The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1864-04-18
The ImpsAdina Military camPsAsA-
Rebel Plans and Calculations.

Cutie0 20 the r6DeM Ol NoAsnoAn sAsS0s
and the disasters which have attended oil such
enterprises heretofore, many Of the leading
journals of the rebellous States are more
earnestly than ever urging the policy Of scar
rying the war into the enemy's country" The
advantages suggested from the adoption of this
policy are embodied in an editorial from the
Savannah Republican and In another from the
Montgomery (Ala) Mail, which we have trans
ferred to our columns this morning.
The first named sfthese hopeful rebel oracles
after presenting the misfortunes and calamities
to the "conlederacy" that have resulted from q
"kid glove defensive system, cries out:-"TheR
let us carry the war, with all its attendant hor
rors, away from our own coil to the soil Of the
enemy. Increase the army Of Northern Virginia
to two hundred thousand effective men; push
they CO. and we shall have peace within
sixty days" The Montgomery editor, starting
from the same idea, works it up into regular
military programme. He says:-"Early in the
coming spring, with our trans Mississippi army,
we must invade Missouri, and with General
bCc oEluy VIC muet luNuuC ouAOi uhu WAeh
General Johnston's army move through Ken
lucky and Tennessee into Indiana and Illinois. "
This must be done, it is commended, because in
remaining upon the defensive, says this Mont
gomery philosopher. "our agriculture will be
ruined and our manufactures will be de-
stroyed."
Moreover, says this desperate rebel military
adviser, by invading with our whole force
Kentucky, Missouri and Maryland, 'the cop
perheads will swell our ranks. We want food,
raiment and gold. Let US 60 and take what
We need" "Better die there lin the North),
pire in chains In summing up the great in
ducements to . sweeping invasion Of the
North, he says =" First-It will free
the whole South from the presence OF
the federal army. Second-It will sup
ply US with all the horses, equipments, cloth
ing and articles of every kind needed by our
soldiers. Third-It will make the North de-
sire peace, and bring about foreign interven-
ton. Fourth-It will double our army instead
Of depicting it. Fifth-It will end the war in
our favor in one year"
Now this is all very 6ne, though very fool
ish, and we have no doubt that the rebel
leaders at Richmond, in their desperation, have
been preparing for some Of the daring adven-
tures here recommended Lougstreet, after
mounting a considerable force in East Ten
nessee for march across Kentucky, seems to
have discovered that bis provisions would fall
short in the very outset. and thus, as ii appears,
has abandoned the enterprise. aud left his
friend Forrest, at the western end of the State,
to shift for himself In the ans-Mississippi
department, instead Of an invasion OF Missouri
by the rebels, t;',re appears to be very fair
prospect Of theiv expulsion from Texas AS
for Joe Johnston. we hardly think he will be
fool enough to attempta march into Kentucky
over the army Of General Thomas, aud he will
fnd it difficult undertaking to get round 1t
with three days ratons.
In short, from the western frontier Of Arkan-
sas to the eastern corner Of Tennessee there is
now "broad belt Of desolaton" which can
be passed by an aggressive rebel army only
with an immense wagon train Of provisions
How are the unfortunate rebels to provide
such train, when, according to their own
testimony, from Virginia to Mobile, they have
nearly exhausted their stock Of horses, beef,
bacon and breadstufs? Their aggressive opera
ions in the West must Of necessity be limited
o selfsupporting cavalry raids. The only
possibility Of formidable rebel movement
northward is from the army Of General Lee;
and. in order TO reach Maryland or Pennsylva.
mia, he must first defeat our rrepressible Army
Of the Potomac, or steal round again by the
roste Of the Shenandoah valley. But the sub
sistence which he found on that route in 1862
and 1868 has been exhausted, and the crops in
that valley Of the coming June, Of wheat, rye
and oats, &C.. will be hardly equal to the
necessities of the local population.
Yet it is probable, nevertheless, that the cal
citations Of General Lee involve in this
coming campaign another invasion Of Mary
land and Pennsylvania. How BY the defeat
OF the Union army in bis front, and by an easy
passage over the nearest convenient fords Of
the Potomac above Washington, as in 1862,
after the final repulse OF General Pope from
Bull run In view Of this object, and of another
effort for Washington by way Of the back door,
we think it altogether likely that General Lee
is drawing into his army every available man,
horse, musket and feldpiece, every barrel Of
-four, corn or pork, and every wagon, that can
be scraped together from all the remaining
rebel territory east OF the Mississippi.
And why not? Had General Lee gained
decisive victory at Gettysburg last July he
would have gained the national capital; and,
with that in his possession, England and France.
beyond doubt, would have promptly recog-
nized the Davis coniedsracy SO now, in risk
ing everything else for tbs defence Of Rich
mond and the chances OF the capture Of Wash
ington, Jcf. Davis is adopting his only possible
chances Of success. Manifestly General Grant
50 understands il, and is making his prepare
lions accordingly. We would urge this view