The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1862-01-04
8ittmnnh 4ispattt.
SATURDAY MORNING. JAN. 4, ,saa.

A roRxwARSfNG-We are cOnetrAjnod, ny
an oppressive sense % the public danger, to
second the appeal of correspondents nom
the county of Monroe, in Western Virginia,
whose letter we published yesterday, calling
upon the Government for some adequate pro-
lection to that country. The protracted good
weather has, in great measure, restored the
roads in Western Virginia, which, under the
unexampled rains Of the summer ana iAii,
were Eve weeks ago impossible. Instead OF
the winter deepening these roads, and render.
ing them worse and worse, it has hardened
and dried them up; and now there Ii Well
graded and excellent turnpiks road from Fay
cite Court House, where the enemy have TWO
or three bsttalions Of troops, to the line OF
the Virginia and Tennessee railroad NOT I"
hundred miles distant
The sequel will soon prove that the - ,'''-
val Of the army of the Kanawha &c - l.
lucky was entirely unnecessary, and thai the
manic into which the Government fell for the
safety of Gen. Sydney Johston was wnoly
without ground. 1t will prove that musn
more good could have been effected ny me-
nacing Cincinnati from Western Virginia
through Eastern Kentucky, than by massine
our whole force for mere defence before bow-
ling Green True military genius woaid NJ"
sson a mich more eiiectual mode of parai-
vz;o..Ahe enemy's movements upon Sowing
Green, than stripping Weslsrn Virginia OF ''s
defence and leaving our cause thefe 10 4"
tothe dogs a strong force III io'0's
,owu s.uding out detaoi,Monss into tho VII.
lava of Tho kauawha, tho Gayandotte, ana
the Sandy, woaid, in corporation WIZ Tic
,,orsr,.nis Of MARSHALL and Zo!licoiler, nave
,,;vsn iuani,o,y more aid to Gen. Johnston,
rvh;,, a, the ssme time protecting one-fourth
If Virginia now left at the mercy "a inc en-
amy. than ,Lls reckless and soon 10 prove dis
s.,rous measure Of stripping Western Viz
ginia Of its own troops.
The Government will be surprised come
FIRE morning very soon by the news OF the
burning Of The New River bridge, and the
blowing up oi the Allegheny tunnel, on the
Virginia MD Tennessee Railroad, by force
of cavalry aud mounted men dashing up
along an unobstructed road from Fayetteville
Then the value Of this great line Of rosd Will
be known for the first time by men who take
suggestion now Of its great importance in
dudgeon. Then che cry ofthe whole population
of the Atlantic slope for salt will be loud IN
deed: and then we shall have all the inconve-
niences of inadequate railroad transportation
in very earnest.
T. almost fills an earnest man with despair
to have to explain the urgency OF protecting
80 important line of railway and SO valus-
BILE country as we are speaking of, to unwii-
ling and unheeding ears. 1t fills whole
community with misery to have to awaits the
actual happening of disaster and destruction
before measures of precaution and protection
can be secured.
The blow upon the Virginia and Tennessee
Railroad will come. The damage inflicted
will be heavy, and require many months for
reparation. The most important months OF
spring for freights and transportation, for
army movements and reorga nization will find
the road blockaded and uptorn. 1t is melan-
choly enough to reflect that large portion of
Western Virginia, watered' by the Kanawha
the Guyandotte, and the Sandy rivers, which
would ere this have been under our sway il
our army had not been sent off to Kentucky,
ia under the iron heel of the enemy; it is sad
to believe that still larger portion, lying
contiguous, is at the enemy's mercy, and that
| the most important railway line in the Con
federacy will soon be broken by his rowing
unresisted troops When these further disas
ters shall occur, we shall at least have this
consolation, that we sounded the timely warn
ing. The mare presence of regiment a,
Central Depot, commanded by an enterpris
ing Colonel, would prevent mischief which
may cost millions in a single night.