplated to be made in prosecu.
ting the arduous duty devolving on our military
and naval officers. But certain degree..of pub
lcity has obtained in regard to this move
ment, which, to some extent, removes the pledge
OF secrecy which correspondents are supposed
fani flv IN civ in ID
then, as the movement is we'll known to the re.
bells, and has furnished their journalists with nu.
merous texts for articles Of an apprehensive ma.
ture, may be allowed to discuss the subject in
general way.
THE ARMY AND NAVY TO MOVE TOGETHER
Fret, then, the folly will not be repeated of
attempting the reduction of fortified city with
a naval force alone. The beseging squadron
will be accompanied by suitable land force, to
CO operate, if need be, in assaulting the enemy's
positions, and to occupy and hold whstever
points may thus be taken. What the strength
OF this force is to be do not know. Large
numbers of the new levy of troops from Indiana,
Illinois, Wisconsin, and Iowa have passed down
the river to Memphis, and have heard it stated
they were to join this expedition. General
Steele's corps Of Curtis army has been trans.
ported from Southeastern Missouri to Helena.
| and have seen the statements in newspapers
| that they were to join the expedition. Dor.
tion OF Gen. G. P. Morgan's command, the he.
roes OF Cumberland Gap, have gone to Mempbisl
| as the Cincinnati papers say, for the same pur.
pose. Thus it will be seen that if all the troops
popular rumor and the newspapers assign to this
expedition are really assigned to it, it will be
one of truly formidable dimensions, embracing
hardy veterans of many we'll Thought battles, and
ambitious fresh recruits, honoraby emulous of
fho hord rd.ooe cd md UIt
Older companions in arms. Such q composition
| is precisely adapted to accomplish glorious
deeds. The true road to access with the sol.
dier is through emulation. As there is no vital.
| ity in ordinary commercial affairs without com.
petition, 80 there is no success in military affairs
without emulation. Then, too, it will be no.
| ticed that all these troops are drawn from the
| Great Northwest-the region of all others most
interested in the success of the undertaking.
Every man will have personal, appreciable in.
terest at stake. Every man will fight, therefore,
not merely as the loyal soldier struggling for the
supremacy OF bis flag, but also az citizen whose
| vested rights have been invaded, and who seeks
! to recover that which has been wrongiully taken
| from him.
TIE MILITARY COMMANDER
Then as to the military commander of the ex.
| pedition am equally st fanlt Rumor has de-
| volved this important trust upon Major General
John A. AcClernand. Should this really be the
selection Illinois ought to be proud of the dis.
tinction thus conferred upon her in the selection
of one of her bravest sons to command 90 impor.
tant movement McClernsnd is brave man.
as the record Of Belmont, Fort Henry, Donelson.
aud Shiloh will amply testify. had the honor
i of standing by his side on that memorable Sat.
| urdsy morning at Donelson when the thundera
| Of artillery awoke the weary soldiers from their
scanty repose in the open air, with blankets of
snow for their covering. stood beside him
during four long hours throughout which the
storm Of lead and iron falling about US was like
hailstones in an early summers storm. cav
bis smile OF contempt % the missiles Of the En-
emy glanced oil about him, and to this day I
have never suffered myself to lose possession of
. cannon ball that grszed AcClernsnds leg and
barely escaped me. 1t is the relic Of the var
prize most highly, - suggesting With what un-
| ainching courage . true soldier, like AcClern-
| and, can face the iron storm.
But there are other things TO be considered in
the selection Of . commander for such move
mentI ~ this than mere personal bravery. Thank
God, this war has developed a host of brave
men, We csnnot well 60 amiss 10 the selection
OF our commanders if tbis quality alone is de-
eirable There 10 tbs ability to organize and
command men, which has not been so abund-
| ansly developed as personal bravery. And here
let me, as close observer, remark that tho
quality of commanding does not consist simply
In the ability TO say, 60 and do such . thing
There must be that moral power in the compo-
sition Of the man commanding that will enforce
obedience TO the command. And. % essential
to this, there must be that in the commander
that will insrire the confidence of his command.
Such are some of the more conspicuous traits
requisite in good commander aside from per-
sonal bravery, and aside, too, from the ability
to mark out the plan of . campaign, and cause
all his varied movements, whether Of success or
defeat, to work together for the accomplishment
of single grand object do not undertake to
question IcClernands possession of al these
qualities, nor do assert it. lmerely suggest
that they are essentials, and ! trust that who-
ever is finally assigned to the command will be
fully qualified in all these as in al other re-
spects.
A well informed authority lin the N. Y. sun)
suerests'that it is part Of the Democratic pros
gremme 10 elect c. Godfrey Gunther mayor Of