, 1862-12-12
THE CAMPAIGNS IN VIEs.
GHTIA.


~ 1AAN
ligcrcnts. The grand armies Of the Union
have turned and swung on Washington as
a centre. The rebel leaders have nc
elected nothing that might promise addi-
tiona1 security to the defence of Richmond.
With varying fortunes, the tide Of war has
cbbed and flowed between these two cities
Now the adventurous balloonist, tethcred to
his cord in the Federal camp, has looked
down into the streets Of Richmond and once
and again the smoke Of rebel camp fires has
been seen from Washington.
Now that the silence Of the situation On the
Rappallannock has been broken By Burnsides
cannon, and the sharp conflict Of the
third Federal essay against Richmond, has
begun, little retrospect Of events that have
made the soil Of Vir!cinia memorable in this
war, may perhaps be Of interest to our readers
The var for the Union dates from April 18th,
1851 ,daymemorable by the attack on Fort Sum
teEss ThePresiden1's proclamation and call for
75,o@ troops was issued April 18th. In six
days, or on April 18th, the first troops rallying
for the defense Of the Union, had reached
Washington. From that time forward &C
tiyity grew and multiplied on both sides of
the struggle. The earlier battles Of the war
took place in Western Virginia, as PhilIippi,
June 8, Falling Waters July 2, Rich Mountain
July II. Carrick's Ford, July H. Mean
while the most vigorous preparations had
,nasscd our army before Washington, and
strengthened Fortress Monroe with Il large
force from tle latter place, inc failure 10
penetrate the York Peninsula northward had
been cIristcncd in blood ut Big Bethel, on
June 10th.
The enemy were throughout June concen-
centrading at Manassas, regarding that as the
key to Richmond. The movement on this
rebel f1stncss began from Washington July
10Th, and Bull Run came five days later This
Tas the first move on Richmond
4 change of commanders. The venerable
commander in chief could not supervise field
operations and younger energies were requir-
ed. We had won some luster to our arms in
Western Virginia, and the commander Of thai
division Of our army w;ts called 10 Washing
ton, where lie arrived July eth. From that
time on, preparations and preparations only
The army was noble in numbers and equip
mcn4, but lis camps closely hugged the Vir-
month. tswlilc all the world wondered.''
The Federal line extended with broken int er-
y;ls from 4 little below Alexandria, north
ward, from Washington, OF The Maryland side
a distance Of furty miles. The enemy extended
nortllwarl from Manassas to Lecsburg. An
il! starred movement Of OUT right, swinging
It across the Potomac, gave us tie massacre
Of Balls Bluff, October 2lst. then ''au quiet OIL
tho Potomac ruled tic resi- Of the marvel
GUS season, aud the winter camps, finishing
tie record Of 1851.
The first two months Of the present year
saw no Change Or movement on the Potomac
III the West, the molltl, Of February was nladc
glorious by Fort Henry and Fort Donelson,
but the army of the Potomac made 10 sign
The earliest work Of tho spring took placc
in Virginia, on Monday, February 2asd, when
Cen Banks crossed the Potomac at Harpcr's
Ferry, the third similar movement Of our rx-
trcmc right wing, the first being Ball's Bluff,
AS named, the second at Hancock On the
Esd Of March, after some intermediate skir-
mishing, took place tie battle Of Winchester,
following which the rebels slowly retired
down thu Shenandoah.
The first blow struck by the rebels Was tue
tffiir OF the Merrjmac and thu Cumberland in
Hampton Roads, March sth. The following
day it was accidentally discovered that tue
rebel army had left Manassas, and the lair was
cold.
Then commenced the second move on Rich
mond. Our army swept out from its winter
camps and took the field, marched inland,
| reached The vacated stronghold, counter.
marched, and bore down the river in trans,
| ports from Alexandria. The change Of plan
| lag wholly within The mind of the Commander
| in Chief We are giving dates, not theories
[ Massing at Fortress Monroe, the army of Nc
! Clcl}an pushed nnrth on the York Peninsula
| yorktown was evacuated May Sd. Williams
burg followed two days later. West Point
came May 7th. The army pressed on and
crossed the ChickahoilinY. The enemy ass:,il
ing our advance coulmn mt Fair Oaks May SIS!
md June LIST. Our army WAS then fairly be
fore Richmond. MEANWHILE tho rebel ralj
Ind swept northward through the Shcnan
duat. The Federal repalse ut Front Roya
took place May 24th, Gen. Banks rctrcatins
through Nincccster on the day following.
At this junctnrc, Gen. Fremont was sum
uloncd from his Mountain Department to til,
aid Of Banks and bore his share in the cam
Iaign Of tic Shenandoah, which has been th,
theatre Of varied scenes and vicissitudcs O
this wra in the successive changes Of its oceu
rancy by troops.
The great, decisive battles in front Of Rich
'nonl commenced with thu rebel attack o.
our left On Thursday, June 2tth, and enl,s
IN July 1st, the sixth dag finding our re
pulsed army on thu bank Of the James Rive.
! This was the cnd Of the second adyaucc o.
Richmond.
Gen. Pope took command Of the army O
| Virginia July II. An order for Gen. MeClc]
| 'an"s withdrawal from the James River Wit
| his whole fnrcc WAS issued August 5, aud ,,ftc
| protest from Gen. Mcclellan, oheyed ,cleyc
| days later, or August 14th. Meanwhile, Gen
Porc pushed southward from Alexandria, be
| yond tic Ra1idan, met the enemy in oyerpoW
cring force, met what was worse, Il lack Of &c
| operation md harmony in commanders, ,cxr.r
cnced defeat at Cedar Mountain August :
held Ills ground until the 9Th, on new lin,
10 which hc had fallen back, then tlanked b
the enemy, left the Rap!dan August astl
and the two days following scored mp the i3i:
/ astcrs OF Bull Run, and again our army was
, Washington.
VI The rebels poured nortlward through til
Valley Of Virginia into Maryland. Onr arm,
:'gain under Mcclellan, pressed northwar
| through Maryland, and September 14th vii
messed the encounter ut South Mountain
: The disgrace at Harpcr's Ferry took place Ii
following day, or on the 18th. Antietam ga7
its bloody Int glorious record on Wcdncsda,
September 18th, and Maryland was free. Wit
). their retreat may be said to finally tcrn,ina1
/ | the second movement against Richmond.
. As the first failure brought change in Il
+ Federal command, so tardily in response
+ the second rcrulse, Gen. Burnside surersctlt
Zen Mcclellan, November 7th. From IL
: point Of time and the locality where Il
= change WIS made, no event has marked IL
= | campaign in Virginia until now before Ere
!? ericksburg. A failure to sustain Burnside
f movement cost us long delay, which the rap
+ march Of his army from Warrenton lily d
e served. Our forces reached Falmouth abo
e the 10th Of November, surprising the enem
l. and had Burnside's pontoons reached hi
"a with promrtncss, there would have been
stand by the enemy on the Rappahaunoc
I The interval furnished them hats been deyot
, to extraordinary preparations for defens
g and Tie tremendous bombardment Of yest,