The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-05-06
THE MILITARY SITUATION.
A IkEREL VIEW Or rs.
From the Richmond Daily ENQUIRER. April Is

FROM the Richmond Daily Enquirer April Is.
Inc efforts made by the enemy during the
past three years OF the war have been success
fully foied, and the fourth year of the con-
f1ict finds both belligerents in very nearly the
same positions that they were at the opening
OF the contest. The loss of the Mississippi
river and New Orleans were unouestionabiy
material injuries to the Confederate cause. but
Tune and events have shown them not to be
lrreparable. Tennessee and Arkansas Wrested
from the control OF the Confederate authOri-
ties have been of no practical importance to
The enemy. The work of conquest and subju-
cation lies yet in the future The 'anaconda"
strategy weakened the enemy, and gave les
sons OF practical instruction to the Confede-
rate authorities. None but vain. glorious and
Doastful foe would have deficd the lessons of
military experience, and essayed policy which
has been avoided by every great commander.
IL has at last been abandoned, and the strategy
OF concentration determined upon. But, for
tunately, the fOllies of three years have very
much diminished the forces of the enemy.
ana his concentration for the next
campaign must be made at the sac
rlhce OF some one or more of the
points that have already been gained.
Ii Virginia is selected for the theatre of the
war this year, either the army in Tennessee or
before Charleston, or beyond the Mississippi
must be weakened before the numbers neces-
sary can be collected. The two millions of
men Which the muster rolls of the enemy eX-
hibit exist only in idle boast. Grants ARMY of
the Potomac numbers at best not more than
fifty Thousand of all arms The two corps.
the LIN ana 18th, recently brought from Ten
nessee, numbered together but eight thousand
men. Burnside's corps, the 9th, never very
large, has been recruited with negroes and
new men, and the more of these he has collect
ed the less formidable will they prove before
seasoned and war worn veterans they will
meet, whether they advance from the Rappa-
hammock or up the Peninsula. Sipel. i'm the
loWer valley, has small force neither formi-
dabe IN numbers nor in leadership. Grant
concentrated about 80, 600 men in Chattanooga.
drawing them from the Army of the Potomac.
on the east, and the army at Vicksburg on the
west. But from what quarters can he collect
10000 for the spring campaign? He may
~nhdraw the 10000 or 10 600 men that have
been TOR nearly year besieging Charleston
put these are in part negroes, and to that ex-
tent positive injury. If he further weakens
Sherman s force in Tennessee he puts in haz-
ard all the work of the last three years. These
facts plainly show the advance made toward
final triumph by the Confederate armies. The
equalization of forces in point Of numbers re-
duces the final triumph within the reach of one
or two important victories.
Inc blockade has been very successful it
has closed every port but one, and greatly in
jured the trade through that 1t has much en-
HANGED the financial difficulties of the Confed-
crate authorities, but it has done little else to-
ward accomplishing the ends and objects of the
war. When to the cost of the blockade are
added the large expenditures of the enemy
upon their navy, which has proved so utter
useless, we doubt whether operations on the
water have not been as injurious to the enemy
as to ourselves A few Confederate cruisers
the Alabama. the Florida, and the Rappahan-
nOck-have frightened from the waters the flag
SfnG fho yx,rf l>n,
with the mistress of the ocean. The battered
lron-clads in Charleston harbOr are there for
the war, unless some reSel torpedo should
send them in fragments to the bottom The
policy of starvation has not effected the ends
of the enemy
At one time apprehension was greatly felt
Tor the supply of salt. but now there is be-
lieved to be more salt in the COnfederacy than
ever before at one time. The loss OF the Mis-
slssippi was said to hav- cut off the supply of
beef cattle and that OF Tennessee to have de-
prived us of bacon and pork but though the
quantity of these important articles of TODD
has been greatly diminished, yet neither the
army or the people are disposed, or are likely
to starve. The raids of the enemy have de-
str0yed much property, but when their wasted
and ruined cavalry is brought in contact with
Stuart, or Forrest o: Morgan they may well
consider which party has been most injured by
the raids.
NuIiucIS HdNc HOc reduced The reDGlllOuS
COnfederates to loyalty: the blockade has not
curbed their defiant treason; :" starvation has
not humbled their proud spirit; and the fourth
year opens upon their armies numerous as
those of the foe, as well drilled, and in better
mordte and ready to test the virtue of the policy
of concentration.
General Washington was made Lieutenant
General after his successful command of the
army in the Revolutionary war; General Scott
won the same honor after the triumphant ter
mination of the Mexican war; but Gen. Grant
has been honored in advance of the trumphs
that bring such high rewards. The tickle reo-
pie that worship only at the shrine OF success,
stripped General Scott of the Lieutenant Gene
ralship as soon as Beaurega defeated Mellow
ell on the plains of Manassas. These fatal
plains, that witnessed the humiliation of Scott
and Mcdowell, and again the defeat of Pope,
with his headquarters in the saddle" are i'm
mediately in the rear of the new Lieutenant
General. with his headquarters in the field"
1t would indeed be singular concentration of
circumstances if those plains of Manassas, the
scene of the opening conflict. field fatal to the
strategy of Scott, the tactics of Mcdowell, the
6 headquarters" of Pope, should become a
Waterloo to Washington city. and Zama to
this Yankee Hannibal.