Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-03-14

This Is the point Of all others to when the eyes OIL
..0.s ,ho understand the situation are directed
,r,s.torais threatened by far the most formidable
- f,res ever assembled in American waters but the
,ns time for preparation, the repeated warnings given
- IN. Ysnkees the known condition Of the defences,
and above all the skill of the General Commanding and
the vaOr of his troops as shown at Secessonve and
Poeotago, give every assurance that the enemy will be
successfully repulsed. Vicksburg Is menaced by an
army nearly large as Hookers aud river feet larger
than any heretofore engaged but the sneakng attempts
of the Yankees to avoid the batteries Of that most gal
liant little city by of "eutofs, warrant the belief
that even should their spades accomplish what theif
cannon, ortars and bay0ues could not they VIII nave
TO meet A. some other pon. the same undaunteu he"rS
they seek so earnestly avoid in fair hand 10 manu-
sb and that sooner or later they will come to greater
5rrief than befel them last December Fort HUDSON,
like Vicksburg is strong by nature andy art thats
fate NAV be considered equally secure. What encour-
es tho hone OF the security of these important points
on the Mississippi and Of Charleston WELL is the set
tip= in of hot weather Very little time is left for
regular sege the vertical aysof the sun have come to
the assistance OF the Coafederaos and what the bullets
of our raemen leave uudone deaso will finish to pcrfec
ton.
There remain two points, which cannot be reached by
vupboats and where the issue Of battle will have be
tried in the open MISUNDERSTANDING and TullahOms.
With regard to the former scarcely the s ghtest appre
henson Is felt So profound is the confidence in Gene
rails Lee Jackson aud LOngstreet that the citizens Of
Richmond arc 70 conscious OF danger than they
were when the Confederate army in Maryland, or
when the Allies were besegiug Sebastopol. The pres
tie of Fighting Joe Hooker" however earned, and
tho fact that lie has made good of the winter in
drilling his troops, dees not avail to disturb the equan-
unity Of those who listened TRANQUILITY to the fierce
nonading which began At Meadow Bridge and ended at
Malvern Hill. The Of security is not felt in
regard to Tulahoma albeit joe Johnston is not far off
aad Bragg is e1rrsng his best powers to victory
more complete and decisive than that Murfreesboro
This arises not from want Of confidence in John
s,on or doubt in Bragg's peculiar merits but nom
w,ouuded opinion Of the skill, energy and tenacity
Of RosecranL Ia Western Virginia. this officer afford
ed Gen Lee a. much employment as a good General
would desire and II he did prove himself foemAn
worthy Of Lees STEEL he certainly taught him Lesson
in lodging and in rapid marching. At Corinth, BIZ dnt
OF the creates; energy and sepossessOn he repaired
in single night the disasters OF di,gracef surprise
saved his command and drove off his sssaisn;s with Sc
we're loss At AUfreesJoro, after losing 700 prison
ers 80 cannon and 1000 wsgons-after the scyeres
punishment in frout and almost complete destruction
OF ks communications with Nashville he doggedly held
hi. oN', eutrsppcd his into slaughter-per, al
most destroyed division Of his army, and compelled
h; 10 yield the field ne had won. This is the man we
have contend with at Tulahoma. He no mean an
tIsouis, But he is not i,Vincib,e. lie will fnd in
joe Johnston, perhaps, the hardest nan to trapand
the quickest to dodge IN the Confederacy.
He will discover a who viii not strike until he is
ready, bus when hc does strike, gives blow between
the eysI and stuns his opponent before he knows what
struck him. He will mike the acquaintance of General
WHO will esteem il sufficient reward for a the oppor-
tuntes Loot b hs wound to give Ros-crans, what he
deserves, but has yet 70 receive, sound th:ashiug
With JOhns,onss Captain, aud Bragg as Lieutenant,
old Hold fast he calls himself will bo forcedto
1t 90 one or two hings-his gp upon Tennessee and
his exalted estimate Of his own abilities Rosecraus
HIS hard road travel, AMI at Tullahoma, or there
abou,s, he viii be apt 10 stumble and crack his crown
Tie people Of the COnfederacy expect no less of the
soldiers who fought well NurfreesLoro and Of the
able General who now will see that their vaor is not
misappled or thrown aw.V