New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-03-28
Tur CRISES OF Trsp WAR.

ard in the Southwest Precisely when battles
will be fought, ne do not predict; but il the
Rebel leaders are not cured of the audacity
which led to the battle Of Winchester, they
c.nrot be far distant. II is indeed possible
that the Rebel forces remaining in Virginia, II
confronted by the whole Of ths Potomac Grand
Army may decline the unequal combat, and
retire from GoriOnsgile, Norfolk and Rich
mond. az they have already done from Centre
vile. Manassas, Leesburg and Winchester.
Should an opportunity be Afforded them to
strike at a division of our srTy with much
larger force, they will of course improve 10;
but we do not believe they viii risk pitched
battle. even on the most favorable ground,
srainst our whole Grand Army. We believe
that, Whenever pressed, they will slowly md
cautiously retreat, burning all the bridges ana
breaking up the railroads in their rear witch
ing for opportunities to Pounce upon part OF
our forces with the great body Of theirs, but
taxing care that their road TO the Csronas
is nowise Distracted.
In .he Southwest If we can credit indics.
tions, there is likely soon to De pitched bat
.le--probably. not far from the south line of
Tennessee, and ne presume tho Tennessee
River. Their recent desperate efforts to rally
every adherent in that region TO Their standard
have doubtless had come effect, aud Alaboms,
r Mississippi, and Louisiana have doubtless sent
their last leyies into camp for the decisive
; struggle. How our troops are disposed and
how commanded We capd not state If we
Z knew; but Gen. Halleck bears undivided sway
in oil that region, and We do cot think he car
be caught mapping. If beaten At all, whether
10 tue Last or ia tie West, it viii only be
because our commanders are thoroughly duped
with regard TO the numbers or position OF tue
foes b. whom thoy are confronted.
And this leads us to speak once more Of The
general neglect or refusal of our commanders
to avail themselves fully Of The only practice
be means Of obtaining prompt advice OF tue
enemy's movements. That tie Whites Of tho
reba States-some because they will not.
Others because they dare noI--rsfuse 10 give
information Of those movements, is n notorious
fact. Occasionally, two or three rebel soldiers
desert from the service into which they had
been pressed and come within ouT lines; but
they know little Of any movements in which
they had no personal share, aud still es- Of The
country with which they are utterly unfamiliar.
Up 70 this hour, nine-tentLs OF all the inior-
nation from the rebel camps obtained by our
Generals has been furnished By " cOntrIbauds,
or negroes escaping from slavery 10 rebels oud
pushing northwerd in quest of freedom. I hese
always gladly tell ali they know: ard, beng
accustomed To moonlight journeys Of indefinite
extent and by paths known only to them
sescs, are able to tn more than Any others
possibly could. Many Of them have seyeraly
made their way iniO and Through the llaes o,
the rebel main army wien 10 white man, how
ever shrewd, agile aad thoroughly disguised
would venture 20 attempt 1t.
I Scores OF these have MADE their way to our
pichets, and so to our Generals heAdquaT;ers
with a precious freight OF oblergatlOn ana
/ experience; but not one has ye. beer iHcifed 10
do so. Even Col. Phelps, in bis gsscopadiDg
and most mischiei.maA.Dg proclamation, did
not invite any negro 10 come to him. nor
supply him bun with motive Tor 40 doing
80 on the Potomac; So to-day in all the valley
Of tie Mississippi. Some slaves have come to
us at a yeuturei aud most OF these, hasing
impaired precious information 10 our Generals,
have boon graciousiy permitted 10 remain; but
Others have been driven out Of our camps or
surrendered 20 their Rebel masters 10 be
whaled 10 death like Mr.. COI's Jack" or
subjected to any torture which unchecked hate
aud rage may have suggested. Aud in no
case hss any az ncance been given those who may
come 10 us that they shah 5e welcomed aud
protected.
is Mis H0T7
We insist that General in Tie field can
properly know only friends and enemies Of tho
cause be is fighting to uphold. The facts that
some Of the people in bis front are White,
While Otbers are Black-and thatthe Whites claim
the Blacks as their sayes-are only significant 70
him rs they suggest TO him means of obtaining
information and other aid in The struggle be is
making. His business is to conqucr-and 10
this end 10 use oil means consistent with hl-
manly and the laws Of war. Whether Slavery
shall profit or lose, survive or perish. is moth
ing to him: he ia there to succeed, AID acts,
within the limits already noted. to that end
alone.
Had this truth been familiar to our Generals,
it il not possible that the Rebels could have
evacuated Centreyille and Manassas without
seriOus Iosa. and 40 in other cases The LOYAL
Millions give their treasure end blood ~ re-