Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-02-05
The Rebel Plnns-ImpOrtaur if true.

A Washington correspondent Of the st.
Louis Republican, upon the authority of g
gentleman direct from Richmond, who has
been employed in the rebel departments,
gives the following statements, which only
needs confirmation to be ofpeeuliar inter
est After showing how the rebels pro.
pose to enter the field in. the Spring with
force Of 225,0OO be 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 70 hold Grant in check another
column of fifty Thousand to oppose the army
of the Potomac, protect Richmond, hold
virginia. while grand army Of one hun
dred thousand veterans should be concen-
trated in South western Virginia, Of which
Longstrees'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
to occupy a line stretching from the PAN
handle" to Lake Erie, thus dissecting the
territory Of the loyal States, and, by hold
ing or destroying all the railroads, to sep
srate the East from the West He sdmit-
ted this could not be done without eneoun-
tering great difficulties, and perhaps fight
ing great battle at the start, somewhere
on the Ohio River. "But, said he to Gen.
Lee, cali ordinary difficulties l know you
can surmouRt; the enemy cannot eoucen-
trate an army TO oppose your one hundred
thousand veterans before you fly cur feg
in the sight Of British subjects on the
hither shore of Lake Erie, and I believe
that circumstance will insure cur imme-
diate recognition by the powers Of Europe.
am not fearful Of the result Of battles,
which l know must be fought to accom-.
plisb this, for something tells me that be-
fore die 1 shall exUlt in the glad tidings
of great and overwhelming victory by
/ you over our oppressors upon their own
soil, and firmly believe the next time
you meet the enemy on free soil my hopes
will be realized"
Gen. Lee had many obisc ions 10 the
rebel Presidents plan. He admitted the
argument about recognition; but insisted
there were difficulties in the way Of sue
| cess which could not be surmounted. In
the frs. place be presented the fact that a
rebel army Of one hundred thousand men
would have to carry its supplies some
two hundred miles over the worst mouu-
tain roads in the country, and the trans
| poristion necessary was not to be had ;
besides, had they the means st command
the progress Of the army would be delayed
by the immense trains, 1t would be impos-
sIoie 10 succeed. Secondly, it would take
twenty days, under any circumstances, to
advance to Wheeling, and in that time The
Federals could confront him with an
equal lumber Of troops; and thirdly, he
might succeed in penetrating north Of the
Ohio, aud establishing his line as far as
Lake Erie, but he would be meHaced on
both fanks at the same time, while his
rear and lines Of Communication would be
the most invitiugly exposed 70 attack and
occupation BY the enemy.
In conclusion, the rebel General present
ed his own plans, which was as follows:-
To give Johnston seventy five thousand
troops, and Longstreet the same number
the former to keep Grant employed in 'front.'
while the latter would retske Knoxville
huu Last 4Suutsets. 141BsEIcel kUCceEh
would turn Grants flank, and, if the latter
did not then fall back from Chattanooga 10
Nashville, be could advance toward Middle
Tennessee, and, nenaoing his rear and
line Of supply and communication, force
him to retreat under the most unfsvorable
circumstances. Grant once on the move
Johnstone would follow him closely, and
uniting with Longstreet, the two could
drive him to the Ohio River. UThen, Ken.
tucky is ours," said General Lee; "givt
Johnston and Longstreet this many troops
let them start Grant out Of Chattanooga
and then unite their forces before he could
fall on either separately, and am certain
we viii regain Tennessee forever, snC
carry the war into Kentucky, where,
believe, it will end"
Which Of these plans we're finally adopted
my informant cannot certainly tell; but
he believes that the execution Of one o
the two is now being arranged, and it i
very likly, General Lees programme.