Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1864-04-11

Policy has not been on the part Of the Southern
People who are tired of the desolations OF war,
but on the part of some OF the Influential South
ern leaders. among whom Bsy be named Jeh.
Davis himself. Gen. Johnston and Gen. Bragg.
The subject was fully discussed at the military
councils that have recently been held at Rich
mond, and the discussion was not abandoned
until entire unauimity in regard to the new poll
CIV had been secured The following were among
the arguments used by the originators and sup
porters of the policv of invasion:
First. That il would be the most effectual man
ner Of defending their own cities. for that with
one Confederate army operating in the interior
of Pennsylvania, aud another in Ohio or Indi-
ana, il would be impossible for the Union forces
TO advance against Richmond or Atlanta, in
deed to invade the South at sny point; but that,
on the other hand. il would make il necessary for
US 10 keep the bulk four forces at home for the
defense of our own cities. and particularly for
the defense of Washington.
Second, That il would relieve the South Of
the enormous expense of the maintenance of
their armies. and impose that expense upon the
North; while it would enable the South to draw
supplies of grain, -four, clothing, and above all,
of horses, ad Libitum. from their enemies.
+ Third, That the three great objects to which
the attention of the Union armies would be di-
rected this would be Richmond. Atlanta aud
/ Charleston; that the Notifications of Richmond
and Charleston we're such as to render those pla.
ces practically impregnable, even if only deien-
ded by only ten thousand troops at each point;
and that with such country as that between
| Chattanooga and Atlanta, twenty five Thousand
! Confederate troops could battle the advance of
! seventy thousand UE,onists for six months.
Fourth. That, even allowing seventy-hye
thousand troops for the defence of menaced
points in the South and for operating against ad-
vancing columns of Union troops, the Confeder-
ates would still have two hundred thousand
| troops wberewith to invade the North.
TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND TROOPS 80 INVADE PENN
sYLvASIA AND OHIO.
1t is probable that the invasion will take place
at an early period in the spring: soon as the
roads are in good order; but depending also on
the state of the rivers and the dryness of the
season. It will undoubtedly take place in two
columns: one under General Lee, nearly in the
track of his former invasion of ennsylvania !;
the other to strike for Cincinnati IL is intended
that each shall have an effective force Of fully
seventy FIVE thousand troops: and that each shall
have in addition, reserve Iorce OF Twenty-Five
| thousand men.
OF course, the plans of the rebels will be modi-
fed by the movements of General Grant. Ii he
should take the initiative in the work. he may
anticipate The rebel plans: but il is certain that
they about to make this giant effort to change
the their part from a defensive to an
offensive character. knowing that whichever
party can assume the offensive will have the ad-
vantage of momentum in the attack. We shall
now see one of the most interesting PLAYS in the
game OF strategy, and by some of the abest mas
tiers on each side DRUID.