Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1862-03-06

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/ Independently of errors ia strategy and in
! the general conduct of the war, the South has
/ been guilty of some grave sins of omission
/ Until within the last two months her people for
/ the most part have acted as ii the enemy were
! feeble and pusillauImUuS, and as II every eu-
gagemeul must terminate iu his defeat. Ogr
victory at Manassas, followed by the triumpLs
az Oak Hill, GTeenDreg, Belmont and LeesJurg.
/ seem TO carry TO every heart a conviction Of our
| inviuCibility5 and Of the weakness Of the foe.
/ We became careless and gver-CgGtident. We
/ Thought we had merely go ler him strive TO dash
4 himself against as, and, whatever might be his
! force, we were sure 20 repe him His reported
| enormous preparations found us Indifferent The
| bruit of his grand armies and formidable navy
left US uulisturbed We were in a state of
/ bIissiul security, from which nothing less suf.
feed to awake rs than the shock Of unexpected
and repeated disaster.
First came Somerset which rudely Jared upon
our nerves, made us open our eyes, and has-
assed us with grave doubts OF the superiority Of
one southern to three Yankees. Then swiftly
| followed the loss of Roanoke Island, the capture
| of Fort Henry and the desperate fight and sur
render of Fort DOnelsOn-these various successes
giving vast advantages of position 70 the Fed
erals driving us from our lines of defense, com
peiiiug us TO select new Cnes. inspiring the ad-
yersary, enabling hn TO obtain Ieiniolcemeuts
| almost al tbttaHs, and for a while fairly stun
ming the southern people with mingled astouish-
ment and grief.
! A reaction however, was certain. The Con
] tederates recovering from the stupor and sor-
row occasioued by calamity, began to under
stand the necessity of a policy diametricav
opposite 70 that which had previously prevailed
! We now perceive how redoubtable is the antae-
onist with whom we must contend how fertile
/ i'm Ig1vr- IN g D T-a
| We see, TOO, that, encouraged by brilliant
triUmphs, he is determined to make d bold and
| desperate effort to carry his arms from one end
of the South to the other
We understand al length that the war we are
| engaged in Is one of prlvatious and sacrifices
| that we have to immoiate much, If not al, upon
the altar of our country; that we have to Disae
our whole strength in the field that we must
equal if not surpass the enemy in the vigor and
ceierity Of our blows and thatWe mass nos only
seek to defend but aim 70 attack that we must
90 into the campaign with the distinct idea Of
peulling all, and Of doing all that NAV be
achieved by unshrinlling courage, irepressible
audacity, and indomitable resolve We mus-
repudiate the dull and tagging system of the
past; the hanging on to entertainments; the
waiting for assault, and above al .hs IDLE con-
| ceit Of southern lIvulnefability, and Yankee
cowardice. When we have done this. we shall
have made a beginning that promises substantial
results
i We DO not believe that it is within the limits
ofpossibility to suDJugaie te south Il me people
are true TO themselves; if they remain unds-
mayed by disaster, and preserve the stern tena-
city of purpose with which they commenced
/ this great revolution. AS the Richmond E1aza-
iHer says They have only to persist and thev
/ are sure to win. Even on the policy Of defense.
pure and simple, that end % this war can he
demonstrated with the precision of matbsma-
( tics The uniged states bleeds al the rate Of
/ four millions a day. But, at the worst il win
take years TO overrUn and subjugate all portions
of the Confederacy. Admit the loss of the coast
/ the border States, and Of all external lines of
I defense, the southern armies can Withdraw 10
inleH0f naes, delenI vnr aftsf another, and pro-
tract the war, even perpetgaly beaten, till The
antagonist is destroyed by bankruptcy and ex-
! haust.on
But 1t is not necessary to look at ;he question
in so gloomy spirit Surely action; rapid ac-
cessious TO the endangered positions general
system OF enlistmentsi settled purpose 20 beat
back the Yankees TO their own domlnions will
enable us TO avert the terrible necessity Of yield
ing all our external lines Of defense and Of
Withdrawing to our interior lines But time
presses. Swift action is now most urgent
Days, even hours are precious. The sooner we
confront the Federals with imposing forces, the
sooner will we force them TO try the issue Of
the combat There is nothing desperate IN our
cOnlitiOn-nothing permanently to discouIEe us,
If We viii bUtresoivs uDtlinchlng.y to be men
and patriots.