The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-04-15
news FROM THE SOUTH.
Rebel Plans for the Invasion OF
the North.
MILITARY COUNCILS INRICHM0ND
The Cavalry Service---The Part
Assigned to 1t.
How the Rebels Get News from
Washington.

Correspondence of the World
BALTIMORE, April 4.
have received some interesting news
from Richmond to-day, which in some re-
spects is important, in its bearing on the
approaching campaigns.
MILITARY COUNCILS AT RICHMOND.
If the plans of the rebels for the CAM
paigns for the year 1864 succeed, even
measurably, it will be owing to the re-
markable amount of preparation that has
been expended upon them during the last
winter. When the facts in regard to the
military councils which have been held at
Richmond during the last four months be-
come known, success, or even partial sue
cess, on the part of the rebel armies in the
approaching spring and summer cam
paigns will not be wondered at. In very
quiet way, and without exciting much at
tention and remark, every prominent mil
itary officer in the confederacy has been
summoned to Richmond at some period
since December last, and has been con-
suited on points relating to the strategic
features of the war, and the efficiency of
the rebel army in every branch of the
service.
THE WINTER DEVOTED TO PREPARATION.
There is not single feature or detail
which may be supposed to contribute in
any manner to the efficiency of the rebel
army this year, that has not been fully
considered at these military councils. And
whenever necessary, after any measure
had been agreed upon, the sanction of the
rebel Congress or its legislative action was
sought, and it wa; Immediately attended
to and furnished. In tlis respect the ac-
ton of the rebel Congress ought to put to
shame the ridiculous tritiing and the cul-
pable waste of time of the Republican
majority in the Federal Congress. The
clothing and pay of the troops; their food,
measures to secure it in abundance, and to
make it certa n that it is issued at the
proper times, and even measures for cook
ing it better; the supply of shoes and
blankets; the supply of muskets and
ammunition; measures to increase the
efficiency of the artillery arm measures
to keep full the ranks of all the old regi-
ments, and measures to insure the greatest
possible efficiency on the part of he cav
airy. These are some OF the subjects that
have been discussed, and in regard to
which definite results have been arrived at
on the part of the rebel leaders
IMPROVEMENTS IN TIE CAVALRY ARM.
When the subject of the cavalry arm of
the service was under discussion, the views
of all the emiLent rebel cavalry officers
were obtained, and the results of their ex-
perience were embodied in the improve
ments that have been agreed upon. And
IL
arms and accOutrements of the men, and
the saddles, &C., but also to the highly
important subject of re-mounts, and above
all, to actual evOlutions in battle.
The organization of the confederate
army embraces four hundred regiments of
infantry, of six hundred men in each; fifty
regiments of cavalry, of eight hundred
men in each; and six hundred piece OF
field artillery, organized in one hum
bred batteries, and manned by twelve
thousand men, This would give a
total force OF two hundred aud ninety
two tEoussDd men, and this is the sum of
the rebel force on paper. But As |
showed III recent letter, they cannot
show an actual force of over two hundred
and seventy-ive thousand troops. This
results from the fact that the ranks of the
regime nts are not full. The cavalry force
amounts really, however, 20 very nearly
forty thousand men. OF these General
Lee and General Johnston have each
about fifteen thousand. Constant access
sions are being made to the cavalry; and
the horses, as well as the men, are sub
jected to a course of regular drill and
training. 1t is intended, when the in
aston of the North takes place, that each
Vne of the invading columns shall be ac-
oOmpanied by a strong cavalry horse, not
Clone to act as scouts and videttes and
90 secure the keeping open of commune
cations whenever that is desirable, but
also to take prominent part in the de-
cisive battles on northern soil which it is
determined to bring on.
PART ASSIGNED TO TIE CAVALRY IN THE
COMING INVASION.
The idea in regard to General Lees in
vasion of Pennsylvania is, that by moving
radidly with the main body of his force
into that State, while with a part of his
army he threatens Washington, or makes
feint toward some other important point
in that vicinity, he can draw the whole
Union army in the East to some point in
Pennsylvania, which he will select as
affording him the same advantage OF posi-
ton which Gen. Meade enjoyed at Gettys-
burg. That, having this advantage OF po-
sitiOn, he will bring on general engage
ment with the main body of bis forces, say
fifty thousand men. His arrangements will
be SO made that at the decisive moment his
reserves, composed of twenty thousand
fresh troops, all veterans, will arrive, and
their presence, it is thought, will turn the
scale of victory. In this battle the Con-
federates expect that the Union army will
not only be defeated, but routed and ut
terly broken up; and in order to insure
TINS, body OF ten thousand cavalry will
also be held in reserve, who will charge
upon the Union army at the first indica-
ton Of the giving way Of the latter, and
will follow up the first charge by others,
until the desired result is attained. Imay
IS well mention here that when this inya-