The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1864-02-02


Rebel Programme
The tate movements Of the rebel General
Longstreet In East Tennessee have given rise
to some approximations a. to the safety Of
Knoxville. That be has been contemplating
the surprise and seizure Of this important posi-
ton wc cannot doubt; but, according 10 our
latest advices from that quarter he has dis
covered that his movements to this end have
been too slow; for it appears that he has again
turned bis back upon "the Yankees" and ia
supposed to be retreating across the northwest
corner Of North Carolina. to join Joe Johnston
in Georgia
Should this opinion be confirmed a. We ex-
psct it will be, by actual reconnoissances, then
We may safely conclude that the rebel pro-
gramme for the spring campaign will involve
the evacuation of Richmond and the abandon
ment Of Virginia, and the shortening Of their
defensive line from Dalton. Georgia, across, per-
haps, to Wilmington North Carolina; because
the safety Of the only available line Of commu.
nication between Southwestern Virginia and
Richmond depends % much upon the protec-
ton Of Longstreets army in the West as upon
.
now rebel plan of operations foreshadowed by
this second retreat Of Longstreet from our
forces assigned to the defence Of Knoxville
namely, the abandonment Of the defensive line
of the East Tennessee and Virginia Railroad,
the necessary abandonment next Of Richmond
and Virginia, and the concentration Of all the
available armed forces of the rebellion on an
immensely shortened defensive line-say the
line we have just suggested, extending across
the country by way of the Cape Fear river from
Wilmington, N. c., to Dalton or Atlanta Ga.
But what, may be asked, will then become Of
he Virginia soldiers Of JEFF. Davis Will they
not abandon him and his hopeless cause with
the surrender Of their State to ''thc Yankeess"
Doubtless many Of them will; but many others
will still adhere to his fortunes, as his in
fatuated lighting followers from Missouri, Ken.
lucky Tennessee, Arkansas and Louisiana have
done and are still doing, Notwithstanding the
recoverable loss Of their respective States.
Moreover, the chivalry Of North aud South
Carolina, Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi, in
Lees army, must now be as anxious to re.
turn homo to the defence Of their
own States as the Virginians eau be
to retain them in the Old Dominion
Indeed it is probable that the dangers which
menace their general cause in Georgia have
already brought the rebel rulers at Richmond
to the determination to leave Virginia il the
hands of her guerillas for season, whac the
regular armies Of the rebellion are moved down
for q last desperate struggle with tbas most ter
rible and dangerous Of all their enemies, Gene
raj Grant.
What then, will be the plan Of operations
most likely to be pursued by JEFF. Davis assum-
ing that bis first Objects TO fall back TO shorter
and more tenable defensive linef We think
that in abandoning the enterprise Of aanking
Chattanooga on the east, he will attempt it on
the west We suspect that the late mysterious
movements of LongsHeet and Joe Johnston
cover somo such design, aud we shall not be
surprised if within tho present month wc receive
authentic intelligence Of the advance Of rebel
army, one hundred thousand strong, across the
northern border of Alabama, and aiming by
forced marches to compass the surprise aud cap
turc Of Nashville. With their vastly inferior
armies and diminished prospects East and Wcss,
the rebel chiefs cannot afford to stand idly wait
ing upon tho defensive until the Union gene
rails confronting them are fully prepared for
offensive operations We think It altogether
probable, therefore, that, IL not interrupted in
the meantime, Joe Johnston, within month or
80. will invite our army from Chattanooga, not
into the plains Of Georgia, but to the defence or
Nashville, in the heart Of Tennessee.
The heavy Notifications Of Richmond, as the
Davis confederacy now stands, amount TO
nothing. They may be taken-as those stupen
dous works at Columbus on the Mississippi,
were taken-by flank movement, aud at City, a
hundred or Eve hundred miles OF The city
may he taken by the simple occupation Of its
southern lines of communication, over which
its supplies of subsistence from day to day are
drawn; and these vital lines may be seized 10
North or South Carolina or Georgia, In word.
the military situation, East and West, the
urgent military necessities Of the rebellion, and
all the reports lately received from Richmond,
and from Longstreet aud Joe Johnston,
strengthen US in the opinion that tbs new pro-
grammc Of Davis will involve the abandonment
of Richmond and Virginia by bin regular
armies, and tho concentration Of oil bis armies
for flank movement into Tennessee. after tho
fashion Of Lees campaigns into Maryland and
Pennsylvana.
The Threatened War I'm Europe.
The Hibernia arrived at Halifax yesterday,
rw;t, nows from, CaI ua q "a thn 10Th ult IA q,