The Daily Dispatch: March 14, 1863., [Electronic resource]

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Boasted Strength of the enemy.

It is a wise rule never to "underrate an enemy," but, if you fight him at all, to fight him with every power of body and mind. It is an equally wise rule not to overrate him, lest despair should relax the energies as much as over-confidence. In the beginning of this contest we did not give the North credit for its fighting capacities, and, from that extreme, we are in danger of rushing to another — that of over-estimating its resources in money and men. We have never believed that Lincoln had half the men in the field the lying Northern newspapers pretended. The million of soldiers was all bosh; or, if they existed, why call for 600,000 more? and if the 600,000 came, where are they? The Yankees had men enough, no doubt; but no such army of Xaxes as they pretended.--Nor have we any apprehensions of the multitudinous host which the Yankee Congress has authorized him to call out. Our heroic army will take care of the new comers as they have of the old. Let us husband our resources, stop the cultivation of tobacco, raise corn, potatoes, peas, beans, cabbage, onions, and we may set Abe and his hosts at defiance forever.