The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1862-09-06
MONTPELIER VIZ
SATURDAY, SEPT. 8, 1862.
The Campaigns in Virginia.

Whoever may be to blame on our side for th
result OF the efforts of the Government FRI crus
treason in Virginia, there can be no loubt tho
the rebels have good reason to boast that thu
Tar our campaigns on the sacred soil have bee
failures, and failures discreditable to ourselves
AND yet, more money and more lives hay
been expended in these frutless campaivn,
than III all the rest of the war put together
The rebellion first made aggressive demonstra
tons IN Virginia. The Government waited un
I'll the last moment before sendino y fedora
SolCfler upon the soil of the State, and. almost
by the stupidity of the traitors. secured Arlinc.
ton Heights, and thus temporarily rendered
Washington safe. From that time forward the
tide Of battle has cbbed and flowed over that
otatc, until 1t is again at the doors of the Cant
tai The first movement on the rebels at Ma
naSSaS resulted, through The most stupid Gene
ralshlp on our part, in most disastrous defeat
'nas 80 frightened the whole nation that it did
ho' dare to strike another blow for nearly seven
months. In tie meantime Gen. Mcclellan WAS
organizing an army on the Potomac. on grand
or scale than anything ever before seen on this
continent, and the Government was preparino
'or the great Anaconda style of warfare, that
was 70 surround, press on all sides, and crush.
Win us monster grip, every traitor in the land.
Inc second campaign commenced early last
spring, and while series of brilliant and suc-
cessfnl achievements in the valley of the Mis-
slsslppl and along the coast had inspired cyerv-
BODY with hope that the war would be soon
enoed, the magnificent army in Virginia
uioNcd from its winter quarters ON the Poto-
mae 1t was assured by Gen. Mcclellan that
1t mad been reserved to strike the death blow TO
treason and crush the rebellion forever. It
numbered more than 200 900 men, splendidly
furnished and equipped, with better material
OF war than ever before strengthened such
mighty host, and the nation fondly and confd-
lngly looked to this army for its deliycrance
from treason But, after a six months cam
palgn, the remnant of that army, now counting
in its ranks but little, if any, more than one
half Of the men who defantly set out with it.
last March, from the Potomac. has returned ia
the Notifications along that river, and is behind
entertainments, recognizing, filling up its
thlnned ranks, and content, for the present, to
guard once more the capital of the Nation.
This retrospect is humiliating enough, and
there is little wonder that there is great deal
OF grumbling at the result, or that the people
sho"ld be blaming everybody that they suppose
to be at all responsible for the result Nor is it
singular that there should not be an entire
agreement respecting the management of the
disastrous campaigns. We know, however,
that Mcclellan was defeated on the Peninsula
that Banks was driven out Of the Shenandoah
' alley, that Fremont suffered check in tho
same Valley, and that Pope has been compelled
to fall back upon Washington We know. also.
that Mcclellan was recalled with his army from
the Peninsula, by Gen. Halleck. We know all |
these results have been brought about because
The rebels chose to fight us, instead of waiting
or us to light them, and that by the rapiditv |
Of their movements, and their ability to con-
Generate troops upon our weak positions, they |
have completely foiled every attempt thus far
to capture Richmond.
" hat lessons Of wisdom we shall learn from
all this experience it isimpossible yet to tell If
we become more timid and cautious. waiting
before offering battle, until we are sure of vic
tory, the next year will unquestionablv be like
the last, and the Confederacy within twelve
months, an established fact If. on the other
hand, we allow our enemies to teach lis in the
'rt OF war, concluding, as we must sooner or
alter, that we can neither staryc nor fight them
nto submission, and boldly and swiftly use our
strength, striking everywhere and following
blow with blow, it is possible for us to retrieve,
md that speedily, our disasters for the last two
months, and once more get on the high road to
'ictory
For the present, however, we have no expec-
alton of seeing any policy but the defensive
dopted by the government. There will be no
ighting in Virginia soon, unless the rebels
orce us to it in defense Of Maryland. Military
ctiyity will confne itself to the entertainments
nd the defences Of the Upper Potomac. As
las been said, spades will be trumps " for