The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1864-04-22
Tho ampalgn In the Southwest.


The movements Of General Banks since he assumed
command IN the Southwest Of character TO justify
the idea that he has been guided more by political
economical than by military motives There is nothing
IN his history, from the time when be fed vigorously
a - 70 Inc e ne M ocG ~
possesses the ability Of soldier but both in his pre-
vous life and in his army career there Is much TO prove
that he has the kind Of talent out OF which Yankees
| manufacture politicians and statesmen. In . military
point OF view he has hitherto accomplished nothing. In
political point Of view be has done much
than any other towards carrying the Yankee
programme o. commercial and agricultural agsran.
dlzemsns he has mot during nis fifteen months
Yankee military occupation by thousand square
miles but be has succeeded, wherever bis power
tends, 10 oetenelby overturnDg the whole system
which Southern society was founded, and in undermn
ing the Industrial institutions which previously existed
&c has utilized sss Yankee theory Of free labor
by aboishing slavery in name while ne attempts 10 rear
its material benefits by preserving II 10 fact Keeping
10 view these characteristics OF the man. we can
for much Of that intermittent energy followed by yac
latpR weakness, which has marked his military lie IN
louisiana
Regarded the light Of strictly military primer les
The Rio Grande expedition was eenseess blunder Is
portion from the great strategCal centres and placing
Them where they could effect nothing towards
Tepss ;nsn Te ,ssv nad SseU ssn me suae o.
Greenland. Indeed, the Mississippi 10 far better than
the Rio Grande as base Of operations against Texas
But it probably never occurred to Banks or any one
else that the interior OF Texas could be successfully
assaed from the Rio Grande. The object Of the expe
don was, in the first place, TO OF the Confederate
trade which was carried on through the Mexican port or
Matamoroe and in the next place, get possession Of
large amount Of cotton variousy estimated by the Yam
KEGS at from 80 600 to 900 bales supposed be
depot at Brownsville and in the vicinity OF that place
Bui the trade, far from beng cut Off. nourshes as
actively Is ever cotton being crossed into Mexico al
Piedras Negras point on the Rio Grande above Browns
vile, and thence taken overland via Monterey to Mata
moros where it s shipped in foreign bottoms ano goods
received in return being transported into Texas by the
same route.
regard to cotton in depot Yankee hores have been
equally disappointed Instead Of finding $50 600 even
5O0eO their total acquisitions the Rio Grapde would
be covered by 600 bales Hence, both objects Of the
expedition having failed onishing tina, Banks
them employment IN region which, be seems 10 think
Promises richer spoils.
Banks march through Louisiana, 10 the beginning az
last year had much the same CHARACTERISTICS He swept
through the country, meeting little opposition, because
though he gained absolutely nothing permanent
conquest and occupation OF the state bis New
Iberia TO 0pelonsas from Opeousas Alexandra. and
Alexandra othe mouth Of Red river where be again
crossed the Mississippi marked with arson, ana
devastation aud be succeeded 10 carrying away With him
several thousand negroes 10 FL the vacuum the
plantations caused by forcing the slaves 10 10 the military
service
Recent informs that Banks Is nov repeating
his experiment IN central north Louisiana He
has advanced with large body Of troore towards Alex
andra. while Porrer, with feet Of gunboats ascendt
Red river. TIE last advcss that Fort De Russy
on Red river has been captured by the and tba
the gupboats have pushed on 10 Alexandria.
The announcement by the Yankees that this opens
them Of the richest and productive cotton
gons OF the South, explains the motive which al th
bottom Of the movement 10 cotton stealing and cot
ton protecting expedition That is 10 say, Banks waDl
10 steal all the cotton 10 the Red river country that b
lay his hands and at the time by establish
pg Inc along the Washita. which fowe parallel with
the Mississippi protect the Yankee agents and supern.
iepdenis who cuvatng cotton on leased or conds
Gated plantations along the Mississippi Heretofore this
part OF the Yankee scheme has been much disturbed
by theCoDfederac guerillas. who allow the Yankee IN
truders peace. bouncing them unawares, burning
their cotton and carrying of Their stolen negroes BY
Occupying The line OF the Washita with strong
force Banks Will be enabled cut OF these
Confederate avengers and thus permit his tools and
agents 10 CRY forward their scheme OF organizes
pLDder robbery with some degree 81 peace End
security ~ IL possible that he likewise contempates
advance Shreveport but Of ths entertain strong
doubts The march long and diicu ard would expose
him 70 destruction OF reverse Nevertheless,
s after cotton be will have much farther tha
Alexandria 70 iDd ii 10 any quantities. Tia, town 70
situated the sugar region and il is only after eav ing
Rspdes Parish and entering Natchtoches that the cot
ton districts Of Red river approached. On the Wa
e1a the case is different. That river flows through
country abouudng 10 cotton and VI he succeed in
py ing t. be may get few thousand bales-provded the
troops stupid enough let il fsn into
their bands. Bot neither Red river the Washts
nayeable for the Yankee gunboals except during The
Of high water Hence, what Banks intends 70 AZ
be must do Quickly, or be left high and dry the
shores, al the mercy o. the concentrating Confederate
armies