Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1865-02-23

strong enough for any descent upon him
from Charlotte. aeEs
THE rebel organ in England, the Iadsz
smsrtiug under disappointment at hearing
of the fall of Fl. Fisher. argues with as.
sumed satisfaction that the abandonment
of the sea coast by the rebels will be an
actual advantage 70 thsm, and will
strengthen their armies. Some of the. Rich.
mond papers have taken the same ground.
Now iTthe Indez and the Richmond editors
are right, it is somewhat surprising that
the eminent men, who have directed the
military aIairs of the South, have not
thought of giving mp the ssa-coast. Davis
could at any time have ordered the evacu.
alton of, the forts and cities on the coast,
which it has required many men to
guard. rBut not . single position on the
ssa-board has he given up, until his troops
haTabeen driven ont by our victorious
forces. BE has defended every one Of them
With the utmost tenacity. he is now cling
ing With desperate tenacity to Wilmington,
about the only one, along With Mobile, that
remAins to him. We may couclnde there
fore that Davis and Lee and Beauregard
differ from the shpient editor of the. Lsdez
They are somewhat .e1cusAble for not fol-
lowing his advice, as the mails between
london and Richmond are not very reeu.
lar just now
We confess We are inclined to think that
Davis and Lee and Beauregard are wiser
than the Indez. We cannot see how the
rebel armies will be strengthened by with
drawing into the interior. We concede
that If they had control of East Tennessee
as we'll as of the interior region of Virginia,
the CaEOliuas and Georgia, their position
would be stronger than it now is. They
would then have railroad communication
between the most important points In their
territory, aud would occupy a region sufi-
cisntly large and fertile to furish susie
nance for their armies. Our navy could
take no part in the operations against them.
Our lines of Communication would be 60
long and so liable to interruption that our
task would be difficult. But fortunately We
hold East Tennessee with its line of railroad.
When We have occupied Wilmington and
Charleston, we shall have control Of every
railroad communication between Virginia
aud South Carolina aud the region beyond,
Suppose then the rebel army falls back
from Richmond TO DAnville or to Lynch
burg. How is it to be supplied7 1t is only
with the greatest difficulty that it has late
ly been fed, when the lines to Georgia v ere
Rniniused. Our scouting parties have
found notices posted in all the public pla-
Oes, requsstiug the Inhabitants to bring in
food for the army. Nov il he army 10
crowded back under the mountains with
only. few short railway lines to bring
forward food aud only limited district to
furnish 1t, how can Lee supply III Again,
. u we occupy Richmond, Augusta and
Macon, ~ We can u the case supposed, if
We sCiEe the great manufactures Of DOW.
der and cannon and mpSkets and shot and
shell how eau Lee supply himself with
mpUidOHsI II cur diEacultios are doubled
by wagiug WAY so far inland, Lees are in.
creased = hundred told. We have nlvAvs
believed and attn believe that he will make
the country about Richmond his lighting
ground, as long as be can. II be retires
to the interior, ii viii be because be IL
compelled to do 90, but not because be
choose to so. 1t WnEbe a sign of weak.
nSss, not Of strength. It viii DO an omen
OF rebel failure, not of rebel success.