The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1863-04-03

NEW YORK HERALD,
! Ths spri.g Cam pm ga-Ths Crisis OF the
Rebellion.
All the eyidencas that crowd upon us from all
quarters clearly Indicate that we are about to
enter upon the most important stage Of the
struggle in which the enegies and hopes OF the
nation are engaged. No one who has watched
the preparations on the Union side can doubt
that the effort that is to be made during the en-
suing spring months Is to be the final and crown
ing one, and that before midsummer the author
ity of the government ought to be restored
over ell the revolted States. The rebels, If not
impressed with the same conviction are never
theless preparing for the campaign as If they
were equally alive to its Importance They are
concentrating their armies ard strengthening
themselves by every means that engineering
skill can devise, at Fredericksburg, Richmond.
Charleston, Savannah. Mobile, Port Hudson,
Vicksburg, Tullahoma, Chattanooga and the
Bayou Teohe. These are the strong points Of
their lines of defence, and If they are taken
they know that the rebellion will DO practically
at an end. ALI their best generals have
accordingly been despatched to these points
Joe Johnston to the line Of the Duck river;
Kirby Smith to Bayou Teohe; Beauregard to
Charleston and Savannah; Buckner, with Blu
ohanan as naval commander, to Mobile; Loring
to the Tallahatchie; d. 81. Hill to North Caro-
lima; Price to Arkansas; Longstreet to East
Tennessee, whilst Lee is retained in Virginia.
Thus 1t will be seen that Whatever Of military
talent and exp erience Is possessed by the rebels
Is 80 distributed as to make the most effective
resistance possible to the advance of the over-
whelming force with which we are preparing
to crush them. Whilst on the rebel side, they
are beginning to suffer from insufficient sup.
plies of food and the impossibility Of forcing
fresh conscripts into the field to defend the
numerous points threatened, the accounts Of the
commanding generals and Of our correspon-
dents 60 to show that our armies in Virginia,
Louisiana, South Carolina, Kentucky and Ten
nessee are in splendid fighting condition, not
only as regards physique, but morale, and that
all that Is now needed to insure the full success
Of the campaign is for our generals to be left
to carry out the plans of operations that have
been agreed upon without any further inter
ference or dictation from inexperienc cd Secre-
taries or meddling politicians.
Impartial observers Of the events Of
the present war would probably be more
amazed at the controlling influences Of poll
tics upon the federal authorities directing its
operations than with any other feature CON-
nected with it. Detachments from our main
armies have been made, equivalent to what,
previous to the war, would have been regarded
as respectable armies In themselves, and for no
other purpose but the acknowledged one of APP
peasing tho vociferous clamcr Of certain power
full fActionists. This political strategy aside
from it, enormous expense, has divided the
federal forces into numerous fragments, each
acting separately. and in many Instances
according to the peculiar and conflicting
notions Of the different localities and feelings.
This most disastrous policy on the part Of the
authorities has accomplished for the rebels pre-
cisely that which Napoleon slways considered
the first step towards victory--viz: the facility
Of piercing the euemy's centre, and then throw
Ing his entire army upon each wing and over
towering them In detail. This, connected
with the fact that those ,Same political
factions have been constantly Interfering with
military operations in the field, and thereby
frustrating or pervertlng the plans of command
ers, has, without question, contributed more
than anything else to give aid and comfort to
the rebels and to prolong the war.
When General Mcclellan was assigned to the
command of the troops for tho defences Of
Washington, in July, 1861, directly after General
Mcdowell had been forced by politicians to ad.
vance upon the enemy before his preparations
were at all perfected, the people were so indig-
nant at the course which had been pursued that
| it was believed the new commander would be
permitted to manage his army without the as
sistance Of the political generals in Congress
But before he was ready for an offensive move
ment the same men who had before goaded on
Mcdowell renewed their efforts upon Mcclellan
But fortunately for the country he possessed the
moral courage to resist their importuni
ties, and continued to devote his whole
energies to the equipment, discipline and eff
cheney Of his army. For resisting the pressure
exerted by them he incurred their bitteres
animosity, and they heaped upon his head the
most violent abuse. He was entirely too slow
for these rapid strategists. His loyalty ant
ability were questioned, and, as strange rs i
may appear, although he has never by word Of
action attempted to refute any of their ISLANDERS
or paid the slightest heed to their assaults, ye
they have never ceased their efforts for his de
structien. They demanded that he should as
sault the strong works ct Centreville and York
town, and because he would not yield to thei
clamors, and sacrifice the lives of thousands o
bis men to no purpose, they raised the cry
traitor against him. Through all this he pre-
served o commendable and digniHed silence
which was properly appreciated by the peo
| ple His army was new and did no