Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1862-07-25
GEN. LEE THE RIsI.G MAN.
IFTom lhe Rlchmond Dlspatch.l

From he Richmond Dlspatch.l
The rise which this oficer has suddenly taken
IN the public confidence Is without precedent.
A. the commencement of the waT 90 ENJOYED the
biGhest reputation Of any officer on the continent.
Bu; mis- farDe was considerably damaged by the
result cf his c,mpsign over the mountains. The
public was unable 10 estiu. ate the difficulties
with which be wsS surrounded, and was dis
plssed with him because be Old not accomplish
wnat We are now convinced must have impossi-
b!liLE, We confess we wee OF the DUInoer who
allowed our pFev!cn,ly high estimation of Gen.
Lee 10 b. considerably shaken, II not altogether
Oy Thrown, by result Of that expedition. IL was
not until he was placed IN situation where he
h4d opportunity to display his great abilities,
that he was enabled 70 teach the country and our
selves, as humble Of the country the folly Of
forming sudden jg5-rents upon premises not
sufficiently established.
The operations Of Gen. Lee, In the short cam
psiga which Is just over, were certainly those Of
= master. No captain that ever lived could have
planned oreXecuted q better campaign. IL was
perfect In all its parts, and will be set down
hereafter as among the models which the mill
tarY student will be eQuired to study His frat
labor as 10 render the city impregnable, which
he acconplisht so successfully that, In the opin
Ter Of military men, IL could not be taken by
double the force Mcclellan could bring against
II. HIS next was to provide for the dispersion Of
the enormous force which threatened 1t from the
CEickahominV. How was this 70 be donef To
attack their fOrtihcations In front was only TO
throw away the lives Of his soldiers To turn
Them with the force which he had under him,
here wa an enterprise Of infuite diraculty since
b would be compelled, In doing so, TO expose
BIS own flank during the cross march. In this
dilemma, he fell upon the bold and orig iginal plan
OF bringing Jackson down upon their right flank
But IL was Of the most importance to conceal
this intended operation until the very last mo.
Esent- The plan he devised was in the highest
aeg'ee ingenious IL was generally believed
tEAt jackson, after crushing Fremont and
Shields, was TO march into the euemy's country
and transfer the war to lis own freside. Means
Were taken TO encourage that belief, and one of
t2em was 20 seSd heavy achievements to the
Valley. When these lad reached their destina-
uOn and everybody was expecting to hear the
&c ina OF Jackson'S cannon on the SuiQ ehanna
tne public was electrified by the magnificent re.
conRolssance Of General Stuart From that re-
ccnnoisance Lee learned xll that he wished
further 10 know, and while the public was still
discussing the utility Of an operation 20 full of
Hazard, tue news arrived that Jackson had sent
I" LThchburg for all the cars that was at
Runton, that he was at Gordonsville, that be
was at Louisa Court House, that he was al Han
over Court House with all his army
ne truth then burst upon the pzblic L., its fulI
e1uiSence. The enemy were to be Attacked In
Elk ard rear by Jackson's at tte same time tba
they Were to be assailed In 'front.' by Lee with the
tha nnn.. ,snod ~ ns fhe plan was worthy Of
the Ios' renowned General that ever lived, and
even Wnlle u was n the very agony Of projection
ana hdd not yIC been tried, no man doubted It's
.nlfs succr>s. 1t did succeed beyond all reason
Gole ns e, even Of 80 wisely conceived and well.
fIIhOr among the highest military names-on the
same roll with the Hannibal, the Caesars, the
fredeIicks and Napolsons Of history.
The perfect success which attended The effort.
IF Lee 10 keep the march of Jackson from the
knowledge OF the enemy ID among he marvels OF
= oSe msrvelvons operations. The writer Of thil
was aware that Jackson was on the march fol
RICHMOND as early az last Sunday fortnight
when be heard that be was already at Gordons.
Vile with portion Of his forces. Ii In scarcely
POsIible that fewer than ten thousond persons
knew the same thing at the same time And We.
not soul was found to betray toe secret to the
enemy, and be was taken, at last, completely by
surprise.