Cleveland tri-weekly leader. [volume] (Cleveland, Ohio) 1854-1885, 1864-02-06
1.a p.ho, P,aps-Impsrtant if true.

=
AWsshington correspondent Of the st.
Louis Republican, upon the authority Of 8
gentleman direct from Richmond, who has
been employed in the rebel departments, !
gives the following statements, which only j
needs confirmation to be Ofpeculiar inter
est. After showing how the rebels pro-
pose to enter the field in the Spring with a
force Of 225, 600, he gives the two plans Of
Davis and Lee. They are natural if not
correct.
In the course Of their interviews the fol-
lowing plans were developed. JEFF. Davis
was in favor Of employing two hundred
thousand troops, as follows:
An army of seventy Eve thousand under
johnson 10 hold Grant in check; another
column Of fifty Thousand to oppose the army
Of the Potomsc, protect Richmond, hold
Virginia; while grand army Of one hum
dred thousand veterans should be concen-
trated in Southwestern Virgins, Of which |
Lopgstreet's present force should be the |
nucleus and the whole, under Lee, to
march to the Ohio, to ascend the right bank
Of the river, and crossing above Wheeling
10 occupy a line stretching from the "Psn-
handle to Lake Erie, thus dissecting the
territory of the loyal States, and, by hold
| ing or destroying all the railroads, to sep
arste the East from the West. He admit
ted this could not be done without encoun-
tering great difficulties, and perhaps fight
| ing 3 great battle at the start, somewhere
on the Ohio River. "But," said he to Gen.
Lee, "all ordinary difficulties know you
osn surmount; the enemy cannot concen-
trate sD army to oppose your one hundred
thousand veterans before you fly our flag
In the sight Of British subjects on the
hither shore Of Lake Erie, and believe
that circumstance will insure our imme-
date recognition by the powers of Europe.
[ an not fearful Of the result Of battles,
which 1 know must be fought to accom-
plish this, for something tails me that be-
! fore die shall eIuit in the glad tidings
, OF g great and overwhelming victory by
, YOU over our oppressers upon their oEn
! | soil, and | firmly believe the next time
you meet the enemy on free soil my hopes
e | will be realized"
: Gen. Lee had many objse:ions to the
| rebel Presidents plan. He admitted tht
), argument about recognition; but insisted
a., there were difficulties in the way Of suc
> cess which could not be surmeunted. II
!. the frs: place he presented the fact that
. rebel sr1y Of one hundred thousand mel
, would have to carry its supplies SOM
= two hundred miles over the worst noun
. tain roads IL the country, and the trans
g portation necessary was not to be had
: besides, had they the means at eomman
the pTcgrees Of the army would be deiaye
=, by the immense trains, it would be impoE
- sible TO succeed. Secondly, it would tax
"a twenty DAYS, uader any circumstances, {
"a advance TO Wheeling, and in that time tn
Fsderals could confront him with q
;, eaual number Of troops; and thirdly, !
"a might succsed in penetrating north OF ID
al Ohio, ard establishing his iDe as far 8
y Lake Erie, but he would be mensced o
= both fanks at the came time, while b
n rear and lines Of communication would
- the most invitingly exposed to attack Sd
* occupation By the enemy.
tn In conclusion, the rebel General presen
h ed his own plans, which was as follows :
To give Johnston seventy five thousaE
IA troops, and LoDgstrcet the sane number
h the former to keep Grant employed il from
4 while the latter would retske Kuexvil
~ and East Tennessee. LongstreePs succe
cs would turn Grants flank, and, if the Iatt
~ did not then fslI back from Chattanooga
IA Nashville, he could advance toward Midd
Tennessee, and, menaciug his rear Al
At. line of supply and communication, for
AZ him to retreat under the most unfayorab
,ts circumstances. Grant once on the NOV
" Johnstone would follow him closely, al
al uniting with Longstreet the two cou
La drive him to the Ohio River. Then, Ke
no tuoky is ours" said General Lee; "gi
% Johnston and Longstreet this many troop
Ia let them start Grant out Of Chsttanoog
- and then unite their forces before he eou
nv fail on either separately and am oerts
,sr we will regain Tennessee forever, al
,os carry the wsT into Kentucky, where
ed believe, 1t will end"
"a Which of these plans we're finally sdoptF
IN my informant esnnOt certainly tell b
- be believes that the execution OK one
e the two is now bsing arranged, and 1t
me very ikly, General Lse's programme.