The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1863-03-21

JEW YORK HERALD, SA
a half of dollars in raising volu nteers for the
army.
The stock market strong yesterday morning with
out much ac,vty In the afternoon 10 extremely dull
and fraction lower AT tho decline stocks were arm
Gold auctuated between 1854 and 1856 closing l64h bid
Exchange closed about Ito Ill Money was very easy
at a per cent.
The cotton market was extremely dull and quite
settled yesterday. The movements In breadstus
less extensive, and prices buoyant The demand for
provisions sugars and moasses moderate decln-
ing raos Whskey and Rio coffee In request at
former quotations. Teas dull and heavy. Raisns
more sought after Limited transactions were
ported in most other commodities though the tendency
OF prices in favor Of buyers There was more acti
witty and decidedly nrmness In freghts particularly
10 British ports chiefly account Of the scarcity OF
shipping accommodations the number Of vosses In port
being lighter than usual recently.
The Preliminary Movements Of tho
spring Campaign.
The spring campaign between the armed
forces of the Union and of the rebellion is
about to be opened. The vast armies collected
and the extensive preparations which have oc-
cupied both sides, through long. inelement
and monotonous winter, will soon be succeeded
in the South by the echoing thunden Of battle
all round the sky. From the windy hills and
miry lowlands Of the Rappahannock; from the
sombre pine forests which skirt the inland seas
Of North Carolina; from tie beautiful region Of
Northern Alabama, washed by the Tennessee
river; from the dismal swamps, jungles and
lagoons and the blooming peach orchards Of
Central Mississippi; from the vernal fields Of
Eastern Louisiana, and from the palmettoes Of
South Carolina, our advices Of tho last few days
show that the preliminary movements and Incl
dental skirmishings have commenced, which
indicate the near approach Of great and deci-
sive battles, with the closing up Of laborious
and comprehensive military combinations.
The Richmond Wing Of the 18th mourns
over the "reverses" suffered by the rebels in
the Southwest; but suggests that "the day may
come when General Hooker will receive a
crushing blow" which will call every Union
soldier to the defence of Washington. From
this we may infer that they have received in
formation in Richmond from the Yazoo or from
Port Hudson which the authorities at Washing
ton would be delighted to spread abroad, and
that the chiefs of the rebellion mainly depend
upon their veteran army Of Virginia to turn
again the tide Of war in their favor. Why
should the Richmond Wing complain OF ire
verses in the Southwest" unless there have
been revsrsss to the rebels in that quarter, Of
which we have yet to hear tho news! We can
not resist the conclusion that the cheering in
telligence will soon be received from tho Mis-
sissippi Of the reopening Of our communica-
lions between Baton Rouge and vicksburg, and
Of the inevitable fall Of the latter place, in con-
sequence Of the fall Of It's supporting strong
hold of Port Hudson.
Admiral Farragut, It ID evident that the rebels
were there in force; and II found In force at
Port Hudson we may be sure that they were
still In their undiminished strength at vicks-
burg. Accordingly II they are aislodged from
these two strongholds, we may conclude that
their cause is lost in the Southwest; for their
broken and demoralized forces from the Missis-
sippi will hardly be permitted to 60 to the
relief Of Bragg in Tennessee; nor will he be
the rebel forces are driven away from the Mis-
sissippi river, We would warn the government
against the possible repetition of their game of
Corinth. No time should be allowed them to
concentrate their forces In the East, and thus
again to repair their losses in the West. The
rebel journals boast that, with three hum
dred thousand of such troops as those of
klo Of Iofv
our overwhelming numbers, and still hold
their ground; and doubtless they can If they
are still to be permitted to steal away from q
superior force at one point in order to crush an
inferior force at another point. This has been
their strategy from the beginning, and they
have so often employed it with success that We
cannot doubt they will try 1t again.
With some such active energetic and able
military mind as that of General Jackson at
the head OF affairs at Washington, IS matters
now stand, JET Davis would be q prisoner or
an exile within sixty days. is only by the
most stupid laundering on the part Of the ad-
ministration that the death blow to this rebel
lion can be delayed beyond three months. The
men, the means, the power and the RESPONSE
bility are with President Lincoln. If the mill
tary advisers around him are unequal to their
task, let them be superseded by ADLER and more
active men. The responsibility is with Presi-
dent Lincoln, and the country expects him to
do his duty.
THE REPORTED ASSAULT ON CHARLEsToN.-A
Philadelphia sensation paper Of the same type
as the Chicago journals has sent forth report
that six or eight Of our gunboats passed Fort
Sumter on Monday and Tuesday, and that
Charleston was being bombarded. This would