New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-03-28
EICENOgD AGAIN.

There was an opinion last year that tho de-
ci,ivo battles against tho Rebellion wore TO be
fought in tie West. The failure Of the Chan
ccllorsville campaign on our side, and the failure
Of the Pennsylvania invasion on the psrs OF The
Rebels; the loss of the opportunity which tho
fortune Of war offered Gen. Meade for tho de-
st.uction OF Lees army north OF tho Potomac,
and the successful reoccupation by tho defeated
Rebels Of defensive line on tho Rapidan,
seemed TO have brought the war 10 stard-still
in Virginia. Tho Army Of the Potomac became
once more corps OF observation, and the army
Of Leo--or r. considerable portion Of twas
liberated for Gotivo duty elsewhere. The IL.
torest which had oentered about the Rappahan-
mock and Gettysburg was transferred TO tho
ChiokamaugA TO Chattanooga, and 70 Knox
vile. Richmond dwindled into secondary In.
portance, and Atlanta came TO be regarded ns
The key 70 the Confedcrrcy.
Ii seems 70 us fortunate omen that vo have
bssn abba onco more 10 make Virginia Tie pan.
oiral seat IL war. The Rebel, this year must
Gsht on ground rot n their own choosing. The
sDECIhtsment Of Cen Grants headquarters
with the Army Of the Potomac seems TO be &C.
copied as tie proclamation Of another move
NEXT against Richmond, ard tie question Of It's
defense is again paramount to oil other quos-
tons That il is tho capital Of the Rebel Con-
f,doracy is reason enough WHY 1t should be both
attacked ana defended 1ilh peristency. There
cen lo no doubt that Tie Examiner expresses
tho conviction Of the SQRthsIE pOOplo that its
possession j. essential TO the existence Of tho
Confederacyi that II it is taken, like a great
food through tie gap OF broken dyke, the
enemy viii penetrate tie Southern lard.'
A little Of TIE alarm felt in the Rebel councils
shows iifefiE tho frequent calls through the
Richmond press, dictated undoubtedly by az.
ihori.y, for generous sacrifices in defense of the
city. Tie forces which Gen. Grant can collect
arc rcokoBod Of two hundred thousand men, to
meet which, a 6oubt is expressed whether SO
many MS . hundred thousand can 10 con-
contrGlcd and maintained through Tho Sum
mer. With that number, thinkJ The
Ela,ainer "distrihuted in tho foriiication5
OK Richmond from Petersburg to Frodorcks-
burg, va may wear out al tie armies OF tic
United States, one otter another" But, "suc-
cess depends entirely upon the preparation made
nor-now-in this and tho coming month. 4
vast depot Of army provisions and military stores
IL AZ indispensable requisite to tho undertaking.
III To,lf Gor4i,uo oro -. Thin
the Engineers can say--no outcry or intrigue
should prevent the levy OF negro bands from all
parts Of the countryto do the work with speed"
II is well known that tho diminished army
with which Lee held the south bank Of tho Rap
dan during the Winter was subslsted with diff
Guilty, and that for considerable time Il wss
on short rationo. Tho order Of Les exhorting
his men to bear privation cheerfully for awhile
WA evidence enough Of that. Yet they had
Turing the Winter tho just-harvested crops Of
Lhe Fall, and their forces were neither numer- |
)us nor In motion. Can there be any doubt |
hat there is now real apprehension about
eeding an army four times as largo, and no
onger in Winter quarters1
nevertheless We arc TO remember that the |
Rebel leaders have exhausted every effort both
o augment tho numbers Of their army by gen.
'ral CONSUMPTION, and TO insure It's efficiency by
IN impressment Of all provisions and stores
which could DO bought or seized--the difference
between tho two methods not being material to
he producer. We may tako it for granted |
hat they are ablo to protract de-
ensye campaign obstinntely enough to tax
III our strength, yet wo Judge they
~ ID ,.felslI ..4-.