, 1861-07-16

fspecial Correspondence Chicago Trthnne.1
WASHINGTON, Ju'y u, 1861.
The movement Of which wrote you yester-
day was made by few thousand men early In
the day, aud, as It would now seem' ios Tue
purpose Of Strengthening as well as advancing
our lines, md as preparation for more eK-
tended operation within day or two. 1t Is
impossible to learn precisely What mas neen
done, or how serious the last demonssFaifon
upon the enemy s front Is. The eclose-noathed
of1icials keep their OWL secrets. But inoica-
tious apparent to all make 1t certatn that the
qrand march cannot be long delayed The
quantity Of stores and the number Of animals
and wagons daily being sent over, are enor'
nous: and In them everybody sees speedy
fight. hear oracular outgivings that Sunday
next Is to be the day Of trial; but l have
ceased to put faith in the rnmors which hy
thick and fast up and down the streets, and
content myself with veraciously chroniclfng
what has been.
The impatience Of the leading men Of a11
parties is not concealed. The Senators OF the
Republican faith are especially annoyed BY the
manner in which victory is made to wait upon
the slow movements of rcd tape. At a party
Caucus yesterday, the question Of taking such
official action as would impeI tne miatary
ted; and though there was majority present
who agreed In the opinion that resolution
urging greater celebrity Of movement might
properly be paseed IN open Senate, it was
thought to be wise and prudent, In view OF
what ia daily passing under our notics, to
withhold any expression Of official opinion
until the events which are expected to follow
the proposed march haVe trauspired. This
forbearance is perhaps pr3iseWorthy. But it
the movement should not be made, or If,
when made, our men should encounter ses1-
Gus check, the murmurings Of discoutent
which have been suppressed With pain, would
| be changed in clamorouB cries that the Govern
| mtnt would be forced to heaz. The faith in
| Gen. Scott's great skill and knowledge con-
tinues to be nnimpatred; and the thakfulness
! rendered the country at the outbreak Of the
| trouble, Is freely expressed. Bat ought not
| to disguise from you the fact that there Is 8
conviction, perhaps born Of error. that he has
| reached that great age in which the weight Of
| years and the teasing Of int1rmity impair his
usefulness, not rs an adviser, but as the con-
ductor Of great operations. Those who know
| cay that lis plans, though marked With his old
! genius, are not carried out with the yigor that
would mark. the operations Of q younger man.
He does not err, does not forget; but it is
said that he does not, as Of yore, seize at q
|
details Of The situation; hence, that while one
part Of his vast work Of preparation goes On
rapidly, another drags and produces delay.
To use familiar illustration, his horses pull
one at time. It Is true that he is embarrass-
ed by the age, ignorance and incapacity OF
those whom be looks to for aid in the various
departments Of army service; and that be
can neither rejuyenate octogenar!ans nor In
ject sense into braiu1ess heads. Bat 1t is also
true that he cannot make his own years one
less and that there is no physician whose
medicaments can repair the rarages Of time
II is accounted treason to doubt the iufaflibil
ity of the Commander-in- Chief, and the heigh
Of impudence for civilians to find fault Will
military operations. But the truth must be
uttered. know Of no military achievements
on this field Of operations that might not
/ without flattery, be laid at the door Of a com
panY OF dozen business men Of trained ca
pacity; and have yet to see the man befor
whom I would be willing to sing hosannas
! | The result Of the first campaign Will demon
strate what has long been suspected-that til
American army which has grown fat an
sleepy on forty years Of peace, broken onl
by that " Mexican disturbances" aud an occa
, sfonal Indian attack, needs reconstruction o
+ st least the reEivifying influence Of men bor
within the present century. 4onng men fo
attion," is one Of those crystalized expires
sions Of popular wisdom to which the event
Of the present day give new yerifcation.
CIR.