Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1864-05-06
The Long Suspension of Serious
Fighting.


Knoxville, in the last week Of Novembe
more than four months ago, there ha
not been a serious conflict between tn
Union and the rebel arms with the singl
exception of Seymour's exploit at Olus
tee, an affair which don't deserve a mill
tary name. There have been raids
Sherman's, Averill's, Kilpatrick's, an
two or three minor ones-which have ia
Aicted considerable damage upon the rail
roads and other material interests of til
rebels, but even these were attende
with almost no effusion of blood. Thi
general quiet has not come simply from
the fact that the season of the year ha
been unfavorable for military operations
During the two previous Winters, bat
ties were numerous. During the fou
months previous to April, 1862, we hat
Mill Springs, Roanoke Island, Fort Don
elson, New Madrid, Pea Ridge, Winches
ter, and the fight between the Monitor
and Merrimac. During the four months
previous to April, 1868, we had Prairie
Grove, Stone River, Sherman's attack OF
Vicksburg, Arkansas Post, Fredricks-
burg, and a great number of smaller
fights In fact, probably quite as many
blows have been struck heretofore during
the cold months as during any Other
season Of the year. But during the
present year there has been almost al
absolute suspension. And what is more
it is probable that this suspension vii
continue through this month of April.
Now what is the meaning of this ex-
traordinary interval in military operas
lions? Two hundred millions of dollars
at least have been expended during this
vacation to maintain our armies, and yet
they have visably done nothing to end
this war. Is there reason in this? We
believe there is; and reason, too, which
the result will speedily justify.
The simple explanation of this long
abstinence from battle lies in the fact,
that it is intended on both sides that the
battles when they do come, shall be deci-
sive. These four months have not been
a period of rest, but period of prepara>
alton. AS the war has progressed,
the tendency has all the while been to
fight fewer battles, and with heavier
masses. In the earlier stage of the war,
there were constant collisions, because
along the whole border, between the two
belligerents, from the Atlantic to New
Mexico, small forces were posted to at
tack and defend. The policy, then, of
the rebel Government, was to divide up
its armies, SO as to protect the immense
stretch of the territory it claimed, and
also threaten ours at great number diff
ferens points. As mere military policy,
it was decidedly bad one for JEFF
DAVIS to adopt, and be subsequently, ac-
knowledged it in one of his messages,
But it was to a considerable extent i'm
posed upon him by political necess ity,
for every confederate State had an
equal claim to be shielded from the Gov
eminent it had defed. But the result Of
this extreme extension of the lines was,
that they were made so thin at the West
that we soon broke through them, and
forced our way to the Gulf. From that
time the policy has been more and more
towards concentration. The battles last
year were fewer and heavier than the
year before and by the time the year
closed, each side had almost entirely con-
solidated its forces into two great armies
the one near the southern Tennessee
line, the other in Virginia. The Winter
bad been spent on both sides in filing up
the broken ranks, and in recognizing, m
the completest manner possible, for the
great decisive struggles. Our own Gov
eminent has recognized the altered pros
pect of the war by appointing, for ti;2,
first time, a Lieutenant General, toI
whose rule will both of our great armies
be subject, and who it is expected, will
regulate the movements of each with due
reference to the movements of the other
"A desideratum which has never yet
been realized, and which, indeed. in the
shattered condition of our forces, has
been hardly practicable.
The next month, May, will, in all
probability,witness battles of greater mag
nitude than have yet been known to the
war. 1t is possible that the very Water
loo of the struggle may then be fought.
At all events, we may rely upon it, that
a collision between the two great armies
in Virginia, under GRANT and LEE, the
ablest commanders of the war, will sure
ly take place; Richmond will be the
stake of the contest, and that both sides
will fight with desperate energy. Wheth-
er there will be any great odds in our
favor, at the great encounter we will not
undertake to say, in the lack of any def
mite knowledge concerning the strength
of LEES army. But one thing is certain :;
if we are defeated, it will only be the
signal for new draft, and the provoca-