The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1864-01-23

[rRoM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT
ARMY or NORTHERN VIRGINIA, ]

Jan. goth. 1854.
Two thirds OF The month Of January and over
one half of the winter have passed away. In lit
tie more than five weeks, and we shall stand upon
the threshold OF the spring OF le5i-a period ces-
tined to mark an era for veal or tof W'S In ,''e
history only ofthe Southern ConfedeFaey but i
may be of the whole civilized world. How ia.-
por;ant is il then that we should be busy with pre-
para;ion for the work before us-the ttme for dec
.iamaion has gone, ard Congress n,,sf acs4kc men
if they would be prepared for the great campaigns
through which our Generals aud soldiers mu I
inevitably pass during the coming spring, summer.
and fall.
We shall either elect or defeat Lincoln by the
results cf this years campaign; and if we succeed
In secu ring his defeat, then We may reasonably, I
think. expect cessation OF hostilitieS in an ar
misice by land and by sea as S on as the new Ad
ministraiion shall come into power on the 4th Of
March, 1867, now slightly over year distant.
can only speak for the brave men whose names
are on The muster rolls In This army, and who
always al their posts TO respond al the roll cali.
They " i'll DO their duty, aud their whole duty. As
tn y have otter discharged it in camp, on the
march, and 0n the battle field. But what says Con
gresS and the country As TO It's reinforcement and
its proper maintenance. These are now the per
tin and all absorbing questions. II this ar!ny can
get back the ty five per cent. of its absent rs,
the conscrpt catchers and the force which will he
4
tute law, then verify believe shall be able to
hurI Meade back 10 the capital az Washington,
oth9ioiSs fear lest General Lee may bc fore 10
abandon the line of the great Central Railroad. aud
Richmond NAV once again become invested. with
out a Jackson 10 raiseth. seige. Now is TIE TlNF
FOR ACTION Let Congress pass the bill providing
Gen. Lee with n sutciebcy of negroes, Tree ana
Slaves, 10 take the places OF the teamsterS coHh,
pioneer corps and other detailed men. let tegiS-
lation of The most stringent character be enacted
To brig back the ABsESTEEs, and lei THESE
laws be passed AT ONCE. Then With proper tegis.
lation upon the currency-and without o improve@
of the currency all else VIII De IN vain--cGii-
pi, with an appeal to the country to plant bread
einas and raise meat, cur Congressman may be roi-
tent return their homes ana trust their cause
and that of their country 10 God, cur brave Gener
ais. and the virtunus aa! valiant armies Of the
C"nfGderacy. Sweeping militarybii : are not de
maGded, nor Is it necessary TO put the Old men IN
the field; and eternal n:amy apon that body. tate
Confederate, That shalt thus destroy the plant
ing interest Of the ConfederaeF, and rear me youts
of the land in Il more than heatiieHish iE
porance, merely 10 crafty the zeal without
wisdom, OF brainiesS Elet:, who yni1iE it!
ariue themselves statesmen, generals, and
patriots. If the Legislature really wishes Ia
do something cediahie, let them r;.t ,heig wIt't -
work to improve the condition OF cur ratifoaGi---
In this they can do public good; bat the '-re-
serve" force is a misera lie and ridtcui",s farce,
not called for by Gen Lee, not demtnied by ilic
army, and unsancuonei by any Intelligent hpprr-
citation ofthe c1untry's wapts or necessities II Is
absurd 10 think of making every man soldier;
and cannot see how any maa "t wat or wisdom
cr-r1it ever have suggested IL. Any bi! 10 call out
a ..re.crve" force ought to he entitled, especially
il taken with n law OF maximum, bill $50 starve
tic South into subn!sSUn.' Ego bodies tate
and Confederate are not needed 10 caffy oh var
a: tie same time as any man with hree aims of
sense must know. EUf if our Legislature must do
something for their ceIr dollars day, after agree
ING TO serve for tt,r, let them 10 preserving
record OF the gallant deeds OF cur buried aud un-
buried heroes Asain,iet them provide literally
{zTln Inti apH Il;
service. Writing from The army, where have an
cDaortuniy OF learning its sentiments, will say
fiat there is no favor shown here II any proposition
for mob Of meh to begin the canipan ot io04,-
The soldiers here think and most properly, that
Gen, Lee is capable of commanding all the troops
necessary to the defence OF Richmond, and that it
.vii scarcely be necessary for ur Governor u take
the field in person. Let the Legislature attend 10
state business II i, has any and leave 10 Congress
tue difficult question OF "rasia5 armies ii pro
yiding Tor them when raised.
Whilst writing subjects aPpertaining 10 the
eo0d of the aT;iiv primarily, and by consequence,
10 the coed Of the country, would take occasion
TO reprehend liz the strongest language possible tie
tendency among demagGsues in aaf out # Con
yress TO antagoniZe The army and the people
What Il the army but p'Tt OF the people. And
y,av should the people have an interest q feeling
not in coIii;:cn with the army! Surely there are
few, if any, who maze not MADE sacrifices in this
war and, whilst all honor be.cags 20 the brave
nleu who have perii.ed their lives in raiyins afGand
our standard, bumbiy conceive that he who in.-
partially writes the history of these times will not
withhold from the good honefolks, in an.ost every
the plaudil of swell done, good and
faithf,, seryantn If we IeflPct a moment we VIII
r remember that the very needles ot the housewives
and The madehs have prepared clothing, whilst
their looms have furnished the ro iga Iiateriai.-
Nor should we forget the digeEt husbandmen who
have lahOred to raise subsistence for our armies
In 4 war such as ours, every man has his part.
There are few idiers drones. And ii iii becomes
anv man who calls himself a patriot TO seek, by
any iadireciion, to besei an antagonisn between
the Gmy and the people.
have been at some trouble to get up ecCu ate
in regard To the PENNSYLVANIA cam
pi;gn and will RESUME. in my neat Q history OF the
operalions of the year 1868. This review -ii! nc-
cuuy, suppose, sume SIX or eight letters, and
shall be able to go with them without inter
rnption, y.