The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1880-02-20
A Chapter Of the Late War.

The year 1861 closed gloomily for the
cause of the Union. The army of the
Potomac under Mcclellan had not made
the expected move; Mason and Slidell
had been surrendered; Congress was
surrounded with the greatest difficulties.
Early in 1862 Burnside's feet was
wrecked; and Cameron's resignation
made room for new Secretary of War,
of whose capacity and energy the people
had no accurate knowledge. Great ex-
pectations were entertained OF important
movements and successes in what was
popularly called the West, but of what
might be planning or happening in the
far West, in those remote Territories
which were not even correctly laid down
on the maps, not one person in one
hundred thousand, from the President
down, had a thought or care; though
most anxious solicitude would not
have been misplaced, as shall forthwith
appear.
Surveying further the situation in the
far South and West, we find in the first
place that the Rebels had completes pos
session of the great State OF Texas.
Twiggs had traitorously surrendered all
the troops under his command, with
forts, arms, ammunition and supplies OF
kinds, and many of the men had been
paroled. This vast region afforded an
admirable base for extended military
operations, and it was not long before
advantage was sought to be taken of it,
in the autumn of 1861. It was somewhat
as follows that the Confederate leaders
argued the matter.
Assuming that they could hold their
own east of the Mississippi,a move could
be made westward of that river having
every promise of success, and which, if
successful, would give immense material
and moral advantage to the South. The
plan was nothing less extensive than the
capture o4California, and the subsection
of five other States and Territories.
For the execution of this brilliant en-
terprise the programme was simple. A
powerful column should march by El
Paso into New Mexico, defeat or flank
Candy at Fort Craig, and occupy Santa
Fe. Next would come Fort Union, con.
tanning an admirable arsenal and supply
depot fitted in good reason by Floyd with
q most convenient stock of arms, ammu-
milton and stores. Thence the march
northward would be easy, and the prizes
would fall rapidly into the hands of the
troops Indians and Mormons were
probable and valuable allies. The sure
result could hardly fail to be the COM
plete and speedy control OF rich State,
a splendid sea coast, and forts from
which men. Of war and privateers could
issue to sweep the Pacific. This would
hasten recognition by European natiens,
would lead to the breaking of the
Atlantic blockade by England and
France. and then the end would soon
come.
What, then, were the weak points in
the plan? They were three. First, the
Rebels made the mistake, which they
repeated over and over again, of attach
ing Importance to the support to come
from disaffected people and districts
where the general sentiment was loyal.
Second, they were hopelessly misled
about the sentiments of the Mexican
population of New Mexico, and forgot or
ignored the animosity born years before
of the Texan Santa Fe expedition, and
still deeply ranking. Third, they made
a fatal miscalculation in undertaking the
stern patriotism, the unhinching courage
and the fierce energy of the men who
were laying the foundation of our ''Cen-
tennial State" of Colorado while bra ing
privation and hardship in searchv TO
gold. That these events were not known
and have not since been known in the
East is hardly surprising, in view of the
fact that other matters of transcedent
Importance, far nearer home, were con-
temporaneous with them. Fort Henry
was taken on February 9th, Roanoake
Island on February Sth, and Fort Donel-
son on February 18th. The battle of
Pea Ridge on March 9Th. The Monitor
fought the Merimac on March 9th, and.
the great engagement at Shiloh occtlrred
on April 9th and 7th. Probably notsnps'l
in ten thousand suspected that sstfs
threatening movement was making in the
rear of our armies; and it would have
been equally surprising and terrible to
have heard suddenly that a junction had
been effected by the Rebels with the
Mormons, and that mischief had already
been done which could be repaired, if at
all, only at the cost of hundredssof lives
and millions of money. Instead of this,
The bright days of May saw Sig4ey, dis
heartened and demoralized, resting at
that same Fort Bliss from which he had
marched with fell purposed four months
before. The valley of tia, Rio Grande
would know him no more, and he doubt
less sought his accustomed consolation
in the flowing l.-InteraatiOndt Re-
CielC.