“Can we not defend ourselves as long as the North, can continue a war of invasion?”

“A good question, sir.  Of course aggression is more costly than defence.  But one trouble with us is that we rarely fight a defensive battle.  Lee’s strategy is defensive, but his tactics are just the reverse.  The way to win this war, allow me to say, is to fight behind trees and rocks and hedges and earthworks:  never to risk a man in the open except where absolutely necessary, and when absolute victory is sure.  To husband her resources in men and means is the South’s first duty, sir.  I hope General Lee will never fight another offensive battle.”

“But are not the armies of the enemy strong enough to outflank any line of intrenchments that we might make?”

“True; but in doing so they would present opportunities which skilful generalship would know how to seize.  If no such opportunities came, I would have the army to fall back and dig again.”

“Then it would be but a matter of time before we should come to the last ditch,” said I.

“Pardon me; the farther they advanced, the more men would they need.  Of course there would come a limit, at least a theoretical limit.  It might be said that we could not fall back and leave our territory, which supplies our armies, in the hands of the enemy.  But to counteract this theory we have others.  Disease would tell on the enemy more than on ourselves.  Our interior lines would be shortened, and we could reenforce easily.  The enemy, in living on our country, would be exposed to our enterprises.  His lines of communication would always be in danger.  And he would attack.  The public opinion of the North would compel attack, and we should defeat attacks and lose but few men.”

Captain Haskell had no hope that there would be any such change in the conduct of the war.  He seemed depressed by Mr. Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation, which, he saw, would effectually put an end to hope of aid or intervention from Europe.  His hope in the success of the South was high, however.  The North might be strong, but the South had the righteous cause.  He was saddened by the thought that the war would be a long one, and that many men must perish.

I had read much from books borrowed from other men in my spare time, from newspapers, and from magazines; and my questions had led Captain Haskell to talk for half an hour, perhaps more freely than he thought.

He told me to say nothing to the men concerning the prospect for a long war.  He seemed serious rather than gloomy.  For my part, it mattered little that the war should be long.  I had almost ceased to expect any discovery of my former home and friends, and the army seemed a refuge.  What would become of me if the war should end suddenly?  I did not feel prepared for any work; I know no business or trade.  Even if I had one, it would be tame after Lee’s campaigns.

XXX