The Daily Dispatch: April 1, 1862., [Electronic resource]

An English opinion of the War in America.

‘ "Now that the war cloud has passed away from our shorts without burst n t, we are able to turn once more, with more calmness and with a clear view, to the contest which is raging in America. One may judge of the importance of the is by noticing how extraordinary are the events to which it made as for a time indifferent. The new year has opened on a spectacle to which only the wars of Europe in the days of the first conspire can show a parallel. Just fifty years ago, armies were mustering for the invasion of a vast and ill known empire. Along a line of a thousand miles were massed bodies of troops, taken from nearly of the populations of Western Europe. From the fogs of the Relic from the v beat of Southern Italy, came men, strangers to each other in neck, language, and religion, forced by one mighty genius to take part in the enterprise which was to make him master of the world. The late of this sublime military conception is how one of the stock examples of moral sin. Every preacher or poetaster can declaim on the folly of the great Napoleon; point out that a nation fighting for its existence can never be sublime that enormous armies must break down with their own weigh; that an advance into a rodless, roadless, and hostile country must be fatal to a vast multitude of men who have to bring with them every necessary of subsistence or transport, and who defeat each remove a lengthening in As long as any of us can recoiled, the invasion of Russia has been the wonder of mankind.

"A year ago no people would have been more ready that the Americans to acquirable in these conclusions. They had not only the fate of Napoleon before their eyes out they might call to mind the annuals of war on their own continent. If they have not too completely surrounded the events of the Revolution and of 1812 with a mist of fable they must recognize that their main defence in both gates was the extent of their country, by which troops were worn out by the very advances which were the prize of victory. Yet the history of foreign countries and of their own has been without warning for the Northern Americans. All through the Federal States the people have been for months intent upon reproducing the priors of George III, and Napoleon. From the Atlantic coast to regions far west of the Mississippi, a series of armies extend, which is to march southward through swamp and forest, over bills and rivers, to conquer and hold a country half as large as Europe. The military schemes of the Federal, though discussed in scores of newspapers, are even now unintelligible. The supposition most favorable to the Government at Washington is, that the tactics of the last few months were but a concession to the fancy of the people or the ambition of various leaders, and that there I contest is now about to commence; for the campaigns of Fremont and Nelson, and one or two others, tone her with the expeditions to Hatteras and Port. Hotel, seem to have been dictated by no settled military policy. In the Western States no great advantage has been gained by either side and the armies, if they can be called so, are going into winter quarters, the one to the north and the other to the south of a desolated region, the inhabitants of which have for the most part deserted it to dwell with whichever side has their sympathies.

"It is hardly time to speak of the expedition up the Mississippi. which is intended for an attack on New Orleans. We know not what means of defence the Confederates have in this quarter, It may be, the Federal will he able to inflict a great destruction of properly on their enemies. There counterion of a place so far from the sea is however, not likely to be attempted by the Federal with so small a force as they have in the Southern waters. The idea of an expedition which was to start from Cairo down the Mississippi, seems to have been abandoned, and it is probable that this wild scheme of advancing heard miles in boats, through the enemy's country, has been discountenanced by the move sober spirits at Washington. On the other hand, there are reconnaissances and advances on the Atlantic coast, and we are told that an attack on Charleston or Savannah is daily expected. The railway station near Elisto Island between Port-Royal and Charleston, has been occupied by a detachment, of Federal troops. It seems likely, therefore that the Northern Government persists in its policy of operating at a number of Isolated pointe on the coast. In default of great successes in Virginia, this is perhaps, the only thing that can be done with half a million of men to keep and no money in the Treasury; with a people clamorous for war yet unwilling to pay taxes or event Government loan, It is no doubt necessary for the Administrative to have at least the semblance of Success. If they cannot win a great victory they must win little ones, and call them great. But in the history of war there it, probably no instance of say good being achieved by the occupation of headlands on an enemy's coast, except when they have been used as the basis of great operations in the interior. So, in the present war, it is plain that the capture of Hatteras has been without effect on the course of affairs; tension of Fort Pickens does not terrify Alabama or Florida, and the capture of Beaufort, or even the destruction of what remains of Charleston, cannot effect the Colton States of the Atlantic, except for a few miles from the seaboard. But in the North These little success a give inf gratification, The magnificent exploits of the Wabash at Port Royal were on thousand of Northern tonsure until Capt. Davis was throws into the Shade by Capt Wilkes.

"As this present month of January will are the Federal Treasury pouring out inconvertible promises to put us fast as the improved printing machines can provide them, it will be necessary to do something to restore good humor, and to keep before the eyes of a much trusting people the mirage of a suppressed rebellion. It is therefore probable that, as a political provice, some attempt will be made on one of the cities of the coast. What the fortune of such an extent as may be, we have no means of knowing, for the strength of the Confederates in these part is quite a mystery. Yet, for all that we learn, it seems that the Confederates much the same opinions as have been expressed in Europe. One thing becomes more and more clear the more the question is considered, and that is, that everything in his war depends on the earnestness of the Southern people. Do they really intend to fight to out to the last, or will they think it to their interest to join the North again and reconstitute the Union on those favorable terms which the North would be rejoiced to give them? Everything indicate that the former is the true temper of her oath and that thirty years of bickering, followed by a year of actual hostilities, has turned these proud and vindictive people into implacable enemies of the Yankee. If this be the case, then all the flea bites on the corps will be disregarded, and the Confederates must be crushed by advancing through their country and conquering it mile by mile. So thinks Mr. Jefferson Davis for according to our special correspondent, the Confederates are concentrating enormous forces in Virginia, and comparatively neglecting her parts of their territory. The war in Kentucky and Missouri being interrupted, every regiment the Confederates can obtain they will bring to Manassas, in order to make good the defence of their positions on the Potomac. Here, apparently, the great battle must some day be fought, and it is probable that, from the pressure on General McClellan an advance may take place even during the winter, if the weather sets in. On the result of this campaign we have no desire to speculate. The Confederates are inferior in the important matter of arms; for though they have been doing their best to manufacture rifle for themselves, the number produced can be but small in comparison with that which the Federal have obtained from abroad. On the other hand, they are said to have artillery in sufficient strategic defend their positions, which for six months they have been strengthening under the sure intendance of the ablest officers of the old U. S. army. The contest, superiors will no doubt belong and stubborn. But if we look a little beyond we shall see that is the Confederates be in earnests federal victors would be only the beginning of Federal difficulties. A request to a new position would as the consequence and the Northern lines would have to advance through a wanted and hostile population, every day taking them further from their friends and to caress and as Virginia alone is as large as England and Wales, we may form as idea of the time necessary for their people's subjugation of the South. The wall and be telling from the eyes of the Northern people and they must be aware of the ignite on surprise before them. Indeed we find that the dream of a vision party exist as in the South has completely passed away, and that the North now said that it may conquer or destroy, but can never conciliate.

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