An ‘"Exposition."’
what the Federals think of the Plans and purposes of the Confederates.
The following article is copied from a recent number of the Shelbyville (Ky.) News.. Is its perusal one cannot fail to be struck with the wisdom and sagacity of the writer, who seems to predict that more important movements may be looked for within a few days:
‘ We do not desire to circulate rumors or fears that will cause excitement or increase the feeling of unrest which has taken possession of so many of our best citizens. But facts are developing which show that traitors are determined to carry out, as far as possible, their deliberately concocted plans to keep the seat of war from their own peculiar soil — the cotton States. That has been from the first the leading object of the Southern traitors when lead the van in the traitorous attempts to overthrew the Government and break up the Union. Foiled in their earlier attempts to carry out this darling object, new plans were recently formed, and all the energies of the traitors are expected to carry these plans into operation — partially, if not thoroughly. The measures recently adopted by the traitors, and which they are endeavoring to carry out, may be stated thus:
1. Withdraw all the forces from the Virginia and North Carolina coasts, and concentrate them at some central point in Virginia. These forces to form one wing of the Confederate army, to be placed under the command of Joseph E. Johnston, and to move in the direction of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, for the purpose of invading that State.
2. Withdraw all forces from the coast of South Carolina and Georgia, and concentrate them at Chattanooga, or some adjacent point. This division to form another wing of the Confederate army. under command of Robert E. Lee, and to move in the direction of Louisville, for the purpose of invading Kentucky and Ohio.
3. Withdraw the forces from the coast of Florida and Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas and Arkansas, and concentrate them at Corinth. This wing to be commanded by G. T. Beauregard, and to move in the direction of Paducah, with the intent of invading Illinois and Indiana.
’ This plan was formed by a full council of leading traitors. It is unnecessary for us to give the source of our information. Suffice it, that our informant obtained it from a native of this State, and whose name has often been given in the newspapers in the Southern States as a trusted and confided agent of the traitors against the Union. Socially and politically he stood among the most prominent before the rebellion.
The objects to be gained in carrying out the plan was first, to secure subsistence, of which there is none, or at least but very little, in the South--not enough to supply a lithe of the ordinary demand; and, secondly, to force into their armies all the fighting men. The several commanders were to push forward their forces with all possible dispatch, and possess themselves of all the important military posts on the rivers and in all the loyal States before these posts could be occupied by Federal forces, and thus, while the Union armies held and occupied the posts of importance in the States in rebellion, the force of the traitors, would advance into the very heart of the country.
We think the reader will agree with us that the recent movements of the forces of the traitors show that this development of their plan is correct. It is true that their attempt in forming the middle wing under Lane at Chattanooga has been, at least for the present, foiled by the energetic movements of McClellan; but news from Western Virginia shows that Jo. E. Johnston is concentrating all the forces he can bring against Fœmont's command in that direction — leading directly toward Pittsburg. And the evidence is overwhelming that all the forces from those States to constitute Beauregard's army at Corinth are concentrating there rapidly, with the design and hope of overpowering Gen. Halleck's army, and, if successful in the object, then moving according to their plan. They will, by this means, cause the Federal authorities to move an army in that direction to meet them, during which time the traitors will rally by persuasion, impressment, and under the conscription law, to their army every traitor and rebel in Tennessee and Kentucky.
With these facts before us we, and the reader also, can see why it is that Morgan, Wood, King and Scott, with their marauding bands, are thrown forward into Tennessee and Kentucky. They are ready to act in gathering up all the Confederate forces that can be mustered, fully enforcing the conscript law in the States whenever Beauregard moves forward, and also to cut off the small detachment of Union forces stationed at various points in Kentucky and Tennessee, and small bodies that may be sent out. They are, further, to steal and rob, intimidate and despoil loyal citizens, and act in conjunction with the traitors in the various communities in suppressing the Union element, and giving encouragement to the drooping spirits of the secession traitors.
