Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1864-11-26
What Guerrilla Warfare Indicates.

The rapidly increasing number OF guerrilla
bands in the border states, and the audacity
which characterizes their depredations, are
regarded by many unrehective people as an
indication that we are losing ground in the
great contest with rebellion. This conclusion
is not only erroneous, but is directly opposite
to the true Interpretation Of the subject. The
influences operating upon governments may
be ikened to the natural laws governing our
solar system. They contain centripetal
element whose tendency is to centralize pow
err in the national head, and centrifugal
force which tends to weaken and overcome
that power. While safety in the solar system
is dependent upon equilibrium between these
natural forces, the safety Of a government
depends upon its central power to hold in
check the decentralizing influence. The late
increase Of guerrillaism, coming in connec-
ton with the rebel Presidents admission that
two-thirds Of his soldiers are absent from the
army without leave, is highly significant.
However damaging guerrilla raids may be to
the districts in which they occur, however
destructive they may be to property, and even
to the life OF citizens, it is evident that they
strike no important blow for the cause which
they espouse. And further, the depleted con-
dition of the rebel armies is notorious.
Their own papers admit their inability to as
sumo the offensive for this reason, and daily
appeals for reinforcements 60 up from the
rebel armies. Now, taking the two facts,
that the rebel armies are rapidly diminishing,
while guerrillaism is increasing in a cores
ponding degree, what is the logical conclusion2
Clearly that the centripetal force is grow
ing weaker; that the cohesive power Of mu-
tual ambition, interest aud safety is losing
its attractive quality, and that the power Of
the Confederacy is beginning to fly off at
tangent. No better evidence of the general
decentralization Of the rebel soldiery could be
presented than this crumbling off of frag-
mentary bands. 1t indicates that the Davis
Administration is losing is influence, and
that desultory, irresponsible warfare is to
succeed that which we have encountered du-
ring the last four years. This theory is ad-
Of unsuccessful revolution has always been
preceded by gradual crumbling Of the mill
tary overwhelming on the outside and
working to the heart The principle is illus
trated by the homely simile OF rats deserving
a sinking ship-they see no hope for safety
on board, and in desperation each seeks
safety in course Of his own. The very fact
that Hood is whisked about at the pleasure
of General Sherman, simply because he
cannot obtain the force which the concen-
trated guerrilla bands would give him, is Of
itself sufficient proof that the centrifugal
force of the Confederacy is becoming too
powerful to be kept in check by the central
government. AS the war progresses this con-
dition will become more apparent. Frag-
ments of the rebel armies will continue to
fly from the power at Richmond, until finally
the heart of the rebellion will be reached, and
the embryotic Confederacy will return to
chaos.-N. Y. San.