Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1863-04-25
The Peninsular Campaign in Virginia.
1SG1.)
DY THE PRINCE DE JOINVILLE.


An army once improvisei, it became neces-
sary to devise employment! for it, iii other
words, plan of campaign. The general plan
was simple; the idea Of conquering and occu-
pying territory so vast as that ct the confed-
crate States could not be entertained; but to
avert the existing and possible dangers OF so
formidable an insurrecti0n, it was necessary
to attain three results to blockade cif'ctuaIIy
the insurgent coast, to get control OF the Mis-
sissippi river and of tho entire system of west
ern waters, and finally to drive the rebel gov
ernment from Richmond, its capital.
by the blockade, the insurgents were isola-
ted from strangers who sympathzcd with
them, the introduction of powder and arms
was prevented, expectations and the resources
they might bring were arrested, and, finally,
a stop was put to the introduction from abroad
of goods which would finally, in spite of the
state of war, have penetrated into the North,
to the great detfiment of national manufactures
and of the Federal Treasury. To the navy be-
lonycd the duty of this blockade. 1t per-
formed that duty rather Intellectually y at first,
from want of sufficient means but by degrees
the watch became stricter and stricter, till it
became difficult to be evaded.
The possession of the Mississippi was an
imperious necessity. This great river
and its tributaries are tho outlet all the OF
regions which they water. They are
the arteries of the Western States-States
which have hitherto remained faithful to the
Union, but whose interests might at last cool
their enthusiasm and speak louder even than
their convictions. To restore the Union by
interest, on the basis of slavery. has long been
the programme of the Southern leaders. To
abandon to them, without struggl" the rivers
OF the West would be to half decide the ques-
ton. 1t was therefore resolved to fight upon
that tl,eatpr. The navy retook New Orleans
by a brilliant coup de main. This was tn"
chief thing the Union thus put the key in
its pocket. As for the Mississippi, the task
Of reconquering it was confided to the western
armies, admirably seconded by Commodore
Foote'S fotilla of iron. clad batteries and steam
rams In these regions the war took an ell
tirely now character. The operations were
very rapid, as long as they were carried on by
water. The enemy could not intercept the
magnificent navigablc highways, SO favorable
for attack. presented by the great western riv-
ers. Columbus, on the Mississippi, was be-.
sieged by water. while by going quickly up
the Tennessee and Cumberland rivers the CON-
nnuiications Of the army charged with the de-
ffensa Of that important post were cut. Once
separated from its railroads. this army had to
retreat southwark. 1t fell back thus, from
: lone position to another, as the fotlla OF the
North descended the river, and MS its army
.seized the principal railroad branches. The
march Of the Federal became very long only
when, being unable any longer to advance on
'navigable streams parallel to the Mississippi,
AS the Tennessee. they had to rebuild, as they
-:went, the railroads necessary for Transporting
,thair DIVISIONS, and which the enemy de-
.stroyed in their retreat.
The last operation remained: The expul-
sion from Richmond of the insurgent govern
mspt. This government, concentrated in the
hands Of Mr.. Davis, had taken the form of a
Dictatorship, and had thus given to its seat
tho importance Of a capital. There converged
all tho great lines of railroad and telegraph.
Thence for year had been dated all orders
all dispatches. by forcing the confederate
government to abandon this capital, great
check would he inflicted on it; above all, ita
prestige in the eyes of Europe would be taken
from it. Should this attack be hastened as
soon as tho means thought necessary should
be collected. without awaiting the results Of
the blockade and Of the Mississippi campaign
Opinions are divided on this subject. Some
said, "Yes," arguing that an insurrection
should never be allowed time to establish
itself; that the Federal army, with its defect
i've organization, would be worth but little
more in March than in November that a
brilliant success Of Northern men closely fol-
lowing Bull Run might finish tho war at once,
by giving the opportunity for great atteupt