The New York herald., 1863-01-12

the constitution aud laws. Governor seymour
will open the ball in the spring. and the move
ment will 90 on till all those who have dared
to play ths.dsspot in . free country shall have
reaped the due reward Of their deeds. ae
The CamPatgA An Tsmnssseo-0saArAi
Rssesrans' Labors.
Our correspondents detailed account Of tho
Eve days conflict in front OF Murfrsesboro,
which we published Friday morning, explains
in part the plans upon which General Rosscrans
fought, and reveals the truth that, by the care
lessness OF some Of his subordinate officers, his
we'll laid plaus were nearly overthrown. In his
official despatch of January 5 General Rose.
Grams says:-"Our entire success on the 3lst
ult was prevented by surprise Of the right
flank; but we have nevertheless beaten the
enemy after a three days fight" The official
history, which will explaia the blunder here
charged by the use Of the word surprise"
will be looked for with the deepest iaterest,
and the public will demand that the guilty
officer who retards, our campaigns in the West
shall be punished.
General Rosscrans has certainly demonstrated
that be 10 an officer Of great nerve and daring.
At the time Of bis attack on Bragg's superior
force be was cut of from supplies and from re-
Inducements. He began the confess with ter
ribls disaster-the defeat Of his right wing. His
genius here revealed itself in brilliant
maneuvre- the massing Of his artillery-by
which the right wing was saved from total an
nihilation and the enemy repulsed with terrible
slaughter BY the brilliant achievement Of Gene
raj Negley, in breaking and turning the rebel
right wing, the contest was decided, but too
late on Friday to permit US to follow up the
advantages gained. On Saturday vigorous
shelling Of the rebel position was all that could
be done in the midst Of drenching rain. Dur
ing the night the enemy evacuated. Thus the
great victory has been in great measure rem
dered barren Of results BY the imbecity which
exposed the right wing to danger and destruc-
ton.
The brilliant and dashiug charge OF General
Negley. by which the rebel right was turned.
must add much to the reputation of that brave
young commander. He Is represented as hay-
ing displayed greatfgallantry and much splendid
generaiship, ald to have been the true hero Of
the fight on Friday. He has long been rscog-
nized as splendid disciplinarian, and his affairs
Of Lavergne, Nashville and Goodlettsville but
gave promise Of bis last splendid achievement
The task now before General Rosecrans Il
one much more serious and difficult than that
Just finished. The labors Of Hercsles are but
begun. He has failed to destroy the rebel
army, aud must make another attempt. Our
latest dispatches represent Bragg at Shelby
vile. south Of the important stream Of Duck
river From Murfreesboro to Shelbyvile must
be another campaign. General Rosecrans can
not Immediately follow. His army must be
recruited and his communications with Nash
vile and the North rs-established.
Nashville was the grand objective point OF
the campaign Of last winter from Louisville.
But there is iegitimately no objective point
south from Nashville for campaign from that
city. Nashville cannot be legitimately base OF
operations. as for nine months OF the year IL is
cut of entirely from rail or water communcs-
tons with the rest of the country. The Ten
nessee and Cumberland rivers are aot aayigs
BILE half the time and experience has shown tho
of railroads, hundreds ef mileS
In length, as means Of supply.
To appear in front Of Chattanooga General
Rosecrans wsuld have to operate over threo
bsudred aud fifty miles from bis actual base ot
supplies at Louisville, railroads being his only
means OF transportation To operate against
Kuervile he would have one hundred and
thirty miles to wagon his supplies from. Nash
vile. ud over a mountainous country with 40
turn,skes. II, then. he makes sampaign agAinst
Cb.t,aaoosa or Knoxville, bis army will, IN the
Ara. u,scs. be swallowed up in susrding rail.
r,sa. and in the lsster ekpose Nashville to Gao.