New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-07-01
TuE GREAT BATTLES.

their forces into two or three armies sDd
menace us on as many different points. We
divide our forces to confront aud match them
When they have us as much scattered Is posi-
bic, each commander seemingly in peril Of
immediate attack, they swiftly and silently
combine their several armies into one and hurl
the whole with desperate energy upon one OF
our armies. hoping TO oyerwhelm aud crush it
before we can bring another to lis aid. Operat-
ing on INFER circles and shorter lines OF COM
than ours, using railroads and
bridges and then destroying them, they
are thus enabled with equal or nferor forces
in the field to be the stronger on the point OF
actual collision. Thus they beat us at Bull
Run, having nearly all their Virginia forces on
the ground while We had an army under Pat
terson watching for johnson forty or fifty
miles of, beside regiments enough lying idle
about Baltimore aud Washington, and thence
all the way down to CentrevlIle, to have won
the fsit twice over. So Sidney Johnston and
BeaurrQard made their rush upon Grant with
not lers than Seventy Tbousaud against bis
astonished Thirty five, aud would have pushed
what was left of these into the Tennessee but
for Bues late though saving arrival. They
have now tried ths Same tactics on Mcclellan
we hope and believe to their own sore dis
comfiture.
1t is very easy to blame the Government
As some of our correspondents have done-for
not sending more troops long since to McC!cl-
Ian. We do not pretend TO decide on the Wis
dom of approaching Richmond from tho base
of the James River Peninsula; bu. It is maui
fest that doing this involves the necessity Of
guarding Washington and tue line Of the Poto-
mac By distinct force for this cannot be
done by an army advancing between the James
and York rivers. Had the advance been made
BY way Of Fredericksburg, Washington might
have been covered by the same army that me-
naced Richmond We believe tue work would
have been no harder and our men Tar health
Ter had this route been chosen. Now, We
have only to take thugs us they are.
Stonewal Jackson's late raid down the Shen
andoah was doubtless made with direct refer.
ence TO the concentration of his force with the
Rebel main aruy defending Richmond. When
he had done what mischief aud raised oil the
commction possible in that quarter, he slipped
through gap in the Blue Ridge TO Gcrdons
vile and go down I'LL bis command formed tie
extreme left wing Of their main army, when it
was precipitated in overwhelming numbers on
our weak right, and the great struggle between
not less than Three Hundred thousand com.
batauts begun.
On Thursday, The serious fighting was con-
fined to this wing, without heavy loss or ma
terial advantage to either side. On Friday,
the combat was more general and ssnguinary,
and the odds were against U.s. Gen. Mcclellan
drew back HE outnumbered right wing, which
enabled the Rebels TO cut off his communication
with bis base Of operations at White House or
the Pamubky, ipterrupUug both his railroad
and Geographic communications. 1t is under
stood that he simultaneously advanced his leit
wing, bringing it nearer to Richmond, ard in
fact within sbelliog distance Of that city. The
great feet Of steamers and transports which
contained his munitions aud supplies were
safely moved down the Pamunky and York
rivers, aud brought around into the James
river, above the mouth of the ChicknhOmiDy,
and within few miles Of the center Of
his new position. Our advices Of Saturdays
fighting are lees full and definite, but we un-
derstand that the advantage was decidedly
with the Unionats. And still the desperate
carnage went on-Sunday, aod we presume yes
terday, and We trust considerable re-eniorce-
ments reached our army from the North, while
Burnside moved up bis Twenty or Thirty Thou
sand men to their support from the South. 1t
is q great, desperate, terrible struggle,
whereof the victims will be connted by tens Of
but No have strong hopes of de-
cislVe Union triumph as its final result. Time