New is the hour for the guerilla bands.
The enemy have entered
Virginia in full force.
They are threatening the
Manassas Junction, which is the vital point of our line of communication with
Harper's Ferry.
This line will, doubtless, be threatened also at other points, by bodies of men thrown out from
Washington and
Georgetown.
If this line of communication can be broken up, then
Harper's Ferry may be attacked by a large force from
Pennsylvania and
Washington; and a heavy column be thrown forward against our army in
Culpeper, looking towards
Gordonsville and
Richmond.
Probably these movements will be seconded by heavy forces thrown upon
York River and the
Rappahannock, and disembarked at
Old Point.
Newports News is occupied.
Gen. Scott has declared his desire to conquer
Virginia without much bloodshed, by means of a force too heavy to be resisted.
We may certainly expect a very formidable army of invasion.
We allude to these facts in order to show the great importance of activity and promptitude among our guerilla forces.
Three-fourths of the men capable of bearing arms in
Virginia are prevented, by their domestic and business engagements and obligations, from enlisting in the service.
But it is not regularly martially forces alone that are serviceable in such an invasion as that which now threatens
Virginia.
Whoever can command a gun and a few buckshot, whoever owns a fleet horse, or a trusty rifle, can find employment for them now. There are no game laws against shooting down an enemy in his tracks, wherever he may be found.
Now is the time for surprises, for sudden volleys from concealed ambuscades, for abrupt attacks as from the clouds, and sudden retreats after mischief is done.
We shall soon see whether the spirit of resistance is abroad in the land.
The men who cannot enlist can fight on their own hook.--The Home Guard in each invaded county can make themselves felt.
If the war spirit which made
Henry Clay exclaim, ‘ "he felt as if he could slay a Mexican,"’ is alive in the
State, many a ‘ "pet-lamb"’ will be cut off before the pitched battles are engaged in. Now is the hour for the partisan corps of the country to show their hand — corps of the sort that were led by
Marion,
Sumter and
Hampton --made up of spirits like
Hays, Chevallie,
Walker and
McCullogh. The regular defence will be ably and bravely conducted by our
Generals and our armies; but it is the partisan soldiery who are a thorn in the flesh of the invader.
We should make thorough work of these invading columns.
They must not only be beaten in the field, but they must be utterly cut off. Not a man of them should be allowed to escape to tell the tale of rout and overthrow to his fellows.
By giving themselves a few days, a few weeks, or a few months to the service, many of the citizens of
Virginia, who cannot spare the time required in the regular enlistment, can render invaluable aid to the cause.
An army is not capable of annoying an invading column in the manner feasible by Rangers.
Too much depends upon its more regular movements and its preservation of order to permit of much offensive assault upon the flanks and detached squadrons of the invading force.
The business of annoying and cutting off in detail is the special function of the guerilla companies, acting upon their own information and resolve, and not subject to the rigid discipline of the
Line.
This is a war of the people and now is the time which shall decide whether the people will consult their case and leave all the fighting to the regular forces.
