Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-01-24

Guerrilla varfaFe--VEbst the 0CvsFuMsEs
needs.
In conversation with an oldofieer Of the
army Of the West one well qualified to
speak Of the necessities Of the war in the
Border States, q few days ego, he spoke
Of the guerrilla system Of fighting and Of
the sbsoiute necessity Of similar system
being adopted by the Federal Government.
This guerrilism is not so Independent q
warfare as is generally supposed. On the
contrary, perfect organization exists
throughout Kentucky and Tennessee, and
indeed, through all States into which our
army penetrateS, which has its leaders and
officers, its rules and regulations as surely
as the organised armies Of the Confederaeys
The order Of the knights of the Golden Cir
Gle, or a similar organisation under another
name, perTades all those States, the mem
bers Of which are as certainly soldiers Of
the rebellion as if they marched under Lee
or Bragg. When the Federal column ad-
vances they find these guerillas at home
upon their farms, claiming protection as
Union men the rear guard Of our army is
hardly out of sight before the quandsm
farmer mounts his horSs and hastens to the
rendezvous to give scurate information Of
the number and character Of the forces
who have thus passed his door. The oath
does not trouble him; he will take it as
freely as he does his whisky, if ifrequested.
His prior oath to the COnfederacy absOlves
him from any culpsbility in taking and
breaking all the Federal oaths that may be
administered to him. It is not alone the
armies in front Of The Federsl forces,
therefore, which they have to fear still
more dangerous, because secret one, isleft
behind.
In the midst Of such an organisation,
secrecy Of military movements is an i'm
possibility. The commander may keep
his proposed movement locked faithfully in
his own breast, until the very moment
of giving the comms1d to "fall in F" at
midnight, but even then, before the word is
given to march, bOrseman has started
before him to give notice Of the move.
Against such foes as these, there is no
remedy in formidable columns, howev-
er strong or well Oficered. The guerrillas
must be met by guerrillasi bush whacking
must be met by bush fighting. The only
remedy is to organise guerrilla force up
on the side of the Government. The call
must be made for volunteers for the work
who will furnish their own horses and
equipments, be paid by the Government,
and hivs upon The enemy. Let them get food
for themselves and horses from the rebels
wherever they ind them. If ones horse
gives out, let him exchange it for the first
known rebel horse that he finds.
This is NOS eiviliEed warfare" IS laid
down By the constitutionalexpOunders, we
are very well aware, nor do we suppose
that our coneiliatOry friends will approve
Of il, but it Is effective, at least, and that is
Just what we want and must have. We
want to hurt the enemy, and in doing 50,
we should call into requisition every man,
every weapon and every measure for put
ting down the rebels. None will be more
ready to approve such course than the
true Union men Of the sOuth-they who
have suffered from rebel persecution. And
many of them would gladly enter into such
a service If allowed and supported. The
matter is an important one and we hope
the Government will give authority for
such an organization.