Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1863-04-16
THEORY OF THE WAR.


stant expresses the hope that it is not too late
In the spring to suggest to our military authorities
careful revision of the plans of campaign which
they are now trying are about to execute"
This opinion is expressed in view of recent
military publication from the pen of M. EMILE
SoHALK, who, after having at the outbreak Of the
rebellion published treatise on the Art of War;"
has more recently reviewed our military operations
during the year 1862, and down to still later date
aud states at length the considerations in virtue of
which he feels authorized to pronounce our present
plans radically vicious. The Post admits that it
may over-estimate the force of the writer's sug-
gestions, because they are entirely in consonance
with the views which it repeatedly urged in regard
to the proper method of carrying on the war" To
this etiecs our contemporary proceeds to remark
| as follows:
Our readers VIII bear witness that, from the begL.
ning the Evening Post has shown little towards that
plan of operations devsed by Gen. Scott and followed by
Gems Mcclellan aud Haeck. which has been popularity
called tho anaconda plan We have never sought to en-
barrass ITS execution though have openly expressed
our doubts Of it's efficiency 1t proposed if we are uot
mistaken, TO surround the rebellion with powerful armies
disposed at dozen different poinseast west north and
south-whch by gradually closing in upon it, .houd crush
1t to DEATH the victim Of monstrous snake is crushed
by the contraction of his folds Forces 10 pusu
OF it TO Missouri Louisiana Florida South Carona
North Carolina Virginia, Maryland Kentucky. aud Ten
each independent Of the other aud Of them
within supporting distance Now this has seemed to us
in violation of of the fundamental aud nHeIble
msxms Of deduced from the practices Of the best
commanders aud illustrated in the experience of nearly
all modern nstions, hat maxim s that nation making
ce ns must concentrate its disposabe forces
towards inglc decisive points and not scatter them to
every direction of the needle, to strike dozen different
blows which supposing them all successful nevertheless
determine little nothing
ut is maxim as old as Julius Cesar who applied it
in bis conquest Of Gau but it had fallen into some dsuse
among the rcutnss of the continental armies when it
revived with brilliant and wonderful triumph by Ma.
poleon With the instinct of superior genius that unri.
vailed commander, III the campaigns OF ls05 1896 1903
and others achieved miracles of quite much by
the skill OF his combinations by the rapidly of his
mens The armies Of all the great Powers Of Europe uni
ted TO crush him in the anaconda fashion; Austria Russia
Sweden, England and Naples furnished the troops FIVE
hund thousand strong which destined to surround
aud overWhem HIM. Never did military plan appear more
feasible and certan the position of each corps mark
ed their lines Of march traced the map and the very
spot of their oa junction Indicated but while they were
couvergng slowly from all the ironers and seaooass Of
Europe the French Emperor sho Ike thunderbot along
bis interior routes upon army after another until the
whoe were destroyed dispersed. Like gigantic spi.
der he set IN the of the web and each euemy in
succession approached his lines he entaDged that enemy
10 his fatal meshes
Let not, in against rebellion fall into the
If the European coalition The defence OF our from
tiers Is Of course an indispensable first ftep the blockade
OF the rebel seacoas including the Texas border of Mex
is smother; the opening of the Missssp pi as eans
of communication for the Northwest is also highly impo
tant but these ends secured the proper line of our mill
tary operations es not against detached cities like Rich
mond, Newbern Charleston Fernandina, ard Galveston
but against the heart Of the rebel Conrderacy Fortu
natey the geographical formation OF country renders
the attainment o this central and controlling position easy
The great ribs Of mountains which from Pennsylvana
TO Georgia offer series of through which
armies may move in security, holding their communca-
lions uninterrupted and compelling by their simple move
ment souhward the evacuation OF the Border States by the
rebel forces We have however presented this aspect OF
the military problem often that shall not dwell upon
here farther than TO refer readers Mr. Schaks
conhrmatory exposition of it on another page
1t may strengthen argument add that thus far
the military of the year have not b. en- as en-
couragng the OF the people had hoped Has il
been owing 10 defect Of energy defect of plan
We bave hed to acquire the uninterrupted nayigaion OF
the Mississippi though forces have beeaguered yick
burg add Port Hudson the only Instructions for many
months have not reduced Charleston by meaps
of the iron-csd feet which has been in preparation all
winter Hookers grand army lies idle, it has done
since October last the banks Of the Rappahannock
while Rosecrans after two brilliant but ind cisve
battles has passed the long weeks in securing bis
positions and maturing schemes for the future Mean
time the rebels, while maintaining their lines Of success
tul defence, give fgns of aud formidable activity in
and Mississippi Foster cUoped
all our gsrIons along the coast or less me-
nac,d."
We may add that we have ourselves given TO the
treatise Of Mr., Schalk cursory porusal, and We
have been go much struck with the force Of some
of the observations and criticisms that we propose to
give our readers the benefit of his suggestions 1t
certainly does not detract from the merits of the
writer to say that in that volume which was pub
lished in the spring Of 1862, Mr. Schalk discussed
the probable course and results of the campaign,
then but just opening, and foretold, with singular
accuracy, tho leading events, especially Of the opc
rations against Richmond, going SO far even as to
point out then-sx or eight months before it hap.
pened-the rebel invasion Of Maryland The Even.
Ing Post remarks
"Mr Schak is conjuror; but be seems 10 have ,tu
died very thoroughly the rules and laws which found
ed the art of war; aud Ia applying these rules to tho facts
aud movements goirg on beite all faces be able
what we re the results That an observer
should be able b. tell in February of event meet un
Likely TO happen but which verheess did occur in Sep
TENDER and that he should prove 10 why would hap
aud that the result Of the bresch cetun
lave aud rules OF the military art Is sufficient prove not
only that there such rules aud laws, but that 10 violate
them moet dangerous to power much stronger
than It's opponent a. we are stronger than the rebels