The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1862-06-05

pressure of Northern arms and home starva-
ton.
In connection with this gratifying news from
the far South, we have important advices from
one of our own correspondents in front OF
Richmond concerning the recent battles under
General Mcclellan on the one side, and Gene
raj Joseph Johnston on the other Althoughn
must be confessed that the Southern rebels have
fought with all the courage and desperation Of
our heroic race, still the unwavering resistance
of Northern soldiers, and the justice OF our
cause, have always brought victory to our ban
ners. The rebels have, in fact reckoned with
out their host. Instead of two days fighting,
we now learn that the Union soldiers contested
the ground with the greatest determination for
three days; and, when the overwhelming host
of rebels thought they had got our troops q
the 'last ditch" they were driven from their
ground by the triumphant bayonets Of our in
vincible Northern soldiers.
Brief as is this review Of the operations of
our army, it cannot but be highly gratifying to
the public. The course of our armies is always
onward. From the Potomac, as from the dis
tant Tennessee, we hear the cheering sounds
of victory.
We have already published the earliest ad-
vices of the battles fought by both our armies.
The graphic accounts of the last contest near
Richmond will show how earnestly the Union
army before that city is battling for the right.
Gradually we are approaching the rebel CAPT
tall and even now our pickets are advanced to
the line of the rebel works on the last line OF
defences in front of Richmond. In the last
battle with the enemy we took no less than
1900 prisoners, and killed and wounded $500
rebels; while our own loss was not over 800
killed and about 5000 wounded. The rebels
took no prisoners at all, but retreated before
the unrestrained sweep Of our patriot army.
These are evidences of the past-to be re-
peated more destructively in the future
Wherever the Union flag, Union soldiers and
. Union spirit are seen, the cause of right and
constitutional liberty must invariably triumph
COMMERCIAL PROGRESS AND THE CHAMBER OF
CoxMERCE-The Chamber Of Commerce, at
their last monthly meeting, postponed the cleo
4T Nn Oh.
urged by our merchants to the present incum-
bent. The postponement was made on the
presumption that the Secretary was cognizant
of a suggestion made to the members two days
before the election that, in case the President
declined a reelection another gentleman
named might be acceptable. 1t is very wrong
sometimes for man to know too much. He
had better keep his information and the practi-
cal suggestions of others to himself, and not
make himself too useful. We have known
numerous instances where persons have been
superseded in Office because they knew too
much, and were too little under the curb.
But if the Chamber of Commerce wishes to
perpetuate its fame among our future mer-
chants it will again strive to call the atten-
ton of government to the necessity of
direct railway between our city and Wash
ington. Every merchant in New York can ap
preciate the Importance of speed in the trans
portation of the mails between leading points,
yet they submit silently to thirteen hours
travel between New York and Washington, when
eight hours would be ample. And this very
route is at once the great connecting link
commercial, postal and travelling
the North and the South, and connects the
three largest cities of the Union with the CAPT.
tai of the country. The correspondence and
business of the government alone demand this
reform. What commercial country on the
globe besides this would submit for nearly
quarter of a century to the disgraceful deten-
tons caused by the break in the railway line,
and all to give little profit to two grasping
corporations like the cities of Philadelphia and
Baltimore?
When we look at the extent and i'm
portance Of our commercial correspond
ence between the North and Northeast and the
entire South, there can be no doubt of the ur-
gent need of increased speed on our main lines
of railroad. On all the leading mail routes of
Great Britain, France, Germany, Prussia and
Austria the mails are carried from forty to
sixty miles an hour, and not an instance can be
found in Europe where any city is allowed to
break the railway connection for local profit or
any other cause. There is one railway already
directly through London, and three more are
building to intersect at different points the
great metropolis Of the kingdom-a city Of near
three millions Of people.
The Southern Tor Washington train for New
York leaves at six A. NJ, and should reach this
city at two p. NJ, being speed of little more
than thirty miles an hour. Instead Of that the
passengers are landed here at seven p. NJ, after
tedious steamboat passage in New York Bay
via Amboy Parties with large means have pro-
posed to build first class railroad between
-