Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1864-03-31
From the Richmond Examiner. March II. !

from the Richmond Examiner. March IL.
Scarcely doubt is entertained, or can be en-
teitained that the entire military force of the
United States. after deducting the number neceS-
sary to defend the Notifications of Chattanooga,
OF Vicksburg anG New Orleans, will be thrown
upon Richmond. From the first day of the war
this point has been naturally regarde,. by the
enemy as the kew of the organization known as
the Southern C0niederacy. Richmond was their
first word. and Richmond will be their last in this
war They have sent each year an army al
WAYS greater than that which they sent the year
before
Defeat and disaster have hitherto been the in
variable result. But perseverance Is quality in
which the Yankee was never supposed tn be de-
ficient, and in addition TO the reasons, so mani
fest that they need no recapituation. why that
whole country should regard the pture OF Rich
mOnd achievement worth the double ot all
their barren conquests in the West. Grant and
the Generals who have distinguished themselves
under his command have added the weight of
their authority in the fullest extent To those who
now. ever. regard Richmond as the Alpha and
Omega of Southern conquest Grant aud the
Western Generals have discovered that they can
not advance further into the Southern country
while Richmond stands. without laying their
heads upon block which is uplitted
axe.
know that if they penetrate Georgia, the forces
from Virginia could sever their lines, and destroy
them between two upper and the neither mill
stones All they can now do in the Vest j. 10
defend what they have taken. That this may
be done with few men, they have erected enor-
nous Notifications on the Tennessee and Missis
sippi> Leaving the requisite number To hold
them. Nthe rest OF their troops will be thrown on
Virginia. and the first steps Of the concentration
have probably been now taken.
The Army of the United States is not now
what il has been. In l-63 the most prodigious
effort of which that country l. capable. Was made
At the beginning Of that year. II held million
at men under arms, H. finance vas firm. and the
brilliance Oi assured hope still sparkled on il
sword
Frederick sburg and Charlottesville. Wiuches-
ter and Gettysburg, Murireesboro and Chicka-
mauga. ana Nick>burg, unsuccessful campaigns
in Texas, N Florida. in Mississippi. il South
! Carolina. the salient points in long line of
T fighting which stretched from the Atlantic 20 the
4 RIO Grande marked with thousands Of minor
+ combats with innumerabe sklrmi>hes, broad
trail of blood: the losses OF these, and the still
larger Losses from disease hardship aud deertiOn.
having brought down 'hat huge mass into very
narrow limits The new eyies. even the negroes
/ included have been but drops into the empty
+ bucket. The military fecuudIty OF the nation
VAS exhausted to create the armies OF 1908 IL
it can bring four hundred Thousand effective men.
all told. into the campaigns OF this year, that will
/ be greater number than we have apparent rea
son To EXPECT
But, setting aside half OF this force to guard
is cOnquests. the United States may still send a
hundred aud seventy-fve. perhaps two hundred
/ thousand men against Richmond What are
/ our means of resistanceg There are two means
/ OF reSistance-the hrst which occurs % many j.
an offensive movement on a grand scale into
/ some part of the enemys territory But
this measure is he least probable Of adoption. Ii
has been deemed the best policy of our rulers 10
sii still at home and wait for the enemy TO come
when, where and how he may think best; and
this policy will be, more or less. consistently
pursued by them the end OF the The
| only other plan 10 be adopted Is new defense of
Richmond. IL wAs most successful in lo62. when