Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1864-03-09
ThA Policy az Invasion.

LILO GOllCy VI 4uNdb4Ou'
A writer in tbs Montgomery Mail, who heads his
communication, ave must invade the North" argues
strongly in favor OF that policy. Any time the fret
twelve months Of tSe war belors the Yankee cobbers
and taiOrs had been converted into sol iers the txpe
diency Of such course was as clear as the day.
Even yet, if, animated with retaliatOry veugearce,
We we're to 60 with brand as well as sword, we
could strike such tho heart Of the Yam
kee race would give US peace. Otherwise, we in
cline to the opinion that, with all the evils of having
both armies on SOIL Il is better to conne our
eelVes to a defensive war. Nevertheless, the article
referred To is worth reading, and we append the ma
tefial part of Ii:
Early in the coming spring. with our Trans Mssissip
ri army We must invade Missouri and with Gen. Lees
army We must invade Ohio, and with Gen. tombstone
army move through Tennessee and kentucky, into In
diana and Illinois; without this if remain at home,
and attempt to defend thousand points against thou.
sapd attacks from enemy commanding our seaboGrd
and naVgabls rivers, wi ample means for transfer.
ring their armies where they choose, and with every
part Of our territory assaabls to cavalry raids, our
agriculture will be ruined, and our manufactures will
be destroyed.
Is such an invasion practicablel Do you behave
that Hannibal, C0Ar, Napoleon or Washington in
command OF our Southern army won not pierce that
line of thousand miles between ST. Louis and Wash
ugton City at dozen points, all entirely assailabie p
Why have we dsregarded the teAchngs OF all story,
and attempted to conquer independence and peace by
remaining at home and feeding aud enriching enc
mics by permitting them 10 winter and summer upon
us for three years
The North is no Scytbia or Russia-With deserts,
marshes and barren wastes, without helds hocks and
herds but cities villages and farms innumerabe-
teeming with WeAltb-inVite the march Of our needy
soldiers Such Generals Morgan, Forrest Rosa and
Stuart in Ohio Indiana, Illinois and Pennsylvania
capture horses enough 10 mouat, and raiment enough
70 elothe and food enough to feed 100000 men. Have
We men enoughi VIII their numbers be diminished by
transferring the 10 the North ALI experience
proves that where an invading army enters denselJ
populated region, there always enough disaf-
fected towards their own Government, and who will
on the invaders 10 sufficient TO- to supply the ossCs
cauaed By the casualties of war.
Coriez entered the dominion Of MonteEuma with less
than 900 men. 200 900 of Montezuma's tubjects
iolned him. and enabled him to conquer Mexico.
In l740 F,ederick the Great Of Prussia Involved
Ia war with Austria France, SaXOny, Russia and SWe
den Prusss, east Sod west, was separated by in er-
VsunR States and with population Of ess THAI 900 0O0
Wa1 threatened by these nations with q popuaio Of
$50 OOOOO0! Frtdericks army numbered only 10000,
while that OF the allies amounted 10 geo 900 He had
no ally and only coo 900 OF ia the tea ury.
He was without navy. But he did not wait for Prus-
sis TO be invaded and he did not attempt the impOss-
bty Of feeding his army and his invaders. He invaded
Austria and WreeteQ SilcSA from tEat empire lie H.
vaded Bohemia and SaXony. The allies Invaded Prussia,
but could not by even the eapurs Of Berlin, induce
him 70 withdraw his armies from their cities and
fields For eleven year, be invaded the and of the il =
Vlders aud added L. 10 Prussia and conquered peace
With gave him q population Of Is 00O 000 and tire.
sury with 20 100000 Of crowns Hannibal subsisted
his army fifteen years in IsAly, without drawing sing
soldier or ration from Carthage he msds Italy supply
him not only with provisions and all necessares, but
with soldiers; aud he would have crushed the Roman
Republic in another year, # S pio had not invaded
Africa and forced his return to defend his home
Napoleon fought all Europe successfully Tor 6fteen
years; but he invaded the country Of his enemies and
made them feed cothe and pay his armies aad furnish
him with solde s. When his hes invaded /. Ancs,
they dethroned him. Yet we vanly hops 10 achieve
our independence by staying at home. This silly policy
has already cost third of territory, and has
added 500 900 soldiers to the Yankee army.
Let US invade them with our Whole force. Missouri,
Kentucky Maryland, and the CopPerheads" will swell
our ranks We WAut food, Iaiment and gold. Let us
20 and take what need. Tno army will receive the
order, "iorWard 70 the North" with shout. Tnere
let them STAY unt our ruthless invaders cry for peace
Better die there with in hands, than s:arve
here or expire in chains The best protection We
give those we leave behind will b, to get the helpless
Of the North as hostages in our power.
II our Trans Mississippi army advances up)a st..
LOUIS and the Virginia army upon Pistsburg and o lio
and Transatlantic, unless the whole Fede al army s
wit drawn rom the South 10 defend 0lo and Missouri
Plttsbrg Cincinnati asd Chicago will be captured by
General Lee aud Ohio, Indiana aud Illinois will be
overrua by our forces, and Missouri viii be res ued.
But if the Federal army should be WiGadraWn as it CIR
Ianly wi be- Else, if it should be greatly weakened
70 defend st. Louis and Piitsburg, General Ihnt On
can advance without difficulty the Ohio and liberate
Tennessee aud Ken lucky. 1t Is perfectly clear t. my
mind that the invasion Of the North will esct these
prime object:
lat. Il will free ewhOls South from the essence
4
troops not in condition to march, can protect our
homes against the small force they MAJ have to harsss
US.
I'd. It will supply US with all the horses, equipments,
clothing, and articles Of every kind needed by our
soldiers.
g. Tue retaAtory infection of the horrors of war will
make the North desire peace and make foreign nations
see that have the power TO annoy our enemy, and
dispose them to recogaz3 US.
4th. Il will double army insteai Of depicting it.
XIII In vill and in our favor in ot,e vaar