The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1864-01-11

overcome all opposition.
Rebel Movements i'm VirGinia-Probabie
Plans or Jcn. Davis for q Spring Ca an
pniGn.
The late movements of the rebels in North
eastern and Southwestern Virginia indicate a
comprehe ,sive plan Of operations for the COM
ing spring campaign, its principal feature be-
ing the establishment of deiensive line from
Lees army to that OF General Joe Johnston in
Northern Georgia.
This defensive line will cover the railroad
from Gordonsville enthusiastically to Rich
moDd, and enthusiastically to Longstreet, in
the eastern corner of East Tennessee; and
thence across the mountains to Joe Johnston 8
Qate Hragg's) army in Northern Georgia COM
munications will he, maintained by the cavalry
forces OF Wheeler, Sam. Jones, John Morgan
and others. In connection with this programme,
the late descent OF Sam. Jones upon the ex-
posed Union detachment at Jonesville, in South
western Virginia Tin the neighborhood of Cum
ber!and Cap), and the later demonstration of
General Early in the northeast, threatening
the Baltimore aud Ohio Railroad, are incidental,
though very important subordinate operations.
The business thus assigned 10 part to Sam.
Jones is to protect the flank OF Longstreet and
to secure as large range as possible over East
Tennessee for ioraging purposes, while the
late northern advance of General Early as
clearly indicates the purpose of General Lee
to protect his faux and to hold on to the sup
plies of the extensive and fertile Shenandoah
valley.
The main objects of this general programme
are, first, the defence OF Richmond in the east;
and, secondly, the defence of those vital rail
road lines, the common focus OF which is
Atlanta, Georgia, and upon tue retention OF
which depends the safety of those extensive
military foundries, factories and workshops Of
all kinds established at Atlanta and Rome.
Assuming that the rebel forces between these
extremes of Richmond and Rome are or will
be under the supreme command of General
Lee they may be set down as the three grand
divisions Of his army holding himself the i'm
mediate command OF the most important divi-
sion in toe last, and Joe Johnston the division
at the other end Of the line. while, as the case
may require, Longstreet is charged with the
movable or stationary intermediate division in
East Tennessee. Under this arrangement, as
the opportunity may demand or invite, Long
Lee, or either Of these two may move to the
relief of Longstreet, so long as they hold the
great railway line between Gordonsville and
-East Tennessee and the several more easterly
lines between Richmond and Atlanta.
Considering, however, the length Of the
line-fve or six hundred miles-the rickety
condition OF the railroads thus to be defended,
and the irreparable inferiority of the rebel
forces at both extremes this is not very
promising programme to JEFF. Davis, unless it
may turn out to involve the abandonment of
Richmond and Virginia In that event, with
the junction of Lees Virginia army, regulars
and gueriiias, with Longstreet, and with all
these forces operating together with Joe John
ston heavily reinforced, as he doubtless will be
by a sweeping CONSUMPTION, they may give to
General Grant abundant employment. Cut Off
from their contederates north of Tennessee and
west of the Mississippi, we fully believe that
the only remaining chance to the rebel chiefs
at Richmond for an overwhelming concentra-
ton of their limited forces is the abandonment
of Richmond; for in relinquishing the other
end of their line tLeir already divided aud dis
mantled confederacy will be at once cut in
two between Chattanooga and Charleston.
AS it is possible, then, that the rebel leaders
may be preparing for the evacuation of Rich
mond and Virginia, under the pressure Of their
desperate necessities, aud with the hope Of re-
turning again after the overthrow OF Grants
armies, we would urge this view OF tue subject
upon the special attention Of the government
We would especially urge during the winter
such vigilant reconnaissance from the Rich
mond peninsula and from Norfolk in the direc-
ton Of the Southern roads communicating with
the rebel capital as will keep the government
well informed Of the enemy's movements in
that quarter and battle their designs, so far as
they may involve stealthy evacuation of vir-
GINA.
The rebellion can be utterly demolished by
General Grant in the spring II the War ONCE
can only contrive during the winter to keep
within sight OF the army Of Lee or to hold the
rebel government at Richmond