The New York herald., 1863-02-07


We think the opinion may be safely advanced
that we have the power now, and that, unless
we break into pieces and scatter to the winds
the defiant armies of the rebellion in the present
campaign, the alternative is before us of war
of indefinite duration and complications, or a
degrading and delusive peace upon the basis of
divided country.
The issue of reunion or dissolution now rests
upon two great national armies-the one in
Virginia, under General Hooker, and the other
in Tennessee, under General Rosecrans and
upon two great national expeditions of land
and naval forces-the one in front Of Vicksburg,
on the Mississippi river, and the other gathering
in front of Charleston. Where will the first
blow be struck Our Washington advices in
form us that at any moment we may expect to
hear that the attack upon the rebel defences Of
Charleston has commenced, and that the forces
on hand and the combinations agreed upon be-
tween General Hunter and Admiral Dupont
give every assurance Of glorious success. But
General Grant is not idle in front of Vicksburg,
and at any moment we may hear that the ball
factory steps towards crushing victory over
the rebellion in that quarter. Meantime Gene
ral Hooker is embargoed by the impossible
mud and mire Of the hills and valleys Of the
Rappahannock, and General Rosecrans is
doubtless delayed by the same cause in Ten
nessee. We expect that the terrible work Of
Bombs, guns, drums and batteries
will be opened at Charleston and at Vicksburg,
and that then the armies Of Hooker and Rose
Grams will move forward, each to the task as
signed it. And here we would call the atten-
tion of the government and sl General Hooker
to the fact-if they are not already informed OF
it-that General Longstreet has not been de-
tachsd from the army Of General Lee, all the
numerous rebel reports to the contrary not
withstanding. They are proved to be decep-
tons from this single item Of ciruumstantisl evil
dence-viz that the orders from the headquar-
ters of the rebel army of Tennessee are still is
sued over the name. of Braxton Bragg We have
observed, too, that in recent letter from the
army of General Lee to Southern journal the
writer speaks in glowing terms Of the aistin-
guished services of Longstreet in the battle Of
Fredericksburg, and clearly intimstes that he
still remains with Lee.
Our latest information direct from the Rap
pahannock, on the other hand, is that within
few days past there has been remarkable dimi-
mutton in the numbers of the enemy's camp fires
by night and Of their tents by day heretofore
visible from our side of the Rappahannock.
This would seem to indicate an impending
evacuation of his works by Lee; but, while
wide awake to the possible repetition again Of
this oft-repeated strategcal trick Of the rebels,
we trust that Gen. Hooker, while Lee remains
in his front, will not act unadvisedly upon the
idea that Lees army has been materially weak
ened to strengthen his confederates in other
localities
We anticipate the most glorious results from
the Charleston expedition and the Vicksburg
expedition, and from the Army Of the Potomac
and the Army of Tennessee. We are strength
ensd in these anticipations by the desperate
straits aud gloomy forebodings Of the rebels,
disclosed through the columns of late Southern
rebel journals received at this Office. For exam
pie, Gen. G. W. Lee, the new rebel commander
at Dahlonega, Georgia, in his General Order
No. l." says "that there are number Of de-
serters, tories aud conscripts resisting the laws
(rebellins against the rebels) in Northern and
Northeastern Georgia and in Southwestern
North Carolina" (the mountaineers Of those
parts), and that he has despatched military
force to said districts ito suppress any insur-
rectionary movements, to capture deserters,
and generally to restore tranquillity*' "De-
serters, tories and conscripts resisting the laws"
in North Carolina and Georgia Proof positive
that they are getting sick Of jeff Davis, and be-
yond all endurance.
But we have something more to the same
effect. Gov. Vance, in an appeal to the people
of North Carolina says that ''this is the hour of
our greatest need;" and, complaining that "a
large number"-mark the words-"a large num-
Der Of soldiers from our armies are absent from
their colors without proper leave" offers them
forgiveness if they will return, but death If
they refuse to heed this appeal. So, too, Gov.
John Gill Shorter, known as 80 regular
snorter," appeals to the people of Alabama, and
in every part of the State, both officers and
privates, who belong to the army and are fit for
duty, are lingering at home on various pre-
texts" while IA large number of persons, SUBJ
ject to conscrption, are shrinking from the tolls
Sand perils which those of like age are bravely
enduring" &c. What does all this mean?
Nothing less than this, that the people of the
rebellious States are not n unit, but that
divisions, dissensions, desertions, dsmoraliza-
tions and open mutiny and instruction are
prevalent among them, and that one or two good
Union victories, during this campaign, will
break up, destroy, put down and extinguish
every vsstige Of this rebellion.
This grand and glorious result is clearly
within the grasp Of the government There can
be no mistake about il. These important rebel
disclosures Of the real condition of the rebel
lious States leave no doubt upon the subject.
Let the administration only employ its stupen.
dous land and naval forces with anything like