Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1864-04-27
Rebel Hopes and Plans.

We have repeatedly asserted that the con-
trolling hope OF every rebel soldier, from the
chief butcher who Is eking out his miserable
existence IN Richmond, to his tools who are
! executing his plans 10 the field was centered
IN the scheme which viii control the spring
campaign,to invada the Northeast and
| Northwest. There can be no longer any
doubt, that, unless the rebels are able TO
! penetrate the free States at several, or at
least successfully at one point, the rebellion
viii collapse The chief traitors must then
win decisive victories the coming campaign,
or their followers will desert them on the
field Of shame. Indeed, the most promi-
nent and influential journals in the South
! begin to see and acknowledge the aiterna-
tive OF attempting TO invade the free States
/ as her only hope of success. The South has
! exhausted her sources of producing soldiers
/ and hence they must invade the North to
| recruit among the copperheads As an in
/ dlcatlon Of their plans and purposes, we sub
init the following from a late Southern
journal:
From, tie Montgomery (Ala, Nail
Early in the Coming Spring, scifh our
| trans Mississippi oTDly iCe mast iAr0de Ms
SoUrt, and 1ritb General Lees army lce must
| ilrade ohio, and aoith General Johnson S
dYgny mare through Kentucky and Iennes-
4
| this, If we remain at home, and attempt to
/ defend thousand points from a thousand
attacks from an enemy commanding our sea-
| board and navigabie rivers with ample
means OF transferring their armies where
| they choose, and with every part of our ter
| rItory assaI!able TO cavalry raids, Our oqrt-
! culture uiU be ruined, ard oar nantactor-
ies ,ciW be destroyed
| Let US invade them with our whole force
! Missouri, Kentucky, Maryland and the
'copperheadS' aciU saoeH oar ranks IFe
acant food r0ime'at and g0yd. Let US go
and take what We need, The army will re-
ceive the order, Forward to the North, =
with shout. There let them stay until
DIE there lcith arms. tn oar hGRds, than
Starre here and trpire IN ch0tnS The best
protection we can give those we leave behind
will be to get the helpless of the North as
hostages III our power.
If our trans Mississippi army advances
upon St. Louis, and the Virginia army up-
on Pittsburg and Ohio and Pennsylvania,
| unless the whole Federal army is withdrawn
from the South 10 defend Ohio and Mis-
| souri, Pittsburg, Cincinnati and Chicago
viii be captured by General Lee. and Ohio,
Indiana and Illinois will be overun by our
forces, and Missouri will be rescued But
IL iliG It1Sfdi aflIjg huOulU D0 HlJItuI3Wil-
as it certainly will be--or else, If il should
be greatly weakened to defend St. Louisa and
Pittsburg, General Johnston can, without
difficulty, advance to the Ohio, and Gberate
Tennessee and Kentucky. It IS perfectly
clear to my mind that the invasion Of the
North will effect these prime objects.
l. It viii free the whole South from the
presence of the Federal army. The militia,
garrisons, and our troops not in a condition
TO march, can protect our homes against the
small force they may have 70 harrass It.
2. 1t will supply us with all the horses,
equipments, clothing and articles Of every
kind needed by our soldiers.
5. The retaatory infection of the hor-
rors OF war will make the North desire
peace and make foreign nations see that we
have the power to annoy our enemy, and
dispose them to recognize US.
+ 1t will double our army instead of de-
pleting it.
5. Il will end the war in our favor in one
year.