Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1864-03-16

SnecisI Correspondence Cincinnati GEzstte.I
WAsHIsGTOE, PebTua-y 12.-It Wss pro
pJssd 20 SIP in a. she bAek door of Richmond,
While The rebels guarded the front door.
Tbs des OF gaining great advantages by
taking RichIao0d has always beGn folly Il Is
Ios strategic point, nos valuable as bSse OF
operations OF IS q point in g practicable line q
sdvsres; ths sole importsncs of taking il wonld
he in the Tolosse Of eur prisoners, the dessrue-
giol cf the ron works, and the dispersion CT
possible capture Of tho rebel authorities. This
much could be - vel accomplished By stTaie-
gom as by sighting; and this much it vas pro-
posed TO DO.
Gsn. Buffers plans embraced eo-opsIativs
movement Of the army Of the Potomac, which
should keep Leo too busy 20 attend 70 Rieh-
rsond; and thee divisions CT his own fores,
one instructed TO proeeed at oRcs to The desiTac-
tioa Of ths TredegsT Iron Works another TO
release the twelve to eighteen Thousand prison
ers confined in Libby prison and On Bale
island and tko third to guard the avenues OF
esosPe, and seizs ss many OF he rebel officials
Is possible.
He visited Wsshingto0, and laid thsss plans
before the President, who approved in the
main, but rsfszed him to Gen. Hslleek. q 1
don't care anything about your plans, if yeU
move on Richmond you do i On your own rs-
spensibility,H was the substances Of that officers
reply. Gan. Batter decided, IT they would give
him the troops, 20 take the responsibility, and
returned 20 Fortress Monroe.
Hs had his spiss al through Richmond, and
had fsmiliariEed himself with the defensss,
aveanss CT approach, snd Members 10 Be over
coms. L was reported tkst our prisoners were
likely to be speedily removed to safer points ia
the Consistency, and Thateger was done, there
fore, req uired 80 be dene spsedily.
Statements Of the case and requests for the
ii
the understanding received thss tie troops
weuld be furnished, the Arrangements for the
movement were al e0mpiete. With i've CT SIX
thousand cavalry (for OF course, the qaiek work
of the dssh into the rebel capital must be done
BY cavalry, be would hsve been satisfied Al
tsz waiting and waiting ill The last possible
moment, he received : bsggsrly thee CT four
hundred
There il ths real secret Of the Brilliant fsiiurs
Gen. Batter dstermined 70 20 ahead ard make
the effort snyWsyi but Lis original plans bad
not depended on absolute surprise of tho rebel
garTis0n at Richmond tor their success There
we're forty thousand spare trosps about Wash
fRptOn, with five Thousand more csvAlIy The
leader Of the expedition would hsve prepared to
force past tho oPPOsition Of Bottom Bridge, 6ght
his way into the town, ana hoerste the prison
srs ct least; whether the remainder OF the pro-
9rsnme had OF bad net bean defeated BY the
ungimely disclosure.
I would not say that Gen. Hsllsek, q Whs-
ever else controlled the failure to furnish the
needed troops, Wss unwilling that under the ex-
isting circumstances, military snd political, an
officer ike Gen. Butler should have tho honor
of so brilliant sn sChie7emsBt as be Was on the
very verge OF accomplishing. That such =
thing can even be thought Of By the many who
can ses no other seOd rsssen for tie course
pursued, is the bsst possible commentary en- the
Presidents policy u ths retention Of General
Hallsck.