Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1862-06-06
The Evacuation Of Oorinth--Ths Situation
The Prospects.
From the Mo. Democrat.

The Evacuation Of Oorinth---Ths Situation
The Prospects.
Prom the Mo. Democrat.
The evacuation Of Corinth by the rebels
was looked for weeks ago, but Of late the con-
clusion had become general that the stand
was to be made there for the possession OF
the Mississippi valley. That was Beaure-
CARDS chosen position; he had fortified it
with immense labor; he had gathered there
y" the flower Of the Southern soldiery." TO
his original force, which vas great, had ben
recently added the army Of Gen. Lowell, from
New Orleans, some thirty thousand strong,
and all the rcinforccmcnts which could be
gathered from the borders Of the Gulf, and
and the whole belt Of country south Of the
northern boundary Of Mississippi and Ala.
bama. The maintenance Of that position
was indispensable to the protection Of Mem.
pills. and the control at any point of the nav
gard had the best chance left him in tho
Southwest, of making a successful stand. II
was naturally expected that he would make
at least desperate one. a6E ars,
The position there also was part Of new
plan of operations said to have been recently
adopted by the military leaders Of the rebel
armies, which contemplated offensive move.
ments towards the free States. According to
this, sudden change Of strategy had been
devised, by which all the rebel forces was to
be withdrawn from the seaboard and c0ncen-
tratcd in three grand columns for combined
movements northwaId under Gen. Johnston.
Gen. Lee and Gen. Beaurcgard, the three
general points Of direction being Pittsburg,
Louisville and Paducah, and thence north
ward indefinitely. This scheme made Cor
inth the rendezvous for the Southern and
Southwestern forces, to constitute the left
wing of the grand Confederate army. at
IL such plan of campaign was conceived,
the compulsory evacuation Of Cornth puts
an end to one very material part of it and do.
ranges the whole. The left wing" a. it is
called, is routed and dispersed. For the con.
dition Of the rebel army ut COrinth was such
that it cannot be gathered together at anoth.
er point in anything like the strength it had
there. Many Of the troops there were de.
moralized and discontented, and could not be
hastily transferred or retained at another
point. . t Az. .......r,o
We are without definite information Al to
the course taken by the rebel army All the
railroads ccntering Mt Corinth would be in
sufficient for their removal in the face of Gen.
lIalleck's army. 1t would seem probable
that they would avail themselves OF oil tho
routes which were opcn--two to the south
ward, through Mississippi, and one westward
towards Memphis In any event, il would
be the work Of months to collect that or an
equal army at another point in the Southwest
cast of the Mississippi. ...r
1t is clear that Memphis, Randolph, and
Fort Pillow can now hold out at longest but
a few days. Any single corps Of the army
at Corinth would suffice TO advance at once
across the river. Beaurcgard's entire force
could not maintain the position at Corinth,
no division of it can interpose serious obsta-
cles to a march direct on Memphis. The
resistance, If any, will be merely to gain
time, and can be kept up but short time
Gen. Halleck, with o vast disposable force,
will hardly rest at Corinth. Whether the
approach Of Farragut's flotilla, cutting of all
westward escape for the rebels, had anything
to do with the evacuation, must be, in the
present state Of our intelligence, matter Of
conjecture. But the result of the movement
is the possession by our forces at an early day
of every defensible point on the river be.
tween Cairo and the mouths of the Mississ.
ipPi.
We cannot speculate upon the future move.
ments of General Halleck. The force he has
there can be divided into three powerful ar
mics at least for operations in different dii.
rections That they will be employed most
efficiently in the modes which the movements
Of the enemy may indicate, there is no doubt.
Upon fair review OF the field, Il seems to
us that General Halleck has gained oil the
fruits of great battle and great victory IN
driving the enemy from Corinth. 1T
The dispersal Of vast and fully appointed
army is effected without loss on our side
Its decentralization would hardly have been
more complete after battle. The conviction
is as fully impressed as it could bs by three
days fight, upon the minds of the rebel SOL
dcry, that their armies cannot Withstand
those of the Federal Government Memphis
and the river come, with little or no delay.
under the Federal flag. Western and Mid.
die Tennessee are rescued from rebel denim.
alton and placed under the Jurisdiction Of the
Government. Northern Alabama and North.
ern Mississippi are occupied by our forces.--
Our armies are whole and in good condition
to pursue their advantages 70 the utmost
against routed, dlspirited, flying foo. ~
--.--- . Cd .