The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1862-03-11
THE PROSPECT AHEAD.

The public mind of the entire South IS fast re-
covering from the causeless panic occasl"neu py
the unfortunate affairs at Roanoke Island and
Fort DonelsOn. Consderate men see that much
ultimate good NAV come of them, by lnurlng US to
defeats that must often occur IN a war with pow
er possessed of superior numbers and superior re-
sources of all kinds by curing of that rashness
which our continued successes had begotten and,
most of all, BIZ uating enlistments, and thus
Increasing the numbers aud efficiency of our armies.
1t is now almost certain. that by the lS Of April
we shall have larger disposabe force in the field
than that of our enemies for they must retain two
hundred thousand men in Maryland to guard and
retain that State and the City of Washington
hundred thousand in Kentucky and Missouri to
guard chose States some twenty thousand in their
various forts aud probably eighty thousand in their
fleets.
Thus, their Stationary force being four hundred
thousand, even if their armies number seven hun
dred thousand, they will have disposable force
of only three hundred thousand with which to in
wade our interior; and long lncursOns, this will
be diminished at least third by the forces de-
tailed to keep up communication with their bases
of operation Besides, by deierring their invas-
ion of the South until the warm season, they will
soon decimate their ranks by the maiarious dis
eases of our climate.
Heretofore We have had 10 Fl ,ht against superior
numbers, but so soon they quit their vessels,
march into the country, and meet US in the open
field We shall out number them, if we please, Ill
every conflict
They cannot probably hold Nashville longer
than the rsiuv season keeps the Cumberland river
flooded We know not how large all army they
have there, but believe it cannot be very large.
Should we be mistaken, aud they attempt to hold
it permanently, ought in a few weeks to make
prisoners of their whole army. Their present &C.
- .h,S nitr S,g ENrt Inp Inf
Clarksville, SO divides their land and naval force
as TO disable them from attacking and taking Co
lumbus and proceeding down the Mississippi to
Memphis and the cotton region
Ii, with their whole land and naval force, and
their eager appetite for cotton they burst not at
tempt to descend that river, they will surely not
venture to do so with crippled and divided
navy and army. 1t may yet turn out that the fall
OF Fort Donelson and of Nashville will be great
gain to us, and great misfortune to them The
whole country, from the Ohio to Nashville, is in
habited BY brave men and Jealous SecessioniSts
They cannot make that city base OF operations
from which TO invade the Cotton States, fur in Il
few weeks, probably days, the Cumberland river
will become nnavigable for the smallest gunboais,
and they would be cut of from their NorthcIn
supplies aud resources. If they attempt it even
with force of hundred thousand men, We
should at surround them with force Of
hundred and fifty Thousand and ca! ture their
whole army. This would end the war; and
should not be surprised that ii should end So,he
What in this way. The North, under weight Of
Debt and want OF cotton, is becoming desperate,
aud will rashly quit its wooden walls long and
march far into interior. Then will make
prisoners OF their armies, and gorousy and tri-
umphantly wind up the Let iaInt-hcarted
people recoect that yet met them with
equal numbers in the open field without defeating;
them, and that under the levy en- m0S<e y hch is
now going on in the South, If they invade Us by
land aiter the lst Of April, We will meet thcm
with superior numbers Our lad roads viii pre-
vent their invading sooner.-Richmond pis-
Il